Peter McGough’s                Waxbills - His Secret of Successful Breeding

The Principals of Peter's Feeding Regimes 
 which apply to most  Aviary - kept  Birds
(Feed to keep Fit and healthy thru Winter months but don't up the Protein levels until ready to Breed)
 

• He bred 152 of 13 diff. species of Waxbill in 2006 - which is quite exceptional.

• Wrong feeding = dead in shell/nest/chicks thrown out of nest etc.,
• He went to Belgium to a dealer/breeder of Waxbills who showed him how he fed with vitamins etc.,
• He tried it when he came back home and had his worst breeding season, so reverted back to his own methods.
  
   

HIS BACKGROUND

• He’s in partnership with his daughter for 25yrs.  She left home 
  10 yrs ago, so Peter kept the birds on.  She just comes and helps for holidays etc.,
• He started with a mix of birds b4 he went into Waxbills
• He now mainly has Waxbills and Munias.
• Up until 10 yrs ago had hadn’t got his Feeding right so didn’t breed so many.
  
   

FEEDING

• Feeding high protein “Casein”  – this is used by human Weight Lifters to build muscle mass.
  • CASEIN :  Is a purified protein and is water insoluble. 
  • It is commonly used by bodybuilders as a slow-digesting source of amino acids.
     
• Higher Protein levels at correct time, improves breeding.
• Casein is found in "Birdcare’s"  Pro-boost + super Max = High protein diet.
• Using EMP Eggfood(15% protein) add Pro-boost = 25+% this is used to substitute the high volume
  of insects the waxbills would normally catch in the wild to feed the young in the Nest and continue
  feeding the young until they fledge.
   
• After the moult reduce protein levels by 50% 
    [from 25% to 10 – 12 ½%] then phase out altogether.
• They don’t need a rise in protein levels again until the following Spring and the new breeding season.
• Birds are much fitter and better for breeding if they don’t carry too much weight prior to mating. 
  DO NOT OVERFEED – fat hens difficult to breed from.
   
• Higher Protein levels not needed until chicks due to hatch.
• During winter use wild seeds etc., to bring into Breeding fitness.
• They are paired up again for the new season at the back-end of Feb.
  
   

SEED

• He used to use Johnson & Jeffs ABZ mix Pro bird  which was £24 per 25kg – very expensive. 
  Developed in Holland.
• He doesn't use J & J. now, he uses Versa Laga seed (Robbie keeps this) which is made up as follows:
• 60% yellow panicum millet
• 30% Jack Mix Millet
• 8% Canary Seed
• 2% Red panicum
• He also uses Charcoal/Oyster Grit/ Cuttle Fish
• Wild seed x1 per week
• Mini mealworms x1 per week (while rearing – if they will eat them – not all will).
• Some will eat Frozen worms (pinkies & Buffalo Worms) – put into egg food when frozen but NOT if fresh ones - makes food soggy!
• Tony Joliffe from Foxton Tours brings the frozen worms in small boxes from Holland when he’s over there on his Trips and Peter meets him at Southwaite Services on M6.  Approx £7 per box – he usually gets 20 boxes which will last one Breeding Season. 
  

SEEDS & SUPPLEMENTS RECOMMENDED by other WAXBILL KEEPERS

• "Pro-Bird" - an African Finch mix (See Peters' comments above).
• Wild and Weed Seed, Fonio Paddy and Pagima Green once per week
• Mini-mealworms, Ants Eggs and Eggfood x1 per week when Breeding
• Calcium supplement (as instructed) 
• Grated cuttlefish + baked eggshell and oystershell grit available at all times
   

SOAKSEED

• Not all birds like it or will eat it. 
• Wash well and soak in water mixed with Aviclens – then soak.
  
   

WATER

• He uses Potent Brew in the water he uses to mix his Egg Food.  He uses EMP mainly but once per week uses Bogena Universal Soft Food and puts it in a separate dish.
• Avi-clens mixed in the Drinking water and in the water he uses for his “Soak Seed” – ½ tspoon to 2 litres.
• Daily Essentials 2 in Water for Vitamin content.  See amounts etc., on side of tub.
  
   

PETER’S SPECIAL EGG FOOD MIX 
(His secret to successful Rearing) – Made in Batches

• 5kg EMP Egg Food
• 500 gms Pro-boost
• Pro-bird Herb Mix (Nettles etc.,)
• 10 gms Breed Max (Steve Squires)
• All mixed tog. and kept dry in an airtight tub.
   

BIRD HOUSING

• His Waxbills are housed in 3 sheds 10x6 / 12 x 7 …………. 
• Heat to 60 deg F
• Lights are on from 6am – 10pm and fade in and out in Breeding Season.  He uses ordinary bulbs as the specialized bulbs have a limited life-span of usefulness.
• During non-breeding Season lights fade out at 8pm
• He uses double Breeders 4ft long x 16”deep x 18” high. Narrow bars to prevent escape.
• He uses an Aviary to Fly them in the summer for exercise but you can’t control the environment in an Aviary and they do need humidity.  Esp. during hot weather.
   

NEST BOXES

• Peter uses Nest boxes which are the standard ½ open fronts 3” x 5” or sometimes the round, metal “Salad feeders” you can get from Pet stalls.
• He provides coconut fibre or a Sisal mix.  They seem to like the lighter colours.
• He uses Anti-mite “Blast-off” from Bird Care Co. in bottom of nest boxes.
   

FOSTERING CHICKS

• Peter bred 30 Orange Cheeked Waxbills – 20 by one pair
• You need approx. 6 pairs of each variety of Waxbill to create a Genepool.
• Min. necessary is 2 pairs per each variety kept.
• Bengalese are used for Fostering. Use PAIRS  1yr old +.  6 eggs max.  3 – 4 better.
• All his chicks are close rung.  
  
   

WAXBILL FINCH SOCIETY (CLUB)

• Was formed to share info re: Breeding/keeping/feeding/locating Waxbills etc.,
• www.waxbillfinchsociety.org.uk
• Waxbill Society Co-ordinator:  John Dodwell    Tel: 01275  852 657
• Also a Magazine : Estrildian  
• Java Sparrow Society U.K. - JSSuk 
• Website:   www.javasparrow.or