FINCHforum

If a person had a nice outdoor aviary measuring 10'L x 3'W x 8'H and wanted it for observation only (no breeding), could they collect males only? If I got 4 or 5 types of finches with all their color would they fight? I have Goulds now and am looking for others. What would any of you suggest as others?

If you check on the link on the left side of screen finch info. center look under spiecies there is a chart that tell what goes together that should give you something to start with also a ton of very good info.
BCAMP

Thanks BCAMP. I have read those charts for the last few years. I thought I would put the idea out there to see what might work best for some in my area compared to others. I have been toying with the male thing for 3years now and can't justify the thought of no breeding. Birds are meant to procreate - even if we care for them in captivity. So, will all males be ok in one aviary? Sam

I would think that the passive spieces should be alright together,but even when there supposed to get along they might not it depends on each bird. As far as all male I cant see any reason why it wont work. Maybe one of the experts will chime in here BCAMP

You shouldn't have trouble keeping males only in an aviary as long as you stick to what they suggest on the compatibility chart. Some species just don't mix but the passive species males should do fine together. I have a male parrot finch and a male owl together and the get along great, you can also add them to gouldians, societies, stars and cordon bleus.

As for non-breeding, the birds will do just fine without breeding, I know this sounds harsh but rather they don’t breed than you sitting with excess birds you can’t accommodate.

That is what I wanted to hear that males could do fine on their own. I don't sell my finches and run into that problem of accommodating babies as they grow up and my aviary gets fuller. Later, when I want new birds I can catch and breed. A problem I see is not banding or losing track of age of birds to breed in optimum age - too old to breed when you want to in other words.

SamFoy wrote:A problem I see is not banding or losing track of age of birds to breed in optimum age - too old to breed when you want to in other words.

SamFoy, I use open bands to identify my birds. You can band them at any age and this way you know exactly who's who. I use two colors, one for the family (for example, I give the parent birds a certain color and all the offspring gets banded with the same color ensuring I don't in-breed) and one for the year the bird was born, this way I know when I can start breeding the birds.

Sounds good, I saw and talked to a breeder this weekend about that banding. Do you order bands with the year only and record the month the bird was born in a book? Then, band a color for the family line? If so, I see the idea.

That is exactly how I keep records.

The only reason I use different color bands for years is that we don't get open bands with years printed on them in South Africa, but I know sally uses them so maybe she can help you on where to find them. If you record them like that you can keep records of individual birds in a clutch, one color band for the parents and then a different color with the year printed on the other leg for each bird in the clutch.