Amadins are small birds belonging to the family of finch weavers, the natural habitat of which are the forests of Australia and Africa. Thanks to selection, new species have appeared that differ in their appearance, sometimes very original. When choosing an amadina as a pet, it is important to know how many years she will live in captivity.
average life expectancy
At home, there are several varieties of these birds, each has its own specific content. It is known that it is the quality of care that affects the duration of their life. However, do not forget about the genetic program of any kind, which is an indispensable factor influencing this aspect. For example, Gould, Japanese and Muscat (scaly chest) Amadins can potentially live up to 10 and 15 years, Of course, under the favorable conditions created for them by man. The shortest life span for rice and zebra varieties is only 7-8 years.
Amidines live even less in nature - from 2 to 5 years. This is due to the harsh natural environment and the struggle for survival.
Wild birds are constantly faced with various problems and are not always able to deal with them.
- Those feathered that lead a settled life, most often experience a shortage of food. They do not fly away anywhere and feed on those types of vegetation that are in their habitat zone. But if a long dry period sets in, then the birds may lose not only food, but also the moisture necessary for active life.
- Difficulties of another plan lie in wait for migratory weavers living in large flocks.Despite the fact that in search of food they can simply fly to another, more fertile place, weak individuals often die before they reach their destination.
- With the exception of the zebra species, which can survive for a long time without drinking and consuming salt water, the number of other birds, especially its young and weak representatives, periodically reduces water shortages. In addition, often local peasants themselves poison water bodies to scare away birds from their gardens and fields. For the same purpose, snares are installed in which many amadins die.
- Do not forget that in the natural environment the bird has many enemies, the prey of which it can become. These are larger starlings, sparrows, ravens, hawks, owls, falcons and other predators. Another species of predatory animal that constantly threatens the life of a small bird is cow jaundice, lizards and snakes. Even insects such as ants and flies can cause the death of masonry and chicks. by nature
Often the cause of the extinction of some species is not only the complexity of life in the wild, but also the lack of maternal instinctfor example, Goulds are bad parents who refuse to hatch their own eggs and, as a rule, do not even care about hatched offspring. And also under threat of extinction are the royal and black-faced species of Amadina.
What affects the life of captive weavers?
The birds living in the apartment next to the person are fenced from predators and provided with food and water, but their lifespan may vary from 7 to 15 years, depending on how much the owner manages to bring home conditions closer to natural conditions.
Illiterate care, as well as many other factors, can negatively affect the days of a small pet.
- Too high or low temperature, its sharp changes. Weavers need a temperature regime that does not go beyond +20 degrees Celsius.
- Birds may not have enough light, because they need a daylight of at least 10-12 hours a day. In the cold season, cells can be illuminated with ultraviolet lamps.
- Dry air and the lack of proper ventilation can also cause premature death of a pet, so you need to regularly ventilate the room with the cage and maintain a humidity of 60-70% in it.
- Amadins are very mobile, and too tight a cell can cause muscle atrophy in the bird. Therefore, for a pair of weavers, a design of at least 60 cm in length is required, providing for nesting and rearing of chicks. You can not put these birds in the round cells in which they are stressed due to the fact that they lose their orientation in space.
- Not all ornithological enthusiasts are aware that weavers do not like neighborhood with other species, therefore it is not recommended to place them in one dwelling. This can lead to injuries, but also to constant stress from such a struggle, which increases the risk of depression in amadins, and ultimately leads to their death.
Proper content also includes important aspects such as nutrition and hygiene.. Unpleasant diseases in birds can be caused by raw millet, persimmon and avocado, greens - onions, dill and parsley, as well as brown bread.
Weavers are fed yellow millet in combination with peeled oats, flaxseed and moghara; birds need to use herbs such as plantain, clover and dandelion. If the bird sheds, it needs to be fed with crushed boiled egg, germinated grains, mineral additives.
The decrease in the life span can be associated with unsanitary conditions, therefore, it is necessary to clean the cell daily.
How to choose a bird?
The right choice of a pet is the key to his long life. First of all, you should choose a healthy bird - this will increase the chances of a long life amadina.Due to the fact that breeders constantly strive to develop new species of weavers, mutant species appear that are genetically predisposed to various diseases. And in this case, you cannot guarantee the purchase of a healthy bird.
Therefore, acquiring birds, you need to pay attention to many nuances:
- excessive thinness or lethargy can talk about certain ailments;
- the diseased bird will be given out exposed parts of the body, bulging breastbone, ruffled feathers;
- you should look into the subclavian cavities, checking the bird for parasites and ticks.
A healthy amadina is moderately well-fed, she has a light pink skin color, feathers fit snugly to the body, eyes sparkle. And also to understand that everything is in order with the weaver, you can by the lack of hoarseness in his voice and active behavior.
It is equally important to carefully deliver the pet home. For this, it is better to use special transportation cage designed for the dimensions of this type. Within a month, it is necessary to observe the rules of quarantine, and not to put a new pet in the same cage with home weavers.
Constantly monitoring the state of your pet, giving enough time to care for it, you can significantly extend the life of your favorite bird.
And if there are suspicions of an amadina disease, it is most reasonable to use the help of a veterinarian.
On the characteristics of Amadins and the features of their content, see below.