new birds; silverbills ! need some info

[Vera]

Hi guys, i was doing some research about bird species since months, and was debating about different finch species.
today, a bit unexpected, i bought two small birds, in dutch they are called: zilverbekjes. (i think in english it is silverbills), they are about 6 months old, could be a bit older.
The pet store was taking all the birds out to replace for new, and the dark one was watching and following us around from the cage, so we decided to buy the best sized cage they had available (64x38x73cm) and take the two birds with us.

I've read that they are nestsleepers, and that only males sing.
i already heard the light one sing a couple times, the darker one stays quiet, think the light one is male, the dark one might be female.
if they are male and female, should i provide them with a nest to sleep in?

i also bought some food, this one: Mealberry
what else is needed for them? for now i only have some perches and a swing and a toy (and food and water offcourse), see pictures.

 

[Emma&pico]

No advise but wanted to say they are super cute

 

[Sparkles99]

& Congratulations! They look great!

 

[Vera]

do they need grit? (soluble/insoluble), eggfood, veggies? i read that they are seedeaters from origin. could they eat pellets?

 

[Vera]

what about this mixture? i think this contains everything needed? Beaphar

 

[Emma&pico]

@fashionfobie maybe able to help with care

 

[fashionfobie]

Oh wow. They are beautiful. I have to say I know very little about Silverbills. I know less about their mutations and colourations. They may benefit from a larger group and be less combative than zebras (which are the species I have most experience with).

I am looking forward to learning more about your finches and the types of personalities they have.


This is a helpful finch resource if you are curious: African Silverbill - Lonchura cantans

 

[Vera]

I think i have 2 males, i think saw the darkest bird sing too, and it is said that only males sing.
I have it on video, will try to place a video later.
I did also see some nesting behaviour i think?
I have some sprays in the cage, and the dark one had a piece in his beak and was showing around with it,jumping up and down on the perch. Will try to place video later.
If they are 2 males, can i provide them with a nest to sleep and build a nest?just for enrichment?

We are not sure about names yet.
But for now the dark one is called Choco and the other one Coffee.
In dutch: Choco (or Chocie) and Koffie.

They are very curious about what happens around them, but don't like it if i have to do things in their cage, they then fly around slightly panicking, but i think they will get used to this in a while.

For now they are on a seed diet.
I orderder Psittacus micro pellets to try.
Think i just offer this with their seed in the same bowl?
The do not touch veggies i put between the cage bars.
I now try to put some finely chopped veggies with a little seed in a different feeding bowl, but they only look in the bowl to decide that it isn't food.

 

[Vera]

New picture from their cage setup.
They seem to be happy in it.
I offer them a exoticbird seedmix from Rio, also offer some grit and eggfood from the same brand, and some pisttacus micto and Top's pellets, but they only eat seeds.
I now give them Avesmix 25 supplement a couple times a week.