Rearing Finches, Buntings, & Wax Bills
Homes for the Birds
Finches, Buntings & Wax Bills
Society Finch
Size—about 2/3 that of Canary.
This is the gentlest and most lovable of all the Finch family and one of the most desirable. If your space is limited so that you cannot accommodate many birds, we would suggest that you by all means include the little Society in your collection. They come in three colors—Brown and White, Fawn and White and pure White. The pure White are a recent production and are quite scarce. The male and female Society are alike in appearance.
The Society Finch enjoys a distinction that no other bird possesses in that there were never any Society Finches in the wild state. It was developed by the Chinese many years ago.
The Society Finch is very easy to breed in cage or aviary The parents raise their young on seed alone so that one does not have the usual muss and trouble preparing soft foods. They require a covered nest box for nesting and plenty of nesting materials. If all goes well the first baby puts in an appearance on the 14th day and thereafter one hatches each day until all are out of the shells. The Society makes an excellent parent and usually brings off the entire brood. Their diet consists of Large Yellow Millet, Large Red Millet, Small Millet and Plain Canary. All of these and other valuable seeds are found in Haven Finch Mixture. Besides these seeds Cuttle Bone and Health Grit should be kept before them at all times and the usual green food should be fed three or four times weekly.
The Brown and White is the commonest of the three varieties and therefore is the cheapest in price. The Fawn and White is next while the White is the rarest and consequently the highest priced.
Brown and White Society Finches,$6.50 per pair
Single Males, each $3.50
Single Females, each 3.50
Fawn and White Society Finches, $7.50 Single Males, each $4.00
per pair Single Females, each 4.00
Pure White Society Finches, $9.00 Single Males, each $5.50
per pair Single Females, each 5.50
Star Finch
Size—about 2/3 that of Canary.
The little Star Finch is a native of Australia and one of the most beautiful of the Australian Finch family The entire body of the Star Finch is olive green almost completely covered over with faint white polka dots. The face, throat and beak are a bright crimson. Male and female are alike in appearance but the males have a very sweet song. The home raised, domesticated Star Finches are very hardy and long lived and will breed easily if given the nesting requirements such as finch boxes and plenty of fibre nesting material. Their diet should consist of the usual Finch Mixture, green food, Cuttle Bone and Health Grit.
Star Finches, $35.00 Single Males, each $18.50
per pair Single Females, each 22.50
Nonpariel Bunting
Size—about that of the Canary.
Often called the Butterfly Finch. This little bird is a native of Mexico. The male is an exquisitely colored bird with green wings, blue head and red breast. The female is more simply garbed in dark green. Nonpariels do better in an aviary than in a cage as they become badly frightened in new surroundings. They are difficult to breed but it can be done. They prefer thick brush to a nest box for their nests. Food for the Nonpariel should be the same as for the other Finches. A male Nonpariel is pictured in the assortment on page 16.
African Wax Bill
Size—about 5/8 that of Canary.
This is probably the smallest of the African Finches and is a smart little bird of fawn and light rose tinted gray with bright scarlet bars running horizontally from beak to back of head. Male and female are alike in appearance, although the male is a fair singer. Both have crimson beaks. Their habits and disposition are the same as the Orange Cheek and should be cared for in the same manner.
African Was Bills, $1.0.00 Single Males, each $6.00
per pair Single Females, each 6.00
Society Finch.
Nonpariel Buntings, $12.50 Single Males, each $8.50
per pair Single Females, each 6.25
