Is it ok to add Gouldians to my aviary

AndreasLon · Post by **AndreasLon** » Sun May 10, 2009 3:52 pm

Hi all,

I am relatively new to bird keeping (apart from budgies and canaries when I was a kid).

I got about a year ago some finches (gouldians, owl, and parrot finches) and kept them in a very large cage, but they all inevitably died after a couple of weeks. I think at the time what was killing them was my cat jumping on top of the cage and harassing them.

I subsequently build an indoor aviary for them and the deaths have stopped, with the exception of a couple of gouldians, which were the only ones that died out of my new stock.
I have now expanded the indoor aviary to add an outdoor flying space of 9"x6"x3". The indoor space is 4"x6"x3". So that is plenty of space for the 10 birds I have now. I have had no more deaths and would like now to add some gouldians.

Will it be safe to do so now in the good season? Can anyone think of a reason why the Gouldians died so easily?

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Sun May 10, 2009 5:37 pm

First off sorry for your loss. Sendond off sounds like you have built a really roomy aviary

How old were the gouldians that died? Were they molting? Did they appear sick prior to dying, such as puffed up and sleeping alot?
Many things can go wrong, especially if they were very young or if they were under a lot of stress from the others. Without more information, You can only guess what may have caused the deaths.
When buying new birds buy from a reputable breeder and quarintine them for several weeks to make sure they are healthy before releasing them with the others wjo are healthy. Good Luck.

summert85 · Post by **summert85** » Sun May 10, 2009 7:11 pm

awww sorry you lost so many finches.

i hope it'll be better for you this time around. hope to see some pics of your birds and aviary soon.

we all love pictures here.

AndreasLon · Post by **AndreasLon** » Mon May 11, 2009 10:44 am

Here's some photos of the indoor aviary.

You can see some of my parakeets who live together with the finches.

lovemyfinch · Post by **lovemyfinch** » Mon May 11, 2009 12:14 pm

Beautiful birds, and great quality pics.

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Mon May 11, 2009 12:14 pm

Do the parakeets get along with the finchs I have been told they don't get along because the parakeets are so much larger.But they are very pretty birds

AndreasLon · Post by **AndreasLon** » Mon May 11, 2009 2:38 pm

Yes they get on very well. Or rather they are very good at ignoring each other.

It does depend on the type of parakeet though, Neophemas (Australian Grass Parakeets) are extremely peaceful. You can just about see the yellow of my female Turquoise parakeet behind the parrot finches.

Lineolated parakeets (the ones in the pic) are also great with finches.

In fact, I had more issues with pesky zebras than my hookbills.

I know that cokatiels can also be kept with smaller birds and hanging parrots.

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Tue May 12, 2009 12:22 am

Love your birds, I also have scarlet chested parakeets and red headed parrot finches...also other type of finches.
I think these make a great combination and like you say they don't interact with one another. Have you ever had the ketts bother the nests of the finches?

AndreasLon · Post by **AndreasLon** » Tue May 12, 2009 1:40 am

No, never. The Zebras on the other hand did!

AndreasLon · Post by **AndreasLon** » Tue May 12, 2009 6:59 am

this is my female turquoisine. This was taken in the quarantine cage.

She is beautiful I think.

lovemyfinch · Post by **lovemyfinch** » Tue May 12, 2009 7:44 am

You think?

She is beautiful.

AndreasLon · Post by **AndreasLon** » Tue May 12, 2009 7:54 am

thanks! She is a bit like a model though, all looks and little personality. The finches make up for that so she can just sit on her perch and pose.

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Tue May 12, 2009 8:27 am

First one I have seen she could be a model beautiful

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Tue May 12, 2009 10:51 am

What a beauty

Would that be a Lutino mutation

Here is one of my scarlets: I agree this family, neophemas are a most gentle species, They get along wonderful with finches...though I do cage breed my pairs, mainly so that I can select the partners

lovemyfinch · Post by **lovemyfinch** » Tue May 12, 2009 12:39 pm

lovely, lovely, lovely I don't know what else to say