One
of the biggest problems
when over wintering
bullfinches is weight
gain.
In addition; with
the Northern Bullfinch’s (Pyrrhula pyrrhula pyrrhula) it’s
also the UK climate that can play havoc.
Although Northern Bullfinch’s are very adapt for colder climates they
really do suffer with damp and draftee conditions so is best to house indoors
or at
the very least screen off the outside flights with clear sheeting during the
winter months, some
will even advise
on the use of a humidifier
to combat the damp
air within a bird room with the Northern Bullfinch’s and the Northern
Goldfinches (carduelis c.major).
During
winter, with Bullfinch
it’s vital that
they are housed in adequately
sized housing, exercise
is vital for the bullfinch
to live a healthy fat
free
life, without the required
flight space they become
overweight which soon
turns in to the birds
getting
breathing difficulties.
The breathing difficulties are caused by an excess of fat build up which restricts
the respiratory areas, the common name for this condition is (gasping).
Gasping
causes the birds to breathe
very heavily with very
heavy panting type symptoms.
Although males are quite a bit hardier than hens and do mostly tend to survive,
they’re obviously suffering so action is required.
Bullfinch Hens on the other hand are quite the opposite and in most cases will
soon lead to the death of the hen.
Getting the bird on a strict fat free diet and in a large flight space is a
good first plan of action in working towards curing such breathing problems.
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Gasping
may also be caused by
Mycoplasmosis (M. gallisepticum)
which is a chronic respiratory
disease of birds, in
such cases it is also
advisable to treat with
an antibiotic such as
TYLAN which works in
reducing the impact of
Mycoplasma.
However if the bullfinch looks to be overweight i.e. over round with a definite
line down the front of the breast, plus the wings slightly out from the body,
then the chances are that its simply a build up of fat which is restricting the
respiratory areas. |
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| Housing: |
Its
advisable when housing
bullfinch to
house in a minimum cage
size of 4` x 2` x 2`
for single
breeding pairs, in addition
a good idea is to make
the cages 8` long with
a partition
at 4` this will allow for
2 breeding flights for
each pair and then the
partition
can be removed during the
winter months so the bullfinch
have a large communal flight
so to have maximum exercise.
Flight cages of this size
are a good universal size
for most British hardbills
so will allow for different
species to use the flight
cages if situation change.
Our native British Bullfinch
(Pyrrhula p.pileata)
are perfectly adapt to
be housed in outside
flights measuring 6`
x 3` x 6` with a wind
and rain proofed shelter
all year round for both
breeding and over wintering.
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| Feeding: |
Its important
with all Bullfinches to feed
a basic diet during the winter
months, again this is due
to them soon becoming over
weight.
A basic canary type seed
mix is ideal and with no
added Hemp seed especially
if housed in basic cage sizes
such as double canary breeding
cages.
In addition when housing
in such cages, only a small
amount of seed mix should
be provided at a time as
this will stop the bullfinch
from gouging on the food,
the seed mix should be left
until all has gone and needs
to be checked so the birds
don’t go for too long
without.
When housing Bullfinch
in large flights it is
possible to give slightly
larger amounts of feed
as they are burning off
more of the calories.
Small amounts of greens
such as broccoli and fruit
such as sliced apple and
rowan (mountain Ash) berries
can be fed once or twice
per week during the winter
periods.
If housed in outside flights,
it is possible to feed
small amounts of their
usual favourites such as
egg food, white and stripped
sunflower seed, hemp seed
and live food such as meal
worms as this will help
them through the colder
months, they will inevitably
require the fat content
to survive but only in
small amounts, they will
have the natural ability
to burn the excess off.
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| By
following a few basic cage
size and feeding guidelines,
Bullfinch’s are quite
a relatively easy species
to cater for although not
considered a beginners species. A bullfinch can be seen
to look healthy one day
and the next day be dead
on the floor, in most cases
(not all) this is generally
down to either being housed
in a space too small or
by simply feeding a too
fatty diet or even a combination
of both.
Bullfinches are a very
enjoyable sweet species
to have as part of your
bird keeping hobby in either
their breeding or showing;
however a decent general
knowledge of keeping and
breeding British birds
such as the greenfinch
first is advisable.
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Article
© Karl Duckworth 2007 |
