They are not aggressive to other species in a mixed flight. Veteran waxbill lovers reviewing this article, stressed not to wait until the waxbills nest to present food. This may be going into unwarranted detail, but the demand for live food by even one pair of highly insectivorous birds exceeds by far what most people would assume. During a nesting season, one pair will require several thousand live insects. In their natural habitat, and larger aviary flights, they feed on ground, or ledges, and upon vegetation.
Experts recommend sprouts, lettuce, spinach, broccoli, cabbage and certain herbs.
They even can ingest some needed minerals from the soil of plant roots. Always provide a cuttlebone, or calcium additive to supplement the needed calcium for egg production and laying. In the wild, they tend to build nests in the base of bushes. It is recommended to place a proposed nest close to the ground. Waxbills will build their own nest, but will also take easily to a covered canary basket, placed behind greenery or mounted in a small bush.