Breeding Successes in New Zealand



15



BREEDING THE ORANGE BISHOP WEAVER


About three years ago, I bought two pairs of Orange Bishop Weavers

out of colour. One cock came into colour and the other three birds

proved to be hens. There was no attempt at breeding the first year

and, in the winter, one bird got startled, flew into the wire netting,

and fell dead with a broken neck. It was, of course, the cock.


In the spring the three hens all made nests, laid eggs, and sat

but, as I was unable to get another cock, it meant another wasted

season.


On 3rd October, 1936, I received a cock Orange Bishop from the

Avicultural Society and turned him into the aviary with the hens and

a mixed collection of Finches. On 31st October there was a nest with

two eggs, and I found pieces of broken shell on the ground on

18th November, so conclude a chick hatched that morning.


They were quite strong little birds, perfectly feathered except for

a stumpy tail. They were unmistakably Orange Bishops and sat

flirting their wings in the characteristic manner. They were eating

soaked seeds and fending for themselves by 4th December, and I

consider were independent at that date.


Now for some general notes. The cock takes no part whatever either

in incubating the eggs or in feeding the young ones, nor did I ever see

him feeding the hens. He is a very busy builder, but the hens seem to

prefer nests that they construct themselves. In only one case has a

hen sat in a nest that the cock built, and that had direful results. He

built out in the flight in some tall grass-stalks and, although I tried

to protect the nest from above, a heavy downpour of rain one night

caused it to tip over and two eggs on the eve of hatching were thrown

out.


The usual clutch seems to be two eggs. They are a rather deep

blue in colour with no markings. The nest is pocket-shaped and hangs

from tea-tree twigs. It looks very frail, but is, in reality, very strong

and tough, being woven of grass-stems and fibre. The mother starts

weaving again as soon as the young are flown, not using the same nest

a second time.


They had the usual seeds necessary in a mixed aviary as well as.



