Favorite foods :

 

Grass seeds, insects (mealworms, termites, small spiders, white worms, aphids, ant pupae), egg food, green food.

 

Natural habitat:

 

Arid country, including thorn scrub, acacia thickets, and sometimes open bushy areas. Enjoys aloes.

 

Habits:

 

Prefers to feed on the ground. Usually form monogamous pairs and small parties. Courtship usually takes place on the ground with the cock holding a stem or feather in his bill, singing and bowing his head as he bobs up and down, hoping to attract a hen. An interested hen may fly to the cock, twist her head and tail toward him and possibly also show a display, joining the male in bobbing. Both cock and hen share nest construction, often building their round nest low in a bush or shrub. The cock may continually line the nest with feathers during incubation, which both parents take turns doing through the day, with the hen incubating at night. 

 

Special considerations:

 

Although Purple Grenadiers are mostly peaceable, they should not be housed with Cordon Bleus, as Purple Grenadiers tend to be quite aggressive toward them. Additionally, they may also demonstrate aggression toward other red-billed species.These fairly delicate birds require careful acclimatizing, sheltering from inclement weather, and a heated shelter in cooler months; their environment should not become cooler than 65 °F (18°C), especially for newly imported birds. A dry, warm, well-sheltered flight or cage is recommended.Small quantities of live food should be offered throughout the year, and increased substantially during breeding. During the non-breeding season, an austerity diet (limiting the amount of live food, greens, sprouted seed) should be adhered to prevent obesity and unintentional breeding stimulation. Due to their insectivorous and ground-feeding nature, Purple Grenadiers may be prone to intestinal parasites such as Gizzardworms (Acuaria spp.) and coccidia; regular deworming is recommended. Ensure that birds receive adequate vitamin D (via natural sunshine or supplementation). Hens are prone to egg-binding, especially young and old hens housed exclusively indoors or those which are housed outdoors during cold weather. Purple Grenadiers are parasitized by the Fischer's or Straw-tailed Whydah (Vidua fischeri) and have reportedly hybridized with the Violet-eared Waxbill (Uraeginthus granatina). 

 

Breeding season:

 

Purple Grenadiers breed during the rainy season.Southern Kenya: March & AprilNorthern Tanzania: December through FebruaryAustralia (in captivity): February through July

 

Breeding tips:

 

Birds should be at least 1 year old prior to breeding. A breeding diet should be introduced about 1 month prior to breeding, and should include copious amounts of live food, greens, and sprouted seed. Pairs are best bred individually in sunny, well-planted outdoor aviaries with shrubs or bushes for nesting. Ideally, pairs should not be housed in adjacent enclosures to prevent distraction. Environmental temperatures should be maintained around 72 to 79 °F (22-26 °C).Nest boxes and wire baskets stuffed with dried brush can serve as nest sites. Provide coconut fiber, dried grass, and feathers for nesting material. Provide an ample variety and supply of live food for parents to rear their young. Avoid nest checks. Purple Grenadier hens are very tight sitters. Several stressors may increase the risk of premature fledging or nest/chick abandonment, including: nest checks or disturbances, sudden diet change, shortage of live food or rearing food, administration of medication. If premature fledging occurs, do not attempt to replace the fledged bird to the nest as this may result in the siblings fledging prematurely; instead, fit the enclosure with a small brooder under which the fledges can huddle to stay warm at night, or bring chicks indoors (to keep them warm) overnight and release them back into the aviary in the morning. Parents cease brooding the chicks around the 9th day of age, so it is important to keep the enclosure sufficiently warm during this time. Parents may encourage the chicks to fledge by withholding food and calling loudly from outside the nest. After fledging, young may return to the nest at night for an additional 1-2 weeks. Nest hygiene is poor, so the spent nest should be removed after fledging, and the parents given an opportunity to build a fresh nest for the next brood. Pairs may produce 3 broods per season. After fledging, juveniles should be left with the parents for 4 weeks before removing them to their own enclosure to ensure independence.Pairs may establish their permanent bonds as young as 35 days of age when the juveniles attain their adult coloration of the face.Purple Grenadier chicks may be successfully fostered by Blue-headed Cordon Bleu, Red-cheeked Cordon Bleu, Red-billed Firefinches, and possibly Society Finches. 

 

Life Cycle:

 

Clutch size:3-5 eggs

Incubation date:After the 4th or 5th egg is laid

Hatch date:After 12-14 days of incubation

Fledge date:At 21 days of age

Wean date:5 weeks of age (about 2 weeks after fledging)

Early juvenile molt:Around 35 days of age

 

Related Article(s):

 

If you own this species and would like to write an article about your experiences with them for this page, please submit your article for possible inclusion on this site. Credit will be given to you!

 

Purple Grenadier:

 

-Parent Raised Purple Grenadiers - An article on breeding.