I regularly get questions via e-mail and when I am out and about the UK bird events all about the general care of Javas so I thought I would place a form on my website where you can send a Java related question to me and I will then be able to respond. Also I can then place the question and my answer on this page of justjavas.co.uk too. So please do send me your questions to get the page going! Your questions and my answers will appear under the form.
Please note when you press Send email you will be taken back to the main justjavas.co.uk page.
Q:From Joan in England - - - Steve, We have recently
been given two Java finches, but their claws appear extremely long, which
is the easiest way to catch them and what is the best way to trim them.
Thank You, Joan
A: Hi
Joan, this is something that is not featured on the justjavas.co.uk
website and I thank you for highlighting this fact, it is a tricky job
to do even for us more experienced bird keepers, I can refer you to my
friend Rob's website page on this subject, please go to this link .....
click
here .... and I hope this helps a little, I will now be looking
at making up a page on nail trimming when I get the chance, if you do
not feel confident enough to have a go after reading Rob's information
please try to contact another bird keeper in your area who may be willing
to help or failing this go to the vet with the birds. So that you know
if you cut the claws of your Javas correctly it does not hurt them at
all, it is just like us humans having their nails trimmed.
Catching the birds really changes depending on how they are housed, in a cage of flight? If in a cage it will be quiet easy to catch the Java but if in a flight a catching net would possibly be the safest way.
Once caught you will need to hold the Java with its head in between your second and third fingers with your thumb resting gently across the chest of the bird and your other 2 fingers again gently cradling the wings and tail area.
Q: From Steve in Jamaica - - - Hi Steve, How many eggs
are laid by a Java finch.(Cinnamon (Fawn) and White Java),and how many
days they take to hatch?
A: Steve,
I do not think that the colour of the Java matters on how many eggs laid
in a clutch or indeed the incubation of the eggs too. Regarding the incubation
period of Java eggs, I work it out using the following method.
I count 18 days from when the 4th egg is laid by the hen, I am not normally no more than 1 day out using this simple calculation, occasionally 2 days is the worse case scenario. On the nestcards I use when breeding I mark the date of each egg laid and when the 4th egg appears I immediately go to the calendar hanging in my birdroom and count 18 days from this date. The future date is then noted on at the bottom of the nestcard as a reference for Java hatching's. Hope this helps Steve, I do know of other Java breeders who count slightly different to me but I have used this way for over 10 years now and swear by its simplicity.
Q: From Frank from the USA - - - What is the optimal
temperature for my two Java adults along with their five chicks (around
two weeks old) all currently in the same cage? Will they keep their chicks
warm if the temperature changes? Or do I need to monitor the temperature?
Can the five babies stay with the parents once they grow up? I would like
to hand tame 1 or 2. Is this a good idea? What's the best / safest way
to keep the nails trim without clippers? I keep their bath in a bowl on
the bottom of the cage. Is this a good idea? I've heard chicks have drowned?
Their nest is on the bottom also (at the opposite from the bath dish).
I think its best they stay at the bottom so they don't fall out injuring
themselves. I mean to ask where to keep the bath water and the water dish
and food throughout the different stages as they grow? I keep newspaper
on top of the grate to keep the grate clean, but also to keep the babies
from getting stuck. Does all this sound right? Is there anything i could
do differently? I'm new to finches, I got them in February and I really
want to provide them the best life I can. I've been changing the tissue
in the chicks top opening nest box, twice daily (they sure do poop a lot).
The parents don't seem to mind. Is this ok, or is there a better way to
keep it clean?
A: Wow
hi Frank, where do I begin!! I will take each question as they come in
your e-mail to me. Optimal temperature - I cannot give
you a specific temperature but would say that if you observe your adult
birds and see them gaping a lot when the weather is hot then try to reduce
the temperature with a fan to see if this helps, nestbox will always be
warmer anyway than the outer cage. Do not worry unduly about the parents
keeping chicks warm if the heat levels drop this is a simple yes, they
will sit more if required. 5 babies with parents - this
depends on whether you intend to breed again and also the size of the
enclosure you have the birds in or indeed plant to house them in.
Hand taming - I would love a hand tame Java and is it a good
idea is really up to you please go to this page by clicking here
and read how Ron Simpson tamed his Javas to see if you would still like
to have a go, even e-mail Ron I am sure he can advise you better then
I on this one Frank. Trimming nails - personally I use
nail clippers and have no problems, I just take of a maximum of 3mm to
ensure I miss the cuticle and thus the nail does not bleed. If you are
not happy doing this please seek out a friend who is happy to help. Baths
- like you use and where you place them should be no issue, I would say
that you remove the bath when you expect young Javas to fledge and do
not put it in unsupervised for around 4 days after all the chicks have
fledged, then you should be ok. If you want to let the parents bath then
put it in when you are around so you can watch what is happening. Tissues
- this is up to you really I do not use these and only change the nest
if it is a particularly dirty and wet one or after a round of chicks.
Hope this helps please keep in touch Frank.
Q: From Paula in England - - - Hi Steve my father and
I own 2 pairs of Javas but they seem to be gaping a lot, is there a reason
for this and better still a cure? Yours Paula.
A: I
am no vet Paula and to give you sound advice on this from a single sentence
would be wrong for me to do so. Please contact a local vet and speak with
them to see if advice can be taken. I hope that your Javas get better
soon.
Q: From Cindy from the USA - - - Hi Steve, what is the
life span of a Java Rice finch & at what age should you stop breeding?
A: Hi
Cindy, life span for Javas would be around the 7 year mark I guess and
they will let you know when they are not fit for breeding as you will
get clear or no eggs from previously productive birds. At the time of
replying to you I have got a 2003 bred cock to a 2004 bred hen that I
am hoping will breed for me and I think this will be the last time if
they do so.
Q: From Melissa in the US - - - My Javas decided to use
a small wicker-style enclosed nest box that is really meant for much smaller
finches. it probably measures only 4 inches by 4 inches and is about 6
inches high with entrance hole near the top. she laid 6 eggs and they
are starting to hatch as of this morning. I am concerned that there is
not enough room for them, especially as they grow. I have purchased a
wooden, rectangular parakeet nestbox that is much larger. can I move the
babies? if so, at what age do Ii do that? any other suggestions? Also,
she laid the eggs bare in the nest, refused to use any nesting material
whatsoever (I supplied a wide assortment for her). should I put nesting
material in the new nestbox before I transfer the babies (if I should
even transfer them at all)? thanks!
A: Melissa,
Not sure how your young are doing in the wicker nest but I would always
recommend a wooden nestbox of around 6 inch square and 9 inch in length.
But this is of course down to how you house your Javas and if they will
accept this style too! Personally I would not move the babies if it was
me with this problem and I would leave them to see what occurs but I would
certainly look at putting in a wooden box for next time around to see
if your Javas would take a liking to it.
Nesting material, well I always start the nest off for the pairs I use and some remove a little and some just build on top of what I have placed in the nest. I do not know if you have done this but I can suggest that you should say 3/4 make the nest and see what happens but even in doing this always have plenty of nesting materials in the cage until the clutch is finished and serious incubation has begun. Hope this helps please e-mail me if not. Please can I pint you in the direction of my nestbox page - click here to go and see how I prepare my nestboxes for my Javas.
Q: From Randy in the US - - - Steve, First, I love your
site. My question is how many hours of light do you provide your Javas?
I also raise Canaries, and they are moulting, and finished breeding, and
I am going to start cutting the lights. The problem is that my pair of
BE Whites and 1 pair of Silver Javas just hatched out last week. Is it
OK for me to drop the lights an hour at a time(currently on 14 1/2 hours
a day) to drop down to around 10 hours by the early Winter? Do you have
a yearly light schedule that you use? Someone just said that Javas need
14 hours all year long, which I had never heard before, and would not
think would be necessary, unless you were wanting them to breed all year
long. Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated. Thank you, Randy
A: Hi
Randy, A few questions in one mate! First I am pleased you like my website
please do call in again. I have 2 distinct times for my lighting in my
Java birdroom, breeding and non-breeding, at breeding time, usually January
to September for most of my pairs, my lighting comes on at 5.30am and
goes of at around 10.30pm and night giving a total of 17 hours and this
is reduced by around 4 hours when non breeding by knocking a couple of
hours off each end of the day.
My birdroom is the main area that is lit up in this was but I do have some lights in my outer flight and cage section that are used in the wintertime if I have any Java housed in any of these cages.
I would say that you would be ok and if you have a nightlight then even at nighttime the parent birds will still be able to see well enough if they feel the need to go out of the nestbox, which in truth I seriously doubt they will. I extend my days primarily because I breed in the winter and more light is required then. You will have to watch how this could effect your canaries though as they are more sensitive to lighting in the breeding season. Hope this helps, all the best, Steve
Q: From Jemma in in England - - - Steve,
I bought 2 Java Sparrows and I have an outside aviary I would like to
know if they can stay out in winter thanks.
A: Hi
Jemma, I have already touched on this subject for Steve from England,
his question and my reply is the 6th reply under this question of yours.
I think if you can use bubblewrap like indicated in my answer to Steve
you will not go far wrong and this is also a pretty cheap option too but
do make sure they your Javas can go into a inside sheltered area for added
protection, regards Steve
Q: From Beverley in the UK - - - Hi Steve, I have been
following your instructions to build a breeding cage. Was wondering what
is the safest thing to finish it with - paint or varnish - and is there
any particular type of paint or varnish that I should use? This might
seem like a pretty obvious thing to be asking but I've read so many warnings
about protecting my birds from toxic substances, both inhaled or ingested.
Can't wait to see my birds in their new homes but want to get it right
for their sakes.
A: Hi
Beverley, I think you have got my website mixed up with that of my my
mate Rob from javafinch.com!
Please take a look around his site again to find out more
on how Rob does a sterling job on making just about anything!! I use silk
emulsion on my internal walls of breeding cages etc. I have never had
any issues with this and it is easy to repaint, and wash down when required.
Hope this is ok Beverley?
Q: From Tom in England - - - Hi Steve,
this is my third year keeping Javas I have 6 pairs. My pairs start to
lay when previous round young are 22 to 30 days old, is this common? I
do try to clean the eggs and nest but when young are weaned. I clean nest
and eggs out and the next round eggs are clear. I have found your site
most helpful.
A: Hello
Tom, I think you are experiencing something quite common in the breeding
cycle of the Java. I have had a pair lay the next round of eggs when the
first round young were only 8 days old! So do not think it is something
you are doing because it is not. The birds are just a little too keen
to go down again. I deal with this by ignoring the next round eggs and
when the young have fledged I then take out the eggs in the nest and let
the pair go down again. I have never tried to clean the messed up eggs
either, I am sure it would only lead to broken eggs anyway if I tried
this. I am pleased you like the website and hope you can come back to
visit. I hope this helps, good luck with your Javas Tom.
Q: From Sumit in India - - - Hi Steve,
please can you show the differences different between Fawn Java male &
female, please in words and photo's too, thank you.
A: Hi
Sumit, Please look at my sexing javas
page as I cover this in reasonable detail on this page. There is a good
image of a cock and hen Fawn pair where you can clearly see the feather
differences in the 2 sexes. Please click
here for the image taken from this page. The cock Fawn Java
in my experience typically has a darker skull cap and tail than the hen
bird. I use this visual feather clue and all other sexing tips in and
around the birds beak to establish a true pair. If this is not enough
information for you please do e-mail me again.
Q: From Tish in the Philippines - - - Hi Steve, is it
possible to tame an adult java sparrow?
A: Hi
Tish, in a quick answer yes it is but it would take a lot of patience.
I have never done this myself but I would refer you to go to my on of
my Java sparrow related articles pages by clicking here
and read how Ron Simpson tamed his Javas, he has actually done 2 articles
on this subject called Hand Taming Javas 1 & 2. I do hope this helps
you and good luck if you are thinking of hand taming a Java.
Q: From Graham in England - - - Hi Steve, Not a question
really but I have just had a pair of fawns hatch and rear 9 chicks. With
this in mind I wondered what is the most chicks a pair have reared. Regards
Graham.
A: Hello
Graham, thanks for a simple but interesting question. Personally the most
I have had successfully reared over the years I have kept Javas on numerous
occasions is 8 so your 9 has beaten me! I did once have 9 young hatch
out but the smallest Java chick was sadly crushed in the nest. I have
had 13 eggs laid by a pair of Silvers a few years back and all 13 were
fertile. This was obviously too many and I moved some fertile eggs under
a pair of Normals with only 2 fertile eggs and all Javas were reared in
the 2 nests. If you have an image of the 9 Java young and want to send
it to me I will place it on my your
javas page for all to see.
Q: From Steve in England - - - Hi Steve, it is great
that you have offered to answer any questions on the keeping of Java sparrows.
My question is....What protection from our cold winter weather should
I be providing for our 4 Java sparrows? My wife and I have just set up
an outdoor aviary measuring 9ft x 6ft x 3ft, we have provided typical
finch nesting boxes, but feel they may be to small for Java sparrows.
The front of the aviary faces east, we would appreciate any advice you
could give us, many thanks.
A: Steve,
Thanks for your comments and your question too. This issue is an easy
one to remedy and quiet cheap and easy to do to boot. All you need is
some of the large rolls or sheets of bubble wrap that is used by gardeners
for greenhouses etc. and this is readily available at garden centres.
You can then cut this to suit your aviary panels and the usual way of
fixing on would be to use a staple gun like the one seen here
(click the link) this means it is put up in minutes and also reusable
if fixed well and not torn when taken down in the warmer months. Personally
I use secondary glazing units that cut to size for each panel and that
are held in by position by screws and again are removed and replaced with
great ease. Your Javas should be fine in this type of setup during winter
as they are a very strong and hardy species.
My own view on nestboxes is formed by the several years of experience in breeding Javas and their resulting clutch sizes during the many breeding seasons, I would say for me an average figure for a clutch of young Javas is 6 maybe even 7 and because of this I always recommend a decent size nestbox say, 9 inches long x 6 inches deep x 6 inches high with a flip top lid (please click here to see the ones I am using today). I hope this helps Steve, please keep in touch and let me know how your Javas do in your aviary.
Q: From Rob in England- - - Hi Steve congratulations
on a excellent website full of helpful information and advice. I have
got 12 Normal Javas and 1 pair of Fawns I have decided to split them up
cocks with cocks etc. The Fawn hen I put with a normal hen the Fawn hen
was so aggressive after a day I had to separate them, is all this fighting
normal? I have a flight cage that is 42"H x 42"L x 24"
D this leads outside to a 6ft square flight how many birds can i keep
in this setup? I also have 11 double breeding cages.
A:Rob,
first thanks for the kind comments on my website I am glad it is of use
to you. There is often a lot said and written about the aggressive Java
sparrow. Personally I have come across only 1 really aggressive, nasty
Java, a Pied Fawn cock some years back now. He was fine in with his mate
and while rearing young but could not be kept with other birds. So all
I can recommend is that you keep the hen in a cage on her own you do have
plenty of cages to be able to do this and then put her to her mate when
needed. You could try placing the hen with other Fawn hens, it may be
the colour of the Normal hen she dislikes.
The cage size question has already been touched on in my response to Rocco below. I would look at holding a maximum of 16 Javas in the inner area regardless of the outer area, especially at winter time when the birds would possibly be inside more than outside, overcrowding must be avoided at all times if possible. Having 11 double breeding cages gives a lot of flexibility so you should be fine in housing your Javas at the different times of the year.
Q: From Paul in Wales - - - The one frustration I am
finding with my Javas is the 'wild side' to them. I love spending time
watching them and caring for them but the unsteadiness when seeing to
their needs or moving around in general in my shed is a bit frustrating.
Is this something that just happens with Javas or do you just get used
to it with this great bird.
A:Paul,
I to feel the exact same thing about the flightiness of my Javas and have
done so for years! I have no real answer to assist you in calming them
down, tip wise but I do feel that during and after breeding the adult
birds do seem a little calmer. I think you will have to put this trait
down to one of the many things that makes the whole character of the Java
so appealing and possibly frustrating at the same time.
Q: From Rocco in England - - - Hello Steve, I have a
collection of: Red Headed Parrot Finches, Gouldians, Bengalese, and Red
Headed Finches very soon I hope, they are all very happy together. I'm
interested in a pair of javas will they mix ok with these finches. They
can be separated in the winter in a double breeder but in the spring and
summer they will be all together in a planted aviary 20ft X 8ft will they
be ok.
A:Hi
Rocco, For me the answer in these cases is always the same, you must have
plenty of room in the flight, not too many birds in there too start with
and double the amount of nesting receptacles to pairs in the flight and
also no odd birds, true pairs only. Your flight sounds more than ample
looking at the size you indicate. If your flight arrangement has an inner
area I always recommend that you calculate the amount of birds in the
smaller area so as this is not over crowded if in emergencies and wintertime
all your birds have to be kept in it and not allowed outside. I would
say a single pair of Javas would be fine but obviously you would have
to watch to ensure all your birds are getting on, hope this helps.
Q: From Paul in Wales - - - Steve, Within my small group
of mixed sexed Javas I have some birds from 2007 & 2008 ,up and till
now only three cocks have been singing and they are this years birds,
I would have thought the older birds would have been more dominant and
therefore would be singing, or doesn't it work out like that?
A:Paul,
I have heard of and also had in my own collections Java cock birds that
have never been seen singing and displaying. I once bred a Silver Java
(thought to be a hen) a couple of years ago that was a full year old until
I saw it singing and displaying in full to other hens in the flight it
was in. Personally I would say it is very possible to have a young Java
that was more, bullish and dominant than older birds.
Q: From Rowland in Wales - - - Hi Steve mate, Just a
quick question at the moment I have a cream cock paired up to a silver
hen would you know what colour's I would get from this pairing mate. I
didn't\'t intend to pair them up they were in the flight when they paired
themselves.
A: Well
Rowland, many thanks for the easy question on genetics mate!!! I really
do not know about the positive outcome here for this pairing, I think
that assuming the Silver is not split for any other colour you could get
visual Normals split for Fawn (carrying Cream) and Silver and possibly
Pastel hens. Please let me know when the young appear so I can put your
actual results up on my website.
Q: From Brent in England - - - Steve, whilst at Stafford
I was talking to an experienced Java enthusiast who mentioned that to
improve the quality of Fawns available we should breed some Normals to
them. Unfortunately I did not finish the conversation and wondered what
would be the advantage of doing this? As you know I am passionate about
breeding normals,but having acquired a couple of pairs of Fawns,the idea
of having split birds does not excite me unless it will really add something
positive.
A: Brent,
this is a quiet simple thing to answer, the Normal to Fawn pairing results
in Normals split Fawn that, when they are then paired to another Java
either a visual Fawn or another Normal split Fawn, assist in producing
Fawns that are deeper and stronger in colour and also if required, a slight
and progressive increase in size of the resulting Fawn young can occur.
This is a tool used occasionally to bolster bloodlines and improve the
quality of the Fawn in these 2 areas.
Q: From John in England - - - I've just brought an indoor
aviary, Ii have only 2 Javas a present, would you know of any Java breeders
in my local area of Kent as I'm having trouble sexing them I really would
like a male, female true pair but finding it very hard to find any retailers
that know the sexes when buying, please could you help thanks.
A: John,
I can answer this for you in a couple of ways but both related
to being in a bird club. I am sorry that you do not have any decent retailers
in your area that know the sexes of the Java enough to sell you a true
pair but sadly you are not alone in this, I hear of this type of thing
from a few different people all over the UK. For me this is why it is
very important for you to find out your local bird clubs (click
here) and join them to meet new people who either will be
able to help you personally or indeed know of someone who can. Also joining
a national society like the Java Sparrow Society UK (JSSUK-
click here) will help too, in fact this society of over 150
members grew from an internet Java sparrow keepers database on one of
my old websites. So look at joining a club and I am sure you will soon
see the difference rather than try to source things yourself. Joining
the JSSUK will
give you immediate access to the members and knowledge, experience and
spare birds they currently have.
Q: From Paul in Wales - - - I've noticed on your new
pictures of your Fawns and Creams that a couple of the birds have the
upper part of their beak protruding over the lower part, I also have a
Java with this same feature and my bird is from the same breeder that
yours are from. Can you elaborate on this particular feature, is it something
that happens with the Java?
A: Paul,
this is something witnessed to a varying degrees in my own Java sparrows,
I think that if you look closely the Java's natural beak design (click
here) will have the slightly overlapping edge to the upper
mandible in all cases but it can be more prominent in some birds, Hard
to say why this is the case but genetic make up of the bird may be playing
a part, and also maybe age is a factor here? I have seen a single Java
once where this point (for want of a better word) has grown to a fair
length and I have had to trim this back myself. Also I have seen the sides
of the upper mandible growing down over to overlap the lower mandible
too. I do not think it is anything to worry about but if too long a sharp
pair of scissors should rectify this if you feel confident enough to do
it. Be careful about trimming anything on your birds, beak or claws. Make
sure you do not make the bird bleed by clipping too much off!
I hope that you find this page of use to you, please do let me know via the form above or indeed just drop me an e-mail using the Java-mail link below right.
Got any questions on Javas
? Please fill in the form above and send it to Steve.
