FINCHforum

I have the HQ double flight cage. I've had a canary and a pair of zebra finches in there for a month or so, relatively peacefully. Until I put up a nest box. The zebras put a lot of work into building that nest, slept in it last night, etc. But today, I realized that it wouldn't work. The canary wouldn't leave that nest alone. He kept chasing the zebras out, going into the nest box, and moving stuff around, throwing nesting material out, etc. If there were eggs in there, it would be worse, and I'm certain there will be eggs in there soon.

So I split them up. Added some perches and stuff, and put the cage divider in. Now I have to decide - leave them split up permanently, or sell the canary? I like the singing, but little finches are more fun to watch. I hate to leave them divided, because I like having the whole cage for them to fly across, and I like being able to put everyone on one side of the cage for cleaning the other side.

On the other hand, canaries are kinda expensive! I'll probably end up selling him anyway. Thoughts?

Oh, and naturally while I was messing with perches, I left a little door open and ended up chasing a zebra finch around my house. Arg!

Do NOT install a nest unless you want chicks.

Personally, I would keep the canary and get rid of the zebras. But that is just based on my experience w the zebras and my other birds.

Or get another cage for the zebras and keep them.

I would NOT put a breeding pair of birds with any other birds. Too much chance for disruption of the nest. Or aggressive behavior when they are breeding.

The canary does not really need to be in the flight with any other birds!
Just get a good size cage for him.
Male canaries are best alone when not breeding.