How many finches in a cage?

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 10:21 pm

Hi, I'm new to birds. I had seen many Zebra finches offered for adoption on Petfinder and Craigslist, and decided to rescue some. I got my first a month ago, a male who came with a small vertical cage. I built a bigger cage with info from online sources, 4ft long by 2 ft high and deep. I rescued my second male 10 days ago. They get along OK, but haven't really bonded. I intend to adopt more, up to a max. of 4 birds, but I'm concerned about what I've read on this forum. Is it really an absolute that there must be either only 2 or more than 6 birds in a cage, even all males? The cage isn't large enough for 6, so that would mean I couldn't rescue any more. Would it make a difference if the new bird(s) were Societies? If I chanced it, would it be better to introduce 2 new birds at once? Thanks, Jeremy[/img]

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 10:33 pm

It's hard to predict how any birds will get along with each other, but zebra finches do have a tendency to fight if they are housed 3-5 per enclosure (unless the enclosure is very large etc.). Adding society finches to the two zebra finches may work since they are so peaceable. Hopefully others on this forum will chime in with their experiences keeping mixed flights which included zebra finches, because it has been a while since I've kept any. If you are planning on introducing 2 more birds, it's probably better to introduce the new birds at the same time (after everyone has 'passed' quarantine). Rearranging the cage upon introduction may help prevent any territorial bickering.

I'm glad that you've given those birds a home, though! Sounds like you have built them a nice enclosure.

Hoji · Post by **Hoji** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 8:46 am

Yup, got to agree with Crystal. I went down almost the same path as you are, I took the advice offered here and have a happy mixed flock in a flight that I built myself (with Hubby's help). 4 zebras, 4 society, and a canary. The flight is 6ft long, 4 ft tall, and 30" deep, built on plastic 'buffet' table like you see at fairs and such (bought this at Lowe's). Check out the avairy posts and the main site for info and really good suggestions.
My guys (non-breeding) are happy and peaceful. There is exuberant chasing, but I think that is good and fun for them. Only occational hissing and no pecking or feather plucking!
ahhhh

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 9:38 pm

Well, this is a great disappointment for me. I thought I had done my homework, reading a lot online and building a cage longer than tall and as large as was practical for my situation. I had seen the "3-4 sq ft per pair" and reckoned I could keep a max. of 5, but had read that even in a non-breeding situation it was better to keep an even number, so I was aiming for four. Then I found this site and read previous posts about housing and the "only two or more than six" rule. At 8 sq ft and 2- 1/2 ft tall, it's a BIG cage for two little birds. The fact that I was to a large extent doing this to rescue unwanted birds makes it especially disappointing. Oh, well.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 10:45 pm

I realize that last post sounded too negative. I'm really enjoying my two guys. It's like having a large-screen TV with The Finch Show always playing! I tried to include a photo of their cage, but don't know how without an "attach" command. I'll try to find directions.

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 11:10 pm

jeremy, if you upload the file to the gallery (or host it somewhere else), you can include an image in a post by typing

Code: Select all

[img]http://www.example.com/your_image.jpg[/img]

You could still try housing 4 birds in your cage (if the other 2 are a different species), it's just difficult to guarantee that they will all get along. In the event that they do not get along, you would need to have a second cage handy, which can be a pain if you're limited on space.

robbocop · Post by **robbocop** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 12:22 am

Jeremy, Chrystal asked me to reply to you regarding the Zebras and Societies in the same cage, I have 2 of each, male and female Zebra and who knows what the Societies are, but they get along great

Rob

tursiopschic · Post by **tursiopschic** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:21 pm

Hi Jeremy~

I don't have any zebras or societies, but i do have 5 males in a cage together so I have broken the more than 6 rule. The cage is 6' x 1.5'or2' in floor space and a few feet high.

They have been together for a few weeks now and are doing really well. One of them is a canary, which may(?) equate to the pushiness of a zebra. They will try and show each other up, but they have not plucked or done anything besides a bit of beak fencing and hissing now and then. None of them are very cuddly with each other, but I think they enjoy each other's company. And EVERYONE sings so it's quite entertaining to watch (and listen to) them trying to outsing each other.

I think because they have no females to impress they are satisfied with their bachelor pad. So maybe if you try and rescue only males it would work (keeping in mind that i have no prior experience with zebras)?

Hope my experience helps you with your fids!

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:10 am

Thanks for all the replies! Unfortunately, it seems the "2 or more than 6" rule is an absolute, except when it's not! My original intent was to rescue unwanted birds as they became available, but I understand now that this wouldn't work due to probable aggression from the current residents towards the new guy. At least my first two were rescues, so part of the plan was accomplished. But I still think the habitat would be more complete with 4 birds, so now I'm thinking of taking a chance by adding two male Societies. I've never seen Socs as rescues, so I'd have to buy them. I went to Petsmart in the evening, but all the Socs were jammed into one small nestbox (I saw 4 or 5 heads), and I've read that the only way to recognize males is when they sing.
I'll post on another thread asking where people buy birds locally other than Petsmart. I hesitate to patronize regular pet stores. Is there a list of breeders somewhere?
A photo of the cage is in the gallery called "Jeremy's finch cage". It would be difficult to rearrange the branches as they're custom fit into the cage, but I'll move the plants and nests when introducing new birds.

Post by **Hilary** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 9:58 pm

My first three societies were all rescues, so also don't give up on that source. Of course, there's no guarantee they'd all be males. My three were all "males" ("don't put them with females - breeding is forbidden"). Well, they got one out of three right!

Of course, since I have no idea whether they're related there won't be any breeding (though boy, can they raise gouldian babies!).

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 11:16 am

turpsiochic, thanks for the vote on keeping 3-5 males. Robbocop, you don't seem to care if your Socs are female. I understood that introducing a female would lead to conflict, but apparently that's not a problem for you, and so maybe wouldn't be for me either. Interesting. Hillary, you don't allow your Socs to breed. Am I making too big a thing of removing eggs or whatever you do to deny them? What is the preferred method?
Thanks to all for replies. J

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 5:28 pm

Mixing males and females tends to raise tensions most when they are the same species (AND when the species is one which tends to become aggressive while breeding). I therefore wouldn't add zebra hens to your zebra males (unless you could put 6 pair in the cage), but adding any sex of societies (male or female) should be okay. The societies are very passive and peaceful, even while breeding, in almost all circumstances.

To prevent breeding (and to prevent a lot of bickering as well), simply remove the nests from the cage. They can sleep on perches just fine. Without nests, they won't have an opportunity or as great a stimulus to breed (which is a big part of what causes tensions to run high). It becomes especially important to prevent breeding if you inadvertently end up with society hens and zebra males--you don't want any hybrids.

Post by **Hilary** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 7:31 pm

To answer Jeremy's question, I don't allow the rescue societies to breed. I signed a contract saying I wouldn't, plus I have no idea if they're related or not. I'd never breed a bird unless I knew they weren't related. I do actually breed societies, but I breed the Japanese line for frills and albinos (beautiful birds). My three rescue birds are American pied (one with a frill) and are fantastic foster parents - I even bought a 4th so I'd have two pairs for fostering (though they did great 3 together, but I wanted to handle 2 nests at the same time if I had to). I pull eggs all the time, though. My chiyoda (chest frill) Japanese boy and his mate are trying to lay a 4th clutch, and those are going in the trash as soon as she's done laying - they need a break.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 2:20 pm

Well, the message I distilled from all the replies and opinions and experiences was: 1) I could add two additional birds of a different species, preferably Societies, and 2) it wasn't absolutely necessary for the Socs to be both male. So yesterday I spent 1/2 hour staring at the 3 birds at Petco and making squeeking noises with my mouth trying to determine if there were any males, and got little response. So I went to Petsmart and did the same to their 4 birds, and one called and sang enough to make me believe he is a male, although he didn't puff up or dance. I couldn't decide which of the others to take, but the sales associate who came to catch the birds said she had been watching them and thought another was male, also, so I bought those two. Beautiful birds, chocolate brown and white. I have to get used to the color not being bilaterally symmetrical. My first Zebra is chasing them a bit, but not bad, and no plucking. The Soc I think is male keeps calling and breaking off lengths of dried grass longer than he is and waving them about in his beak. I think they'll settle down and be OK. Thanks for all the help! Jeremy

Post by **Sally** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 4:04 pm

The Zebras are just being territorial right now--that was their cage first, so they want to make sure the Societies know that. Once they realize the Societies aren't a threat to them, they should settle down. Just keep an eye on them for now. I love the coloring on Societies, especially the chocolate brown and white, and each one having its own pattern makes it easy to tell them apart.