YESTERDAY I DROVE 2 HRS. TO PICK UP A COUPLE RUFOUS BACKED MANNIKIN.  I HAD SOME A COUPLE YEARS AGO BUT MADE THE MISTAKE OF SELLING THEM.  I GAVE ONE TO A FRIEND AND THIS PAST WEEK SHE SOLD ME THIS YOUNG PAIR.  MADE ME VERY HAPPY TO GET SOME BACK IN MY BREEDING PROGRAM.

THE BREEDING SEASON FOR ME IS STARTING OFF VERY WELL.  I HAVE A NEST OF PEARL SOCIETIES, ONE WHITE SPOTTED MANNIKIN, TWO NESTS OF JAVA AND A NEST OF TWO PARSONS.  AROUND SIX OTHER NESTS WITH EGGS.  HERE ARE A FEW SHOTS OF NEW CHICKS THAT I HAVE STARTED TO CLOSE BAND.

THE FIRST IMAGE IS OF A PAIR OF PARSON FINCHES.  THEY HAVE BEEN HATCHED AND RAISED BY A EURO RED BROWN COCK AND A PEARL COCK.

 A SHOT OF A NEST OF THREE JAVA CHICKS.  THERE WERE 7 EGGS IN THIS NEST BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT I HAVE TWO OPAL ISABELLES IN THIS NEST.  THEY ARE THE LIGHT COLORED CHICKS.

THIS NEST IS ALSO JAVA.  SEVEN EGGS AND SEVEN HATCHINGS.  AGAIN TWO OF THE CHICKS ARE OPAL ISABELLES.  NOT BAD TO HAVE FOUR OPAL ISABELLES OUT OF 10 CHICKS.  NOT SURE HOW MANY SILVERS OR NORMALS YET.  WILL BE ABLE TO TELL ONCE THE FEATHERS OPEN UP A LITTLE.