New to finches

germac · Post by **germac** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 6:18 pm

Hello all...I'm changing over my avairy from Caneries to finches..I have a 18ft z 6 ft Birdroom which has 24 cages and an 8ft x6ft inside flight. I've got a shortlist of what finches are for sale near to me and I want to know if the mix is ok.
4 pairs of Gouldians..2 pairs of Lavender finches and 1 pair each of Cordon Blue..Pin Tail Whydah..Red Belly Firefinch..Black Throat Grassfinch..Orange cheek waxbills..Golden breasted Waxbills and African silverbills.
Also I am thinking of building an 16ft x 4 ft outside flight, is an outside flight a good idea.
Thanks.

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 7:19 pm

Actually canaries are finches.

Of the species you asked about, I have the Gouldians and the CB's and they get along fine. I can't say if the other species will be compatible, but I believe the waxbills all get along okay.

As for the outdoor flight, it would help to know what part of the world you live.

By the way, is a Black Throat Grassfinch the same as a Shaft-tail?

Welcome to the forum!

zookeeper · Post by **zookeeper** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 9:20 pm

Here's a couple of links to charts of which finches get along with each other:

finch niche
finch info

germac · Post by **germac** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 5:35 am

Thanks for all your help...I got 2 pairs of Zebras yesterday and am collecting 8 gouldings tonight, so at least the flight is starting to look good again

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 2:38 pm

Are you planning on keeping the Zebs with the Goulds?

germac · Post by **germac** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:41 am

I was hoping to keep them all in a big flight

zookeeper · Post by **zookeeper** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 5:46 pm

zebs can be nasty to other finches. With enough space, you may not have a problem. But keep an eye on them, make sure they're not picking on the gouldians.

jonvill · Post by **jonvill** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 3:11 pm

Hi Germac,
I have heard that lavender finches can be mean too. It's such a shame because they are so beautiful and very rare in the United States.

JeannetteD · Post by **JeannetteD** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 8:19 pm

Not to disagree with Jonvill because I've only got a limited amount of experience with finches myself, but my lavenders get along with every bird they've ever been put in with (zebras, indigos, firefinch, orange cheeks, red eared waxbills). I haven't tried them with the parrot finches or the cordies though.

Send the lavenders my way.. hee hee

Jeannette

jonvill · Post by **jonvill** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 8:27 pm

Hi group,
Are most of you bird keepers with Lavender finches in the UK?
Thanks
John

JeannetteD · Post by **JeannetteD** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 8:31 pm

Nope.. I'm in Canada and the US people have a bugger of a time getting lavenders. Heck, I'm in western CAnada and I have a hard time getting lavenders. I buy up all the ones I can find and I"ve been looking since October last year.. I have FOUR now..

If I can find more, I buy them ASAP.

JeannetteD

jonvill · Post by **jonvill** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 4:14 pm

Thanks JeanetteD!
I knew you weren't in the US.
They are almost non existiant here.
I do suggest you buy as many as you can and establish as many breeding pairs as you possible can.

JeannetteD · Post by **JeannetteD** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:10 pm

I'm working on it, but short of candlelit dinners and romantic music I dont know what else to do to encourage breeding in those little beggars..

Sigh... hope springs eternal..

Jeannette