HELP! Java finches added to mixed aviary

[KoacNation]

Okay, so I'm at the bird expo and excited to add to my collection.

I see the Java finches and boy do they look cool. Plus they make the best singing sounds, so I gotta get em.

I notice they are a bit bigger than most finches, but the breeder and others around say they mix well with others.

Now, it is only Monday, and I added em Saturday morning, but it's clear the other birds are afraid of these big guys and the two Javas havent helped by nipping at any birds that go near em.

My aviary is 2.5 ft wide, 6 ft high and 5 ft wide, so there's plenty of room, but my question is, how long should it take the birds to get comfy with each other?

There have been moments where the Javas have been near the others without a problem, but its not at all like before in terms of different breeds sitting near each other.

Everywhere I read on the net it says that Javas are okay in mixed aviaries so maybe it just takes a few weeks?

what do ya think?

I currently have 4 adult goulds, 4 6 month old goulds, a 2 fires, 2 goldbreasts, 2 cordons, and 2 female zebras. It may sound like a lot but there's tons of room in there and I have numerous multi-perched branches, lots of greenery, and other places for em.

Everything is calm except for the fact the javas sit somewhere and the others stay away. I'm pretty sure this java pair is mixed based on how one sings and the other clucks.

any thoughts would be appreciated.

[debbie276]

I had java's in my outdoor aviary with gouldian's without any problems though I have to say it was a LOT larger. Some birds are intimidated by the java's size but should settle down over time.
Personally I think you have more then enough birds in that size cage without adding the java's. If you use the cage size calculator, you should only have 6-8 birds in that size cage. http://www.finchinfo.com/housing/cage_s ... ulator.php

[tobyneilson]

Personaly i think you have too many in a avary that size,should be around half the number you have really.
Yes finches are small but they can be territorial(esp when breeding) so need space
java's are gorgeous,am after some myself,maybe try putting them in a flight cage by themselves

[cindy]

I have had javas, personally I never mixed them with outher smaller finches. During breeding javas can be very protective of their space/nest site. The pairs I had in a a large flight seem to have a invisible boundry line and it got down to hissing and squabbles. I eventually separated them to roomy flights of their own. I think it would be fine if you had a larger aviary.

[KoacNation]

I've seen those calculators many times but it simply defies logic to me.

A cage 6 ft wide 2 ft deep and 2 ft high should hold the same number as one that has the same width and depth but is 6 ft high? Literally triple the volume makes no difference?

I had about 14 birds in there happy as could be no problems except for a few months ago when the female zebras were fussy. They settled down. Heck, about 8 to 10 of em sleep cuddled up together every night. Not in pairs, but 8 to 10 side by side by side. With the rest huddled nearby. It's adorable. (my place is 75 degrees, so I think they just really like each other)

I struggle to believe adding the two javas made the "birds per sq ft" the problem.

But I could be wrong, it's happened before.

As usual time will tell. It's way early.

These javas are so beautiful and their song? Best $40 I spent in a long time.

[cindy]

It is more about the temperment and size of the javas I would be concerned with especially if you put a nest in their for your pairs to breed.

Personally I have a 5 ft long x 3 ft high flight with GBresats and owls. It included a pair of RCCBs, the female was ver pushy during breeding and took over each GB nest with young, destroyed or tossed the GB young. The RCCB are now in a cage to themselves.

I would be concerned for the Gold Breast which are delicate passive birds, the javas a typically classified as aggressive. See finch info http://www.finchinfo.com/birds/finches/species/.

The squabbles even between the two pairs I had in a large fight were intense even with several boxes and nesting sites to choose from, a smaller bird would not stand a chance.

Don't get me wrong, I am sure there are sweet, tamed down javas, I am going based on personal experience. Personally you might want to consider a flight to themselves.

[poohbear]

These charts of how many birds per square foot are rubbish.It all depends what type of birds, and even then individual pairs may not get on.Finches have to have room...they're not goldfish.
Those charts don't reflect any of the territorial matters.Flights packed with birds are ok in a pet shop on a temporary basis only.

Diamond Doves mix well with finches...but put a pair in a flight with finches that have never seen them before,and you'd think you'd released a hawk in there.

[cindy]

I agree with Paul.

[L in Ontario]

I can't add anything different than what others have posted. Good luck with your Javas settling in over the next week. Keep us posted.

[newlinta]

I agree with paul as well...
I think you already had too many finches in your flight cage.
Javas are quite peaceful/gentle birds,considering their size.
I recently added 2 pair of javas to my indoor aviary.I have no issues with them,however,my aviary is a walk-in that measures 10'w x 6'd x 7'h(in my opiniop if it's not big enough for you to walk into it,it's not an aviary it's still a flight cage). I have about a dozen gouldians,a pair of owls,a few societies and now 2 pair of javas in there. One pair is actually sitting on 7 eggs and there is no fighting/chasing at all. Of course they defend the area around their nest but they never peck/bite or chase...they simply land by an intruder and just push them off the perch with their bodies. The javas actually sit next to,eat,drink and bathe with all the other birds when they're not in the nest.
This is just my personal experience/opinion.
By the way...the java pair on eggs is a fawn hen and a red-eyed white male...should get fawns and pied fawns out of them...It's their first attempt at it so cross your fingers for me...lol

Tim

[wellingtoncdm]

I also have javas and I love them!. I tried to keep them in a mixed outdoor 12'x6'x6' aviary but they were intimidating to the others. They never bred well in there and bossed everyone around. I wouldn't call them aggressive, just large and pushy. They squabble with each other and anyone around them. Once I moved the two pairs into a 4'x5' aviary with a pair of cockatiels they went right to nest and were happier. They just hatched 4 pied babies! I also had to move the diamond doves out because of their size and they are peaceful just large. The finches were more freaked by them than the javas!

[JohnBoy]

I breed Javas. Javas do well in a large mixed aviary with birds of similar size. I would not trust them with fires or goldbreast especially in the size aviary you have.

[KoacNation]

I'm gonna wait a few weeks before deciding what to do.
They still seem to not want anyone too close to them but the others are kinda testing them by sitting on the same perch and waiting to be shoo-ed away.

I'd hate to get rid of them, they are so beautiful, time will tell.

I'll be sure to update in a week or so.

[KoacNation]

Okay, so last night I noticed the two Javas were NOT sleeping next to each other and in fact were sitting far apart quite a bit towards the end of the evening.

This morning, they're making more noises than usual and I look over and one of em is doing the gouldian-hoppy-I'm-in-the-mood dance.

I'll bet it's the male is the one who chases everyone away since he sees them as a threat to mating with her.

I gotta keep a close eye on this to see if my theory is correct.

Either way it gives me hope that they will settle down.

As I type this, they are far apart which hasnt happened since last night. And the male is calling out to her.

We will see. Who'da thunk bird behavior would be so facinating?

have a great day!

Oh, and I uploaded a new dance song (my other hobby) care to listen?

http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=150509