FINCHforum

Not sure if I'm seriously considering it but perhaps with the right size cage can javas and cutthroats go together? Anyone have any experience or anecdotes? xD

I have a Cut Throat pair that was housed with a zebra pair in a 60Wx18Dx18H cage. There were no issues. I divided the cage temporarily, as the zebras had a clutch but I am putting them back together this weekend (zebras abandoned their babies ). I would think this size cage will be fine for a pair of CT's and a pair of Javas. Just be sure to have lots of high perches, feeding/water/bathing areas and NO NESTS!!!

I don't have any experience with cutthroats, but I have Javas.
I have one pair of Javas that is very laid back, living with a pair of Societies with no problems. I wouldn't put them with anybody who might push them around.
I have another pair that are a bit more obnoxious and I wouldn't put them with anybody smaller or more passive. They aren't bullies, they just kind of bicker - over perches, seed cups, etc., (even though there are plenty of each).
Personally, I think it really depends on the individual birds' temperaments, as well as cage size and whether they are breeding.

Hm Thanks all!! I think when I have the room I will try to connect two cages and see how they fair!

Here are some novice impressions of mixing zebras and Javas in a flight cage. Earlier this morning, about 3 hours ago, I introduced four zebra finches from a pure zebra cage into an approx. 34H x 36L x 18D flight cage containing only the pair of Javas I acquired two days ago.

I removed all perches from the zebra cage before removing the birds, and kept the cage decor thin in the Java cage until after the transfer. Once the transfer was complete and the birds settled down, I added some perches and plants to both cages and inserted some nesting fluff between the bars here and there, which seems to have a distracting effect on the zebras.

So far so good I would say in terms of behavioral outcomes. I have no significant conflicts or interactions to report after several hours. Both species have recovered quickly from the initial hubbub immediately after the zebras were transferred, and the males are starting to sing again. The Javas are staking out some territorial perch space, and so far they seem to prefer their own food dish over sharing.

Overall, I would say the presence of the Javas has had a bit of a calming effect on the zebras in both flight cages, which are positioned end to end. The calming effect may fade as the novelty of the newly arrived Javas wears off on the zebras.

Maybe then I will introduce another species...