Finches or Budgies (Parakeets)???

[allgood79]

Hello again!!! I posted on here about starting to build an aviary and had some pretty good responses from everyone so hopefully you'll be able to help me again - I just want to make sure that everything is right before I start as I don't want to start and then in 6 months regret keeping birds!!

I was talking to a friend the other night who recommended that I start with budgies as they were easier to look after than finches?? Can anyone help/comment on this statement? We were in the pub and had had quite a few to drink!!! lol - plus I don't think he has ever kept finches!!!

Could I start with Budgies and then add finches later? It seems that, depending on which websites you look on, people say yes & no - does anyone have any experience of keeping both together?? and if so are there any "golden rules" that i need to follow??

Also, I was thinking about noise levels - in my experience Budgies have always made a right old racket, are finches quieter / more pleasing on the ear??

Thanks in advance guys...

[JohnBoy]

I understand that some of the keets can be kept with finches but I am not sure Budgies are one of them. And yes Budgies are more noisy than finches.

[allgood79]

Thanks Johnboy, I think that my mind is pretty much made up that im going to go for finches. What types will be ok to keep together?? Again, I suppose, are there any types that are a big no-no together?

[Ursula]

I do keep finches and budgies together in my aviary and they get along just fine. (I do have more finches than budgies.)

An important thing is the size of the aviary though. If you consider a big cage as "aviary" DO NOT mix them! My aviary is a sunroom that's 11 by 11 feet and I keep about 25 birds in there (see my signature).

I would say that the only thing that is more "difficult" with finches is that some of them need live food (mealworms) and that you have to be careful not to mix species that don't get along, and that some species you can't easily keep in a group. (My male cordon bleus are not getting along so well, but my aviary is big enough for it not to be a real problem.)

However, if you get finches that are doing well in groups and don't need live food it's the same amount of "difficulty" to keep them. Both finches and budgies need their daily fresh water, food, greens, veggies and fruit, occasional hard boiled egg, etc.

[Finch Fry]

What types will be ok to keep together?? Again, I suppose, are there any types that are a big no-no together?

http://www.finchinfo.com/housing/compatible_species.php

[allgood79]

Thanks again for the help guys.

On one of my other threads someone mentioned about starting out with a pair of diamond doves and some Zebra finches as these would be a good way to ease me into keeping birds. I like the sound of this but am worried that when i come to add more birds they may not get along?? Any thoughts??

I was eventually looking at having something like zebras, gouldians, green singers, owl & star finches (aswell as the diamond doves) but notice that some of these are in different categories - how critical is this?? Will I end up with a massacre on my hands?? Also am I best keeping all of the birds im looking at in pairs?? As i've said before, I know I may be asking the same (kind of) questions over and over but I just want to make sure that I do it all right for the benefit of me and the birds!!

[Finch Fry]

If the cage is big enough, you may not have massacres. There is a potential for high stress levels with incompatible birds though irregardless of size.

Its best to stick to birds in one category... although others have proven that they can mix "aggressives" with "passives" and not have issues while others have shown "passives" that terrorize other "passives". Individual temperament will have a major affect on compatibility. The categories are a great guideline and the majority of flocks will have no problem if you follow it.

[allgood79]

What about keeping canaries with finches in a mixed aviary?? does anyone have any experience of this??

[smilysnail]

Allgood79,
i keeping a canary with others finch, unfortunately i dont have a pix to show her sleep in a row with others