Mixed Aviary Problems.

Harrison1 · Post by **Harrison1** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 5:28 pm

Hi... i am new and was just wondering...
i have kept birds for 4 years and have NEVER had much luck with breeding i had 10 - 15 budgies all had eggs but only one pair actually bred, i then got a second aviary which i populated with Zebra Finches these have bred and i have had reasonable luck but large clutch sizes but low fledge rate. this was about a year and a half ago, i then moved ayear ago and got rid of the budgies and now have a mixed aviary of Diamond doves, Canaries, Zebra finches, and Society finches. The Society Finches dont breed (although took over a Zebra nest and raised two chicks successfully), the Diamond Doves have had a number of chicks and has succesfully (touch wood) raised one, the Zebra finches are quite good having succesfully raised a number of chicks, the Canarys are quite rubbish having had alot of nests and having not many chicks (again only one pair succesful , male died during first clutch).

I am posting to ask advice on how to encourage breeding within my aviary.
I clean them out once a week.
Give them Egg food often.
Fill the food up when low.
acces to cuttlefish
fresh greens every morning (happily share with guinea pigs)
access to hay outside (intended for Guineas but is stolen and made into excellent nests.)
water from a number of places.
Rarely have a death (so no disease)
Seem to be happy.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 6:17 pm

Hi Harrison and welcome to the forum. There are many great folks here that can give you lots of good advice. I have only had finches for about one year and I have an open aviary so I am not sure what good advice to give you on raising birds in cages. But from what I hear from others, it is best to give them privacy and not so many in one cage.
Are you sure that your society finches are male and female?
Zebras will usually breed and raise babies anywhere.

How many do you have in a cage? Are all these in the same cage?
Hopefully someone else here can give you some better advice.

Post by **Sally** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 6:27 pm

Welcome to the forum, Harrison. You say you have a mixed aviary. What size, and how many birds of each species? I've only done cage breeding, so can't give advice on aviary breeding, but my first guess would be that you don't have the ideal combination of species. The doves are very passive, but their size can intimidate. Societies are very easy-going, but the Zebras can bully them. I've never had canaries, so can't say on them. In my flight cages, I have to be very careful about mixing species, and even though the compatibility chart may say they get along, you can have one bird that doesn't want to be friends with the others. And I agree with dfcauley, are you sure you have a m/f pair of Societies?

Harrison1 · Post by **Harrison1** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:37 am

I have a 6x6 aviary with a 2x6 aviary, in the 6x6 i have 2 diamond doves, 4 Societies, 3 Zebra finches (+ 2 fledged babies) i am trying to find a white female for the third finch, 8 canarys. They seem to have plenty of room, they are always singing/hopping around.
in the 2X6 there are 4 Canarys, 2 Zebra finches and 2 diamond doves. all seem fine and happy.(considering just ten minutes ago i saw a male canary singing and chasing a female around to mate)

My Societies will probably be all male because i have had no eggs (which can be a sign of a two female pair)

All Birds seem to socialise happily with other species etc. there is no fighting

Harrison1 · Post by **Harrison1** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 4:17 pm

Does noone have any advice for me!?!?

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 5:43 pm

Yes I do....you probably have too many birds in the space provided.It may look like they have plenty of room...and they probably do.But not if you expect them to breed.
They need space to establish their own territories.They can't concentrate on raising their chicks if they have constant interference from other birds.
Paul.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:16 pm

poohbear wrote:Yes I do....you probably have too many birds in the space provided.It may look like they have plenty of room...and they probably do.But not if you expect them to breed.
They need space to establish their own territories.They can't concentrate on raising their chicks if they have constant interference from other birds.
Paul.

I am going to have to agree with Poohbear especially from what I have been going through for this past week in my open aviary. My birds have plenty of room for flying. I built my aviary for pure enjoyment and not breeding. But it does come with the territory and I have had all manner of problems this week with breeding. The owls have took over the gouldian nest, I have had to move babies under society, and on and on......goodness! I have come to the conclusion that seperate cages are a must for successful breeding. So in spite of this realization... I am going to keep enjoying my aviary and let the chips fall where they may so to speak. If the breeding happens successfully...great. If not, I will just remind myself that I did this for enjoyment.

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Mixed Aviary Problems.

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