36x18x36" cage...what type of finch should I get?

[trailblazer]

Here is the cage! I made it from two 40 gallon aquariums and their screen tops. I cut the bottom out of one, and one side from another, fixed on the screen tops...one on the top, one as a side, filled in the gaps with other screen pieces, and added the lid from a rubbermaid bin to serve as a tray for the floor, it happened to fit perfectly. I like how it turned out, considering I didn't buy anything besides the plastic plants and stuff the birds need, I had everything else sitting around. Only problem is the whole thing would fall apart if I tried to move it. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it...good thing there's no earthquakes where I live ;).

ps. you can see at least one of the finches, the pied one. He is the most adventurous, the only one who doesn't freeze up when I point the camera at him...yah he's my favourite, lol. I named him "Wheelie" because he unfortunately seems like the third wheel in the relationship between the female, and the stumpy-tailed little male who can hardly fly...no accounting for taste!

[Kiishka]

That is so clever, and VERY cool! Never seen one with so much glass to it. Love it!!

[Dayna]

I think you would be safe getting a button with that set up. Very nice set up. Very creative

[kenny66]

I think this is a very clever arrangement and very creative. I would not put parrot finches in such and arrangment though. Quails should work

[dan78]

Very nice setup. Quail should be fine,plenty of room to move and definitely high enough when they fly up. Is there any wire where the glass is? The reason I'm asking is when birds get spooked they tend to fly towards what they think is an open space and glass being see through could be potentially mean that a bird may fly straight into it and get injured.

[debbie276]

I personally wouldn't put quail in there. Another thing to keep in mind is the quail will eat ANYTHING that hits the bottom (even baby chicks). The picture makes it look so big but when you focus on the society you realize it's not (36x18x36). It is beautiful and so clever as far as the materials you used.
Best of luck with your new finches.

[trailblazer]

Thanks everyone! I wasn't sure what the reaction would be, didnt expect all the kind comments . I was worried it would be too much glass at first, but the tanks are a bit scratched up from past use so the birds seemed to see it right away. I'm now on the lookout for another used tank of the same size, to expand the cage. I need to make a better door in the middle too. Right now I have to take out that whole piece of mesh between the tanks to get in there, which isn't a big deal in itself but I worry the birds will get out, because they look like they are thinking about it when they see the space is open.
I've decided to pass on the quail, because yes for one the setup isn't as big as the picture makes it look....and when I considered the added poop load of quails, it would be a bit much. Plus I learned how loud quails can be at ungodly hours . And I would like to have babies. I'm just going to keep the societies in here, but could I fit one more female? I have two boys, one girl right now and well I'm not sure if I'd call it 'fighting' but the boys seem to squabble over her...if one sees the other mating with her seems to get agitated and will fly over, which breaks it up. Is three a crowd?

[L in Ontario]

I think 3 is definitely a crowd when it comes to finches no matter which gender gets the 'extra' body.

[debbie276]

I agree with Liz, you need another hen.

[dan78]

Yep another hen sounds good to me.

[trailblazer]

Yay! lol.
I got mine from a 'Pet Valu' which doesn't typically sell birds, and they are not banded. I've noticed most other places, like petsmart the finches are banded. Does this mean anything? I wonder if my three may be related...is that a problem if I bred them? Its not like I could really ever tell I guess. The staff at the store were clueless, they just said they came 'from the supplier' along with some baby budgies. For some freakish reason they decided to put the finches in a tiny cage next to the cage of the 'store mascot'...a ferret. Poor guys, its a wonder they were not scared to death.
Well now I have to find a better place to look for finches. What I've seen so far at stores has been rather sad.

[kenny]

hi
i dont know what size cage they originally came from ,but the weak flying sounds to me that they came from a smaller cage than yours ,so they will need thier wing muscles building up because they must have just been hopping from perch to perch .so you need to put your perches as far apart as possible but not to far so thier tail feathers are being bent by the cage sides.they may at first spend a bit of time on the floor but once they start to build they will fly from one end to the other which will build them up really well and will strenghthen thier wing muscles

ken