FINCHforum

Hi everyone! I'm new to the forum, and a little rusty on my finches. I had a pair of zebras years in the past, wonderful darlings. Now, I have decided to begin keeping them again. I currently have a mated pair of zebras, and I'm looking to add more birds. the cage they will eventually share is 60 x 18 x 36, so according to the calculator, I shouldn't keep more than 5 birds. Obviously, this makes more zebras sound like not a good choice. What else can I add, and should they be male/female pairs too? Thanks in advance for any advice!

I keep approx. 25 zebras in cages 60"x24"x24". Societies also! It has never been a problem. But these are the birds I sell not breed. Personally I think you should be fine with 5 pairs of birds as long as they are compatible.

Let me answer your with a question.Name a few birds that you like and people will help you out from there

Just remember when looking at species that the Zebras are considered pushy and may not mix well with some of the more passive species. I don't have Zebras, so you will probably get better advice from someone who does, but I would think 3 pair might be OK in that size cage. Is that one of those where you put two 30x18x36 cages together to make one flight?

Those cages are 60"high. The foot print is the same as the breeders 30" x 18" x 18". They make a 30" x 18" x 36" tall and a 30" x18" x 60 " tall. I usually use these tall cages for gouldians to color out in. The youngsters will fly up, down and all around... they are much more active than adults.
I have a pair of parrot finches in one now and they have a nest with chicks First cage breeding I have done with them. Usually I use an aviary for them since they are so active but they are doing great in this tall cage.
This is an 8.5 foot ceiling so you can see the height. Also in the second picture you can see the rack of four 24' breeder cages in the rear.



I have many zebras. Some are pushy and some are very peaceful. Being that they are already established in that cage means they have the territory marked out. When adding another species or other zebras for that matter, change the arrangements of the perches. seed dish, water, etc. This way maybe the original inhabitants won't be so territorial.

wow, thanks for all the help so far! my current zebras live in 1/2 of the planned large cage (yes, it will be one made of 2 smaller cages) I do plan on rearranging most of the furnishings when I make the big cage, and introduce everybody at once to try to keep territoriality out of it. I would love to add 2 more pairs of zebras, just wasn't sure this cage is big enough. I also like owls, spice and society finches. Green singing finches are beautiful, but pricey at my local pet store. On a totally random note, what are people's thoughts about putting a small dove in with finches? If I can't do more zebras, i thought about a dove instead.

oops I thought you had the 60" tall cages......
I was thinking of joining these three 60" tall ones I have together. That would make the aviary 7.5 feet long and 5' tall. Or maybe just join 2 of them... Actaully I don't think they make this size any more. I have had these for 7 years now.

most people, make that all members of the forum will probably disagree with me but I reckon that the best bird to keep with zebras would most certainly be a hungry hawk

mickp wrote:most people, make that all members of the forum will probably disagree with me but I reckon that the best bird to keep with zebras would most certainly be a hungry hawk

Ahhh Mickp.

mickp wrote:most people, make that all members of the forum will probably disagree with me but I reckon that the best bird to keep with zebras would most certainly be a hungry hawk

Not all members.......

Ria,
Zebras are lovely finches. Don't let some members that do not care for them chase you from the forum. I Have been keeping zebras for most of my bird keeping years. They are hardy, beautiful and rewarding. Some of the biggest bird shows revolve around zebras.
I have kept orange weavers, canaries, societies, cut throats, javas, gouldians in the same enclosure as zebras before...not all at the same time. But any of these species presented no conflicts.

I saw some beautiful and difference species of zebras today at the Atlanta bird fair.

Some I had never seen before. I had zebras in a cage at one time, but in my mixed
aviary they just didn't work. They were beating up all the other finches.

Check out Garry Landry's website (zebrafinch.com) if you want to see some jaw-dropping Zebras! Awesome birds.

I actually just discovered that a green singing finch can kick some zebra **** if he wants to. My little sunshine now has the right to eat first and pick his perch. No arguments from any of the zebras, he put them all in their place - and took his.

lovemyfinch wrote:I actually just discovered that a green singing finch can kick some zebra **** if he wants to. My little sunshine now has the right to eat first and pick his perch. No arguments from any of the zebras, he put them all in their place - and took his.

I second that! At first my Green Singer was insecure and got bullied, but now he will not even allow another bird on the same perch as him when he is singing his song. He's turned into something of a meanie, but I'm sure in a large aviary he would do fine. And I disagree with zebras being very pushy, all of mine are pretty passive. I think given the right circumstances zebra can go with just about anyone.