Should I move my zebras into my gouldian aviary yet?

[KoacNation]

Okay, I'll try to make this quick.

I brought my first two gouldians home last week, 1 yr male, 2 yr female. The male is finishing his juve molt, just the head is left. They are both normal split to blue with white breasts, the male is a red/black head split so ya, I am really eager for them to mate.

I put them in the big indoor aviary I built, 6ft, 6ft by 3ft and they have had it all to themselves. From others, I have inferred they may not breed for some time, months possibly.

SItting right next to the aviary is a large flight cage. It holds 4 adult zebras and now 3 babies that are just flying in the past days or two.

The questions:
When should I move the zebras into the aviary with the gouldians?

Shouldnt I just wait a few months and see if the gouldians mate? They dont seem nearly as bonded as the zebras were. The two sit near each other but dont preen each other. I hear gouldians are not as affectionate in general though.

Will moving the zebras in slow the gouldians mating?

If I move the zebras in, how in the world can I get the gouldians to mate but not the zebras? (which is what I would want)

SHould I just reverse the set ups and move the zebras into the aviary and the gouldians into the flight cage? (this is my least favorite plan which means it's probably the best, I cant imagine catching the gouldians, never done it)

thoughts? help?

thanks!

Michael

P.S. I included a pic of the two for a visual. Hope it works

[Sally]

I don't breed either species, but I would be afraid the Zebras might be too pushy and nosy to share space with the Gouldians. I think the Zebs would take over any nest you put in, and unless you want lots more Zebs, you don't want to offer them a nest anyway.

Personally, I'd let the Gouldians have the aviary, and the Zebras have the flight cage.

[AndreasLon]

Hi Michael,

How big is the cage? It looks quite big, so you may put the gouldians in there and the zebras in the aviary.

I agree with Sally. If breeding is what you are after the zebras would not allow the gouldians to breed as they’d be pinching all the nesting material and constantly explore all nests which would put the gouldians off breeding.

But as it looks like your gouldians are not in breeding mode yet, they can all live together in the big aviary without nests, for now. You will notice when the gouldians are getting ready to mate as their beaks will change colour. I’m not 100% sure with your mutations but the female beak will become pearl white with a dark tip and the male will be similar but with a cherry red tip. Also they will be displaying to each other. Their display ritual is so complex that you recognise it even if you have never seen it.

Your male may be too young still if it hasn’t finished his moult and the female may not fancy him yet (or not at all).

If I were you, I’d give the zebras to a newbie, and buy another pair of gouldians and put them all in the aviary. Gouldians like space and company. Then they can all just stay in there to do their thing.

And yes, you are right in thinking that gouldians are not affectionate. I have never seen them allopreening but couples do display to each other and they mate for life, which is very sweet.

[ac12]

Of all my zebras, there is only ONE that I would put w my gouldians. All the others are too pushy/aggressive. Societies on the other hand I would put with gouldians.

[L in Ontario]

I agree with the others - keep the two pairs of finches apart when you want the Gouldians to breed.

If they are just finishing moulting now - they should rest for the next two to three months and then may begin breeding.

[Domenic]

Also, don't forget that your gouldians may have diseases that you would not want to introduce to your other birds. It could also be that your zebras are harboring diseases and since your gouldians are finishing their molt and are in a totally new environment, they are probably incredibly stressed right now. This would make the very vulnerable to anything your zebras could be carrying. I have learned to keep new birds away from my flock the hard way and lost a male gouldian and got very close to losing quite a few others. At the least give it a month or two for the gouldians to relax and also to see if they have any sicknesses.

Also, I think zebras could get in the way of the gouldians breeding, but they also might not. It just depends on the zebras. I have zebras in the same aviary as my cordon bleus, and the zebras have not gotten in the way of the CB's breeding whatsoever.