Indoor inter species housing questions

marisab · Post by **marisab** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 10:34 pm

Hello. I got some zebra finches today, and I have a breeding pair of Java Finches already.

Eventually I'd like to build a large indoor aviary style cage for the birds to live in together. However I have some questions.

1. My java finches are a m/f pair, but the zebra finches are apparently two males. Will this work or will I be better of getting two more female zebra finches? I'd rather just keep the four of them together but I am not sure how the two males, one male java and one female java will do together.

2. How large would you go with these species in mind? (keep in mind I will be keeping their current large (but pet store bought) cages in case of problems) Of course "as big as you can" but I have one area that I'd like to place it which will allow a cage that is 2 feet deep, 4 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Is this large enough or should I go bigger? How many finches can I keep in aviary style cage that size?

Thanks. (ps. I qaurentine so this isn't happening for quite some time)

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Sun Sep 21, 2008 6:03 am

Well I have never had javas, but I have zebras. I would not get two more femals unless you want lots of babies. Also, if you put two males and two female zebras in a cage you will be asking for trouble. They may get along for awhile, but not long.

I think in a cage that size , two pairs wil lbe enough.

williep · Post by **williep** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 7:29 am

Zebras and Javas go fine together (one of the few species that actually go with Zebras). Personally I would not get any more Zebras unless you want 20 babies over the next 6 months not to mention the possible fighting.

As for the cage size personally I would go a bit bigger (wider or deeper the height is OK) Javas are quite big an require more flying space.

marisab · Post by **marisab** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 10:16 pm

Hello thanks for the tips.

So then I should be o.k. with the following in the cage:

Male Female Pair Java Finches
Two Male Zebra Finches

I am worried about the two male Zebra finches. I have the option to trade a male and get another female, or simply get two more females.

But what I'd really like is the above birds listed could do o.k. together.

williep · Post by **williep** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 2:00 am

I still keep them together in the same cage. The Javas are too big for the Zebras to push around and are not that aggressive themselves. Two male zebras should be ok if there aren't any females to distract them.

If you want to exchange one Zebra male for a female it's fine too, but they WILL breed and you WILL have some extra babies unless you remove all nests.

Two pairs of Zebras will almost guaranteed fight and pluck so I wouldn't recommend that.

marisab · Post by **marisab** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 9:41 pm

Hello thanks for your advice.

So basically either do the two males, or trade a male for a female (that's possible for sure)

I think I will see how the males do, then if there are problems, remove the problem bird and start from there.

Any thoughts from anyone on how to introduce into the new cage? Should one pair go in before the other or does it even matteR?

williep · Post by **williep** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 2:00 am

If you introduce multiple pairs into a cage/aviary it's best to introduce them all at once.

By doing this the other pairs won't have a chance to establish territorial dominance. It's better if they are all strangers.

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Indoor inter species housing questions

Indoor inter species housing questions

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