FINCHforum

Can I keep a male and female owl without having nests in the cage? I don't want to breed them. Or will it be ok to have same sex owls together. If two males, will they fight? I'm thinking of which ones to buy. Thanks.

Owls like to roost in a nest, but it is not a necessity.....If you have a male and female, and a nest, they will most likely breed....Same sex wll get along......Fighting usually only occurs while they are protecting a nest and laying eggs.

I have always provided nest and plants for them to roost and sit in...most of the time at night the all have their own nest spots to go right to. The only time I have seen any issue with mine is if a nosey young one gets to close to a hen roosting, she chases him off and that is that.

If you don't want to breed them two males will be fine together but do provide them with a couple of roosting spots/nests. It makes them feel more secure, less chance of night frights...they are a bit flighty.

Looking forward to our bird show next week as I hope to find a pair of owls and a pair of blue backs. I can hardly wait.

Hope you have a great time at the fair!
Caution on the pair of blue backs... not always good to breed blue to blue, especially if you don't know the blue's backgrounds. The more recessive the mutation (which blues are recesive to green, yellows) the more likely weak chicks. Most will breed a blue to a bird split for blue to ensure good hatchability and health of the chicks.

Of course if you know the blues are bred from strong unrelated stock and have not been bred blue to blue, many will say it is fine. I have paired what I knew were strong blues to silver ( a type of blue) or blue and don't do it any more. Most chicks took longer to develope strong immune systems and their size were not as large as breeding via splits.
I now only breed a blue to a bird split to blue or 2 split to blue birds together. Also If you with to lilac or white breast these are yet more recessive mutations.

Candace thanks for the advise. However, I don't plan to breed the blues or any of the other birds after my gouldians hatch. I don't have the space for more. Although I wish I did.

AngieCort68 wrote:I don't have the space for more. Although I wish I did.

I've found myself saying that before... And not long after, I figured out how to make space for more.... It's an addiction. I will do almost anything to get more!

Nelissa you are funny. In that case maybe I won't get two blues.

I've found myself saying that before... And not long after, I figured out how to make space for more.... It's an addiction. I will do almost anything to get more!