FINCHforum

Can a male zebra be kept with a male society? My little Duke passed away and I had gotten my Wayne another zebra male for a companion. I borrowed a small cage to keep my new finch separate for awhile so they could get used to each other. I can't separate them as I don't have the cage because the person I borrowed it from needed it and I don't have the money to get a new one.

Since putting them together, I've been keeping an eye on them and I thought all was going well until Wayne had the urge to nest(he gets that way, I have no idea why) and that's when I started to see that Georgie(the new finch) was plucking at Wayne. Feathers on Wayne's head and right side have lessened and just today I noticed that his back is bare. What I don't understand is Wayne lets him do this. Wayne would never let Duke do anything like that but Duke wouldn't let Wayne do that either. I just don't get it.

A local pet store in town will take in small birds and pets from others and find homes for them(I might even check out the Marketplace here). Can I get a Society finch for Wayne as a companion? Societies tend to be more laid back so I think that would be better for my Wayne.

It sounds like Georgie is a more dominant male. Also, if they are in a cage that is too small, that can trigger feather plucking from stress. I think a male Society should work as a companion for Wayne, if Wayne is a more laidback Zebra.

Sally wrote: It sounds like Georgie is a more dominant male. Also, if they are in a cage that is too small, that can trigger feather plucking from stress. I think a male Society should work as a companion for Wayne, if Wayne is a more laidback Zebra.

The cage dimensions are 26L x 14W x 22H. Wayne and Duke used to do that beaking with each other but that's it. It never led to plucking and the only time I heard hissing or growling was when they both were in the nesting mood. Again, it never led to plucking.

When I got Georgie, Wayne would do the beaking but he was very gentle and it didn't last long. This is just so disappointing. I don't want Wayne to be plucked bald yet I feel bad that I have to give up Georgie.

Am I doing the right thing? I've always had pets that get along so I don't know if I'm handling this correctly.

Part of my post was supposed to say "This is just so disappointing". I don't know why 'This' kept repeating. I made the post on a tablet.

Hello Red Rose

You said you can't afford to get a new cage. I have some suggestions for that. Sometimes people that no longer want birds get rid of there cages for Free or REALLY Cheap. I got a $90 cage for $15 and it is really big. Holds 2 Finches comfortably. Got a 2nd one for $5.00 they just wanted to get rid of.

Here are where you can check and ask for. Tell your story that you can't afford another cage at this time but need help ASAP.

Freecycle.com

Craigslist

VarageSale.com

This last one is where I have gotten and sold everything I have needed. It is like a garage Sale but you don't have it in your home. It is local so you join the city closest to you. And you can join one next city over but where ever you join that is where you have to meet up. You meet at McDonalds or Walgreens or where ever is good for the 2 parties. And pay in cash. It is free to list and sell on it.

Good Luck.

flymouse

Thanks for those links. What I meant was that I can't afford to get a small cage that I'll probably rarely use. I'm currently saving up for a larger main cage. I look on sites like Kijiji for used cages and the cheapest I've found was a 30x18x18 for $30.

I checked out Varagesales.com but you need a Facebook account to join and I don't have(or want) one.

@Sally

Do society finches like physical contact the way zebra finches do? Zebras always preen each other and sleep together at night. Would a society finch be that way with a zebra or should I just take my chances and get another zebra for Wayne?

flymouse

Thanks for those links. What I meant was that I can't afford to get a small cage that I'll probably rarely use. I'm currently saving up for a larger main cage. I look on sites like Kijiji for used cages and the cheapest I've found was a 30x18x18 for $30.

I checked out Varagesales.com but you need a Facebook account to join and I don't have(or want) one.

Sally

Do society finches like physical contact the way zebra finches do? Zebras always preen each other and sleep together at night. Would a society finch be that way with a zebra or should I just take my chances and get another zebra for Wayne?

P.s. Sorry for that one messed up post. I'm not having much luck with tablets today.

Society finches are even more cuddly than Zebras, they love preening and sleeping together at night.

No worries on that one post, I cleaned it up for you.

Sally

Thanks for fixing up my post, Sally.

I like the thought of them being very cuddly! Wayne is used to being with someone who likes to preen and cuddle up at night. I've always read that when a finch loses a companion, you should get another of the same species so I didn't know if he would get along with a different type of finch.

One more question for you or anyone else reading this. How can you tell a male society from a female? I'm obviously not experienced with finches so I'm not familiar with their songs, etc.

Man, today was not a good day. I feel terrible for having to give up Georgie but at the same time, I couldn't leave him in there and pluck Wayne bald. Wayne would just be on the perch preening when Georgie would come up to him and try to pluck more feathers. It was worse when Wayne would be nesting in the food dish.

The biggest problem with Societies is that it is impossible to sex them visually. You have to catch the males singing, so it is not always easy to get the sex you want.

I thought the males were dark brown. I have read it is hard to sex them but seems everyone I ahve seen that is like chocolate brown sings and is male. And the light ones are female. So far that is what Have had. My first set born in May were all female.

I'm suspecting my new set (Clutch ???) are 2 female and one male.

Have a great DRY day. Storming bad here just got power back on.

flymouse

I've had society finches of all colors, fawn, red-fawn, chocolate, charcoal gray.
Took about 6 weeks for my males to start trying to sing. Half of my males turned out fawn-pied. Half my females turned out chocolate pied.

And I have a surprise just today...one of my chocolate "females" in my all girls cage ( of two supposed females) is......a boy. Took him 8 weeks to start singing.

So indeed you dont know until they begin trilling and tinkering with their song.

Red_Rose and flymouse

Societies come in a great variety of colours (both males and females). You cannot tell their gender by colour.

The only way (as was mentioned above) is to watch them until they sing. The male of the species, will puff himself up into a little pear shape, and will sing. The females do not sing, but will chirp (sounding a little bit like crickets ).

You might actually googl gSociety finch male song, which will give you an idea of what to listen to.

Thanks everyone.

Another question for everyone although I might make a new thread for it.

Will a zebra and society bond the way two zebras will?