FINCHforum

I'm planning a large mixed species aviary and I have a few questions in regards to the inhabitants. The aviary will be 20' x 15'. I want to have a mixture of hookbills and finches. I'll have a Bourke Parakeet pair for sure. I'll get either a Cockatiel pair or a Crimson Rosella pair. Which do you think would work better? I'm not sure about the finches though, I want to get either 3 Java Finch pairs or three Cut-throat Finch pairs, which do you think will work better?

Lithium
Java's may do better because of their size, but I remember reading that hookbill's (especially parakeets) shouldn't be housed with finches...although I read that canaries can be housed with finches. I just read this on line yesterday, because I was considering housing a male canary in my society finch flight. I'm sure the experts will have better info for you.

I read somewhere on this forum that someone said that Bourke Parakeets and Scarlet Chested Parakeets are the only parakeets that they'd trust around their finches. I'll have extra cages on hand to separate the birds if I have too, but in an aviary that big I shouldn't have that many problems. And my budgies won't be going into the aviary, if I did put them in I'd put them in last.

The birds that will for sure be in there are, a pair of Bourke Parakeets, and 3 Java Finch pairs. I'll probably put the Cockatiels in there too, depending on what I find out about Crimson Rosellas.

Lithium
Like I said...I am far from an expert...so definitely don't take my advice to heart. Maybe you can post this thread on the hookbill part of the forum too. That way you will get advice from both sets of experts. I was thinking about getting a m/f pair of canaries, but after doing some reading on the web, I think I may be in over my head. They said its hard to know for sure that you're buying m/f pair. They also said that males are difficult to house together...That's when I thought of housing 1 male with my society finches, as they are my sweetest finches. Good luck with choosing your birds. I hope it turns out exactly how you hoped .

Thanks, I'll post this in the hookbill section too.

I would not put finches with any hookbill other then bourkes.

I had a pair of Cut Throats in with my other finches, right at the beginning, before I learnt the error of my ways. Based on my own personal experience, I think they would be perfect with the bigger birds as they are extremely full of themselves and act twice their size (I rehomed them once they started attacking my other finches and tossing eggs from other birds nests)

As to which bigger birds/hookbills, I will leave the experts to advise

Cut-throats have made it back on to the maybe list, I'll probably just see what the breeder I'm going to buy from has when it's time to get the birds. And I'm going to try keeping the finches with Cockatiels and Bourke Parakeets, I'll have spare cages on hand if I need to separate take any birds out.

I have an indoor aviary that houses a pair of Bourkes and a pair of Splendids along with my 3 Canarys and Finches. Everyone gets along fine. I did have to separate my Green Singers, though. They get very territorial during breeding season. I would never consider a Cockatiel or a Parakeet, either.

I considered Splendids but they're too expensive for me to get right off the bat. I'm going to try with a pair of Cockatiels, though. I've seen videos of it working.

My mixed aviary works just fine. I have finches and budgies in an 11' by 11' room. See my signature for the birds I have. Except for the 2 parrotlets who are in their separate flight cage, all my birds are in that walk-in aviary together for 6 years now.

One thing though: I am not a breeder! I keep the birds for enjoyment and don't encourage breeding.

I let my CBs breed successfully a few times though, also one my black rumped, my button quail, and my budgies. BUT the budgies don't tolerate gouldian babies, they get jealous! That doesn't work.

If I had room for another aviary I would put the gouldians in a completely separate aviary. All the other species work fine....

Javas and bourkes seem like the right combo to me.

I don't plan on letting any birds breed a lot. They'll be allowed to breed a few times, but not a lot.

I've decided to change the list of species in the aviary. I added different finches and took the hookbills out. Here is the current list:

Gouldian Finches
Blue-capped Cordon Bleu Pair
Red-throated Parrot Finch Pair
Red Golden Pheasant Pair
Button Quail

Would this work?