Cardinals
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At 16.5-23cm(6.5-9in), cardinals are the largest and strongest of the finch-type birds commonly kept in captivity. House these birds in a large, well-planted aviary. They are relatively hardy, and so do not require additional heat during the winter months, providing they have access to a cosy shelter. If housed with other birds, keep cardinals with the larger seed eaters; their most suitable companions are weavers, whydahs and Java sparrows. The yellow-billed cardinal is an excellent choice for a mixed aviary, for not only has it a placid nature, but it will also breed in captivity.
Cardinals are easy to feed. Their omnivorous diet consists of a simple seed mixture, fruit and insects, and they relish soaked wheat, oats and barley. Increase the quantities of these foods considerably – particularly the insects – throughout the breeding season.
When it comes to breeding cardinals, it is best to breed them in separate pairs rather than within a mixed group. At the onset of the breeding season, they can become surprisingly aggressive. The ease of distinguishing the sexes varies according to the species. Pope cardinals, for example, can be difficult to breed simply because the sexes are so similar and it is difficult to isolate a true pair. However, once you have a true pair of cardinals, there are various ways of encouraging them to breed. You can fix up an old blackbird’s or thrush’s nest in an isolated bush, for example.
Also provide bushes in the aviary, but consider very carefully where you plant them. If the shrubs are too close to the front or side of the aviary, or if there is a path close by, the resultant disturbance may prevent them nesting altogether or cause them to abandon the nest site halfway through the incubation period. The best idea is to plant dense shrubs at the back of the aviary in an area where any nesting birds are least likely to be disturbed.
Cardinals are quite capable of producing two or three broods each season, each clutch consisting of 2-3 eggs. Incubation takes about 13 days and the young chicks should leave the nest within the following two weeks.
It is very important to remove the chicks at the earliest opportunity. If the adults decide to nest again while the chicks are still in the aviary, they may turn on their chicks and can kill them within a few hours. Be sure to monitor the behaviour of your birds during the breeding season to forestall such disasters.
Also check the growing chicks for leg deformities, which cardinals are prone to developing. Adding a multivitamin supplement to the food or water should prevent these problems arising. If in doubt, ask your veterinarian for advice.
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Tags: Aviary, Barley, Birds Cardinals, Blackbird, Broods, Bushes, Captivity, Dense Shrubs, Incubation Period, Insects, Java Sparrows, Oats, Omnivorous Diet, Placid Nature, Seed Eaters, Seed Mixture, Sexes, Thrush, Type Birds, Weavers