FINCHforum

Ive been on the info center a a few days and im trying to make up my mind. Is this a good setup?
1.java,zebs,shaft-tail and green singer
2.java,zebs,society,goudian and mabey shaft tail
3.java,zebs,bronze mannikin,shaft tail
4.spice,java,zebs,shaf-tail
5.java ,zebs ,shaft tail and europiean goldfinch

please pick the ones you like or think would work out good

Id also like some birds you guys think i can add to any of the choices
or any birds you think i sould take out or swap.

Thanks,Alec

Wish I could help you with this, but I haven't kept all of these species, plus mine are kept in cages, so I have no experience with a mixed aviary. Someone who has more experience with these will probably be on soon to help you.

Alec, just make the decision depend on what species you like, I recommend put the java out of the list, cuz java is so big that it can scare the smaller birds. If you decide to keep zebra with the others, be sure you have more than 3 pairs or just one, and zebra can be very aggressive in breeding.
In my opinion, I will choose #2: we'll have all the beautiful colours: dark brown-white(societies), grey-white(zebras), beige(shaft tail) and rainbow colour(Gouldians)

HoangQuan wrote:Alec, just make the decision depend on what species you like, I recommend put the java out of the list, cuz java is so big that it can scare the smaller birds. If you decide to keep zebra with the others, be sure you have more than 3 pairs or just one, and zebra can be very aggressive in breeding.
In my opinion, I will choose #2: we'll have all the beautiful colours: dark brown-white(societies), grey-white(zebras), beige(shaft tail) and rainbow colour(Gouldians)

Number one is all agressive birds. I would go with that....

I personally would not put zebras in with gouldians. I had zebras at one time in my aviary and they were mean to the gouldians.

My zebras and Gouldians are going along very well , even when the zebras are breeding . I have a pair of zebras and 3 pair of Gouldians together in a mixed aviary.

If you are looking to have a passive mixed-aviary I would stick with birds like Lonchura (Spice, Society, etc), Munia (Nuns), Erythrura (Parrot Finches), Gouldians, Cordons, and some of the smaller waxbills like Gold Breasts, Swees, etc.

I would recommend researching these lists on the mother website for this forum - which separates the birds as passive, pushy, aggressive, and downright unfit for a mixed aviary.

http://www.finchinfo.com/birds/finches/ ... /index.php

Based on experience, I, too, would not recommend putting Zebras in with Gouldians. I tried and ended up swapping the Zebs out for the three fawn societies I have now because they were WAY too annoying and aggressive and starting plucking not only one another, but the other birds.

Based on that list, I would also avoid Shaft-Tails and Javas.

I would have to go with #1. Shafttails, Zebs, and Green Singers are all in the pushy category. I don't know about the Javas.

Whatever you do decide to do, have an extra cage or two handy so if you do have any problems you can remove the problem birds.

I would also guess that pushy birds might need more space per pair to get along with each other than passive birds need.

Java's taken out most could work,
i agree Zebras are a bit bossy with Gouldians
Bengalese are best with either.
Green singers are fab with Zebras , bengalese etc.
cant get Green singers in the UK any more

not ever had shaft tails so not sure with them.

I had a pair of shaftals in my aviary and they were just nasty.

I love those birds, but two did not work. I removed the cock and left the hen in there. She loves on everybody and wants to preen them all.

She will sit and preen my owls and society finches and even sleeps with my society finches.

She has also been feeding the lone little goudian that they are fostering.

Shaftails are a great little bird. But they really can get agressive.

dfcauley wrote:I had a pair of shaftals in my aviary and they were just nasty.

I love those birds, but two did not work. I removed the cock and left the hen in there. She loves on everybody and wants to preen them all.

She will sit and preen my owls and society finches and even sleeps with my society finches.

She has also been feeding the lone little goudian that they are fostering.

Shaftails are a great little bird. But they really can get agressive.

How I love your shaftail! What a crazy naughty little one
I dont know what Alec expects, but when I put the birds in aviary, I don't hope they will breed, cuz I have enough breeding pairs in small cages. I have an aviary just for fun, relaxing and watching, so, as long as there're no serious injuries, it will be fine with me . We should notice, with aggressive birds, some will really fight the others for anything, but there're some just chasing the others away. Zebra and shaftail in my aviary are kind of "chasing away", so I dont mind at all.

My aviary is for fun and enjoyment also But I want peace in there so the birds will not be under stress. I have an owl right now that is chasing everyone off. He is protecing his nest.

But that cock shaftail was grabbing my gouldians by the wings and hanging them in mid-air.

So he had to go!

dfcauley wrote:My aviary is for fun and enjoyment also But I want peace in there so the birds will not be under stress. I have an owl right now that is chasing everyone off. He is protecing his nest.

But that cock shaftail was grabbing my gouldians by the wings and hanging them in mid-air.

So he had to go!

were did you get your shaft tail? a breeder?