FINCHforum

What’s the best way to introduce a new female zebra finch to a male.
My wife was sold two males, so I’m taking one male back And switching for a female. Can she be put directly into his cage should I put a cage next to his cage and let them get to know one another. New to this, Advice welcome.

Sphenald

First of all welcome to the Forum .

It depends if they were housed together in the Pet Shop (?)

If they were housed together before, I would say it's probably safe to put them together, because they already know each other.

If they were housed seperately, then I would go with two cages side by side for a while.

Once you are ready to put them together, remove your male from the main cage, change and move things around a bit, then introduce both in together. This way, no one feels too territorial about the space.

* Normally, I would recommend a period of quarantine, but seeing as they are both from the same shop, I think they should be ok together.

Oh, and just a quick note here:
If you introduce a nest into the cage, they will breed like rabbits, so be prepared to find homes for baby Zebras .

Thanks Elana,

Excited to be on the forum(very informative)

They have never been together(I will keep separated).

Is there a general rule when it comes to how long it takes to get to know each other before introducing them together. Days, a week?

Sphenald

It really depends on the individual birds.

I would watch to see how they interact through the cage bars.

If they're hissing at each other and throwing themselves angrily against the bars, then a definite no .

If they start sitting close to each another on perches adjacent to one another calmly, making little friendly noises to one other, then the odds are that the introduction may go smoothly .

Good luck.

I’ll watch for the love connection.

Thank you

Sphenald

Welcome to the forum!

Thank you. Awesome forum.