British Birds In Avicuture - an indepth view of breeding British softbill & hardbills

The Brambling by Paul Meek

fringilla montifringilla

Experience level needed in this species in there keeping and breeding:
~~Novice~~ - Intermediate - Experienced

Things to take into account if you're just starting out with Brambling

The Brambling is long lived and you would be better off only housing a pair of these birds to a flight when breeding.
Brambling require live food to rear their young, they are not easy to breed and cocks drive the hens to nest which can sometimes result in death or injury, normally to the hen bird.
Brambling are sometimes unsteady due to there nature and when migration takes place they can upset other birds as they are very restless and do a lot of calling especially at night.


Male Brambling	Femail Brambling

Distribution:

Scandinavia toward Russia and Europe

Size:

Approx 14-16cm

Feeding:

Winter Feeding diet:
A good British finch mixture containing weed/wild seeds, beech mast if obtainable.
Brambling love hemp, goats and small sunflower.
A little Haiths red band can be used as a conditioner.

Breeding Diet:
Again good British finch mixture, mealworms, pinkies, waxworms, buffalo worms etc, some of these birds do take eggfood best mixed with frozen pinkies and buffalo worms
Haiths red band as a conditioner.

Sexing:

Male and female Brambling are easily told apart, male darker head and brighter colouration.

Color mutations:
Many mutations exist, brown, agate, patle, satinette, eumo, isabel, yellow, agatepastle, brownpastle, isabel pastle just to name a few.

General information:

The Brambling is a winter visitor to these shores and replaces the chaffinch in northern Europe; it is fond of beech mast and often forms large flocks during the winter period.

How You Introduce Pairs:

I separate my birds in February/March.
I normally place the hens in the breeding aviaries then the male I keep in a cage and just condition him in there, after the first week in May I will introduce the cock as these birds don’t nest until mid May.

Housing:

Brambling should only be bred in flights due the aggressive nature of the male, they drive the hen to nest I have bred these in 3 x 4 but bigger would be better.
During winter they can be housed in cages with no problems.

When To Breed:

Bramblings are late nesters and don’t go to nest until around mid May.
One clutch is normal with about 5 eggs only an odd time is a second clutch attempted, especially if the first clutch was successful.

Nest Sites:

Offer Brambling 2 nest sites with a little Christmas tree around them (artificial) I find they like the wicker nest baskets better than the metal type.
They love moss, jute, sisal and as soft fine feathers you can get.

Potential Ailments:

Bramblings are very hardy birds and don’t really suffer from any ailments.

Annual medication:
As a precaution treat twice a year for cocci.

Any other information you may think useful:

Ring the young Brambling with BBC or IOA rings.
Watch the male for his aggression during the breeding season.
If mixing with chaffinches (winter period only) make sure the enclosure is large enough as if it is not they will defiantly kill the chaffinches.