Thinking about Javas

[konkata]

I've been thinking about adding a Java to my little collection of finches. I have enough room and I've always loved their looks.

One website said that they are aggressive, and another website tells me that they are not aggressive, but can intimidate other species with their size so its better if they are put in with a more bold species.

Which one is more true? Is a male or female more prone to aggression, or are they both typically the same?

I read that cutthroats were aggressive but mine is such a wuss, I have to put him with my most gentle bird.

lol anyways, I was just wondering about some personal stories to help me figure out a housing plan for him/her. Who has Javas, and what are yours like?

[kenny]

hi
i have had javas living alongside all kinds of finches.they only tend to be aggressive if they are nesting or have chosen a nest and do not want intruders.also they can be a bit bossy when feeding especially if there is paddy rice on the menu.having said that most birds are aggresive when feeding especially canaries.i think you should be ok as long as they are not crowded and given plenty of flying space

ken

[konkata]

Thanks for the reply, Kenny As of today I am housing my finches in decent sized cages. They are all separated and housed together depending on who they get along with and I don't have more than 2 birds per cage. I have a pretty large empty flight cage just sitting around and its just too tempting not to fill

I've actually been thinking about building a small aviary in the next week or two as well, so the Java will have enough room wherever they are put. I just wasn't sure if they were actually aggressive and I had to just be especially cautious, or if they just tend to be aggressive under certain conditions.

Would they be alright with zebras?

[Dan]

I've heard a few stories of people keeping Javas with zebras without any problems. Like most animals, aggression realy depends on the individual. It's the same with birds. I used to have a few fawn javas that were pretty aggressive, especially to other javas. But the pair i keep now are so passive. Like, Kenny said..just makes sure they're not overcrowded as they can never have enough space.

Good Luck

[Nipper06]

Javas are very social and flock oriented, so it's better to have at least 2. One alone will be very lonely, even with other finches.

They are big but not especially aggressive, unless crowded. They do bicker with eachother sometimes. But I wouldn't breed them in the same aviary with an aggressive-breeding species like zebras, unless you have many extra nestboxes.

[konkata]

Wow, those are some beautiful birds! I was thinking maybe I should pass on this go-around because I told a friend I would take in her gouldian, orange cheek and canary since she doesn't have room for them anymore. We'll see though, I have a large enough cage and I'll be building an aviary soon. Its hard to tell what I come home with tomorrow

[KoacNation]

I brought home two javas to a big aviary of 14 other finches (Aviary, 5 ft wide, 2 ft deep and 6 ft tall) and the first week was a bit tense for em, the big Javas seemed to pick at any finch that came near it, but now a few months later, everyone gets along.

So, for what it is worth, there's my experience

[kenny]

hi everyone
you all know that i had to dispose of my birds because of my illness,well i was going through a few old cdrs yesterday and saw this and just thought i would share it with you,and how much i envy you guys who are still breeding finches ,especially javas



ken

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[newlinta]

I have 3 pair of javas housed with gouldians,shafttails,goldbreasts,societies,zebras and cordon bleus...they "bicker" with each other occasionally but,even while breeding,I've never seen them be aggressive towards any other species.
They are,however, in a large,walk-in,indoor aviary.
Just my experience with them so far.
Tim

[lovemyfinch]

I wish I had been here when you still had birds Kenny, it appears that you had an impressive setup for them.

[kenny]

hi
this is a picture of my aviary 2 days after i had put the wire on,as you can see the bird room is attached to the left hand side,i had already let a family of each of the species i kept into the aviary,javas ,zebs ,,,societies, canaries,hecks,greensingers,and button quail.this replaced my old one which i had for quite some time....i didnt know that i was going to have to give them,my son converted the aviary into decking because i didnt have the heart to do it myself

ken

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[lovemyfinch]

What a beautiful set up Kenny
I for one, feel extremely privileged to be able to still get information from you.
I know you must miss them hopefully our news and babies can help cheer you up a little and keep you on the road to better health

[kenny]

hi everyone
when i first disposed of my birds all the other websites i belonged to sort of rebuffed me because they felt that how can he join in now....because he has no birds!this is the only website that has not treated me unkindly because i am trying to steer people in the right direction but have no birds...but i still have my experiences of keeping birds to fall back on ,i know times change and people do have other methods that i will not be used to,but i will not criticise them for thier way of thinking.i come on here and look at the new posts and if i think i can help i will post a reply.i will not argue with anyone about thier opinion on a subject because i am not infalable with my answers..........but i am glad that you have accepted me back .this is the only site out of about 6 i belonged to that havent treated me like i dont belong.....thanks once again!talking on here about your birds is like a therapy for me i dont miss mine so much as i used to while i am on this site


ken

[L in Ontario]

WOW - you had a most impressive set up Kenny! I'm so jealous of what you once had and that fact that you were able to have it at all. We cannot have our birds outside for more than 3 or 4 months at the most so it is not worthwhile to us to have an outside aviary. Yours sure was great! To keep this On Topic, you had quite a few Javas there I see too - beautiful birds!

[Ursula]

I love that picture of the javas!

No matter whether you are keeping birds now or kept them in the past, you still have the knowledge and I'm sure everybody on the forum appreciates your input! After all, it's not like we're talking about the newest fashion trend or - i don't know - computer equipment, where knowledge is outdated as soon as the new stuff comes out. Your bird keeping knowledge should be as valid now as it was 20 years ago!

Just stick with this forum, please!