Lonely Sweet Pea

[Tweet]

I had a pair of Java finches, Shaquille and Sweet Pea, both about 8-9 years old. The male, Shaquille, died a few weeks ago and Sweet Pea and I are both bereft. While they weren’t hand tame, they were very cordial with me and scolded me if I forgot their greens or egg food, tweeted loudly when they heard me coming toward my office (I swear they could tell my footsteps from others!) and generally enjoyed my company, doing silly things to catch my attention.
So now Sweet Pea is alone in a large, well-furnished flight cage, 32x22 inches. (The cage calculator says 2–3 birds can live in a cage this size.) My question is what to do next. Should I buy a young male to keep her company, or will he pester her too much. (I would not, of course, put the breeding box in with them because of her age) Should I get both a young male and female to put in with her, or would that cause turf wars. I want her to be happy and not have to live alone, and at the same time, I’m moving toward a mated pair again. I’d sure appreciate some suggestions or advice.

[Sheather]

I would get her one younger companion, ideally another hen. When she passes away in the next few years you can then get a new male partner for the younger bird remaining.

Alternately, another cage next to her's with a new breeding pair. She'd have ambient companionship without the worry of the younger pair bullying her (which would be likely with Javas if you put a pair in with her.)

[Tweet]

Thanks Sheather!
Anyone else have an opinion, suggestion or comment? Anybody?

[Sally]

I agree with everything Sheather has said. A young male would probably pester her too much, as he would be in breeding mode and she wouldn't.

[lovezebs]

Tweet

Could you possibly find an older bird (from someone who wishes to rehome their bird)?

I think mybe that may work better than a much younger companion.

[camorrow]

I think the perk of a younger companion is you don't run the risk of her having to go through another loss, or at least as much as you can control such things. Adding an older companion means that you also likely have to repeat the same process in the next few years, even if it's the new, but older, companion that outlives Sweet Pea. I like the idea of another young female that you can then give a young male friend when the time comes.

[wildbird]

You could get an extra cage and put the new pair in that cage, then get a female to put in with her. That way she won't be alone in her cage.