Wild-caught Blue Capped waxbills more willing to breed in flights
than large cages - (my flights - 9' x 2' x 6')

Domestic reared adults more tolerant of large cages (4' plus)

only 1 breeding pair of Cordon Bleu Waxbills per enclosure

pair-bond quite strong - can take 3 months to form a new bond
(a previous mate MUST be out of ear shot)
allopreening is sign of success

cock singing - throwing head back while holding straw
things are starting to happen

nest building to first eggs very quick (1 week)

Inducing Blue Capped Waxbills to breed

enclosure to themselves or if with other non-Cordon Bleu Waxbills
no bullying (often they are the bullies!)

Don't mix the Cordon Blue Waxbills
Blue Capped/ Red Cheeked Cordon Bleu/ Blue Breasted
(hybrids will occur - or fighting)

light - 14 hours a day when breeding

full spectrum fluorescent tubes
link to Arcadia for benefits of their Bird Lamps/ tubes
these tubes also show all 'Blue' Waxbills to perfection
replace annually
slow delivery, good prices - UK mail order - Fish, Fur & Feather
ideally electronic ballast flicker-free battens (~ 20,000cps)
good, inexpensive mail order UK supplier - Alert Electical
(codes D120, D121, D122 & D123 fit the bill)

temperature - no lower than 15°C (60°F) - especially when breeding

ensure calcium is readily available
grated cuttlefish/ crushed baked egg shells - (I also use Calcivet™)

if physical conditions are right then it's down to feeding

greenfood, grit, vitamins etc, as per normal

A seed mix is outlined on - feeding

the Paul de Nil-derived conditioning mix is also decribed there

frozen (thawed) buffalo worms usually help stimulate
especially with wild caught
5 - 10 worms once a day per pair

(UK mail order frozen livefood supplier - Priors Pet Products)

Nest inspection

not recommended unless domestic reared Cordon Bleus

How know whether have eggs if can't inspect?

If nest receptacle positioned strategically
will see a bird in the nest - easy

if in a densely planted aviary
will only see 1 Cordon Bleu then..
3 days after brooding - the cock in particular
will have a very laterally curved tail

they are quite steady 'sitters'
the cock might commence sitting but
the hen usually does most of the work with a full clutch

clutch = 4 - 6 eggs

fertility is usually very high

Nest receptacles and siting

photos show they will use

half fronted boxes - wooden or plastic
wicker baskets
also happy to build their own

preferably high up

just coconut fibre - not fussy re material

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so they will use most receptacles

in a variety of positions

but usually high-up