Lavender Waxbill: Breeding, housing, diet
Breeding the Lavender Waxbill:
Breeding the Lavender Waxbill (Glaucestrilda caerulescens) can be a rewarding yet delicate process. These small, charming finches require particular care when it comes to their environment, diet, and breeding conditions.
1. Housing and Environment
- Cage/Aviary Size: A spacious aviary or cage is ideal, as Lavender Waxbills are active birds that enjoy flying. A minimum cage size of 24x18x18 inches for a pair is recommended, but larger aviaries with plants allow them to exhibit natural behaviors.
- Nest Sites: They prefer semi-enclosed nesting boxes or baskets, often hidden in dense vegetation. In aviaries, providing natural or artificial plants can help mimic their natural habitat, offering them more security.
- Nesting Material: Supply dry grass, coconut fiber, and soft materials like feathers for the birds to construct their nests.
2. Breeding Behavior
- Pairing: Lavender Waxbills are generally monogamous and will form strong bonds. It is essential to introduce pairs gradually in a peaceful setting to avoid stress.
- Courtship: The male sings and performs courtship displays, including hopping and presenting nesting materials to the female.
- Egg-Laying: The female usually lays 3-5 small white eggs, and both parents share the incubation duties. The eggs hatch in about 12-14 days.
3. Diet for Breeding
- Seed Mix: A diet based on high-quality finch seed mix, containing millet, canary seed, and other small seeds, is essential.
- Live Foods: Protein is crucial during breeding and chick-rearing. Include live food like fruit flies, small mealworms, or white ants to supplement the diet.
- Soft Foods: Egg food and soaked seeds should be offered during breeding. These are vital for both the parents and the chicks.
- Fresh Greens: Leafy greens such as spinach and dandelion can provide vitamins, enhancing their overall health and breeding success.
- Calcium: Ensure access to a cuttlebone or other calcium sources, which is essential for the egg-laying female.
4. Lavender Waxbill Chick Development
- Feeding: Once the eggs hatch, both parents feed the chicks. The diet includes a mix of seeds, soft food, and protein-rich live food. Make sure the parents have access to plenty of soft and live food to meet the increased nutritional demands.
- Fledging: Chicks fledge (leave the nest) after about 18-21 days, though parents may continue feeding them for another week or more until they are fully independent.
- Weaning: After fledging, chicks start to eat on their own by around 4-6 weeks.
5. Lavender Waxbill Challenges and Tips
- Environmental Stress: Lavender Waxbills can be sensitive to sudden environmental changes. Ensure a calm, stable environment with minimal disturbances during breeding.
- Breeding Season: In captivity, they can breed year-round if conditions are suitable, but it’s crucial to allow breaks between breeding cycles to prevent exhaustion.
- Aggression: While they are generally peaceful birds, overcrowding or stress during breeding may cause aggression. Keep pairs separated from other species or provide sufficient space to avoid this.
With attention to detail regarding diet, space, and environmental factors, breeding Lavender Waxbills can be a successful and delightful experience. Their striking appearance and calm demeanor make them a joy to care for in aviculture.
