Conflicted Between Cage and Colony Breeding

[winged]

What do you guys prefer and why?

I am extremely conflicted on what to do. I'm about to move in this large space above a garage and will have plenty of room to dedicate to my pair of societies and future finches. I can easily build the panel-flight aviary as well as 6' by 3' breeding cage setup that I have all drawn out and ready to go. I might end up just building both.... or at least two smaller flight cages for each sex. I just don't know what to even start with.

tons of room + a lot of options = a very overwhelmed me


my other option is to purchase this for $100
http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/for/2596107237.html
I really shouldn't pass this up should I?.....

[ac12]

I breed in cages.
This is because I want to control the color scheme of the offspring. To do that I have to select the birds to mate. If the birds select their own mates, I could get color combos that I do not want.

If I was just breeding to sell, then I would let them select their own mates, as then the breeding would "theoretically" be better.

To do my method, when not breeding, I keep the males and females separated and out of sight of each other.

[wellingtoncdm]

I began colony breeding because I liked the look of many finches living together. I very quickly realized that nests were being raided, nesting material stolen, chicks were on the floor and the birds were stressed. I still like aviaries but now use them for resting birds or young. I only cage breed with better results and happier birds. Other people have had better luck, this is just what works for me.

[winged]

Thank you so much for your input! I did some more research and it definitely seems that cage breeding is the best way to go with the flights reserved for resting birds.
Again, thank you!

[poohbear]

Trouble with the single aviary is lack of control....you don't spot the thrown chicks or problems until it's too late...and then you disrupt other breeding pairs every time you enter.
I shall retain my aviary as it is though because I get pleasure from seeing the birds in flight with the space...I just keep 4 cages on one side for any particular breeding pairs I want to succeed.

[annague]

Amen to everything everyone advised you! Especially with the species of finches you are looking at breeding -- cage breeding is the way to go.

[winged]

So I went ahead and purchased a 6 foot tall cage that has eight compartments which will fit a pair in each one. I'm extremely excited for it, the only issue is the wire itself.

It's actually a cage for breeding pigeons in. Would this be okay?

[ac12]

Only for LARGER finches.
The smaller ones (like wax bills) might sneak out between the bars.

[winged]

And Gouldians are considered to be larger finches I believe?....... I hope

[wellingtoncdm]

The space seems quite large between bars. Most finches could get their heads through and fledglings may slip out.
Maybe javas, canaries or diamond doves?