FINCHforum

Hi,
I currently have a pair of zebras, in the process of weaning their first clutch...
I am craving the addition of more finches to my life. I was originally planning on getting a second pair of zebras, probably with some mutation (the pair I have are normal greys, but seem to carry fawn recessive as well, because 2 of the 3 babies are light in color).
But.... I have been looking at picture of owl finches as well, and think they are quite striking. So I'm finding myself in the tough spot of deciding what to get next.
Factors i have to consider are:
1. I don't have a ton of space and will probably have my hands full with any clutches my existing pair produce. So I am not sure that I would want to get a male-female pair of whatever I do get. But on the other hand, I would want to breed them in the future when I have more space...
2. Hopefully in the next few years, I will be able to build an indoor aviary, and would like to be able to house all species I will have together.

Sooo my questions for any/all of you are these:
1- Would owls and zebras house well together, in the future?
2- how readily do owls breed? Are they like zebras who will breed and nest anytime any place, or are they a little pickier/easier to prevent breeding? i.e. If I get a male-female pair, would it be reasonable to expect that they might not breed?
3- if i do go with a same sex pair of owls, are 2 males or 2 females better? I am more interested in two males because of the singing potential, but would they fight etc if there were no owl females around?
4- are there any MAJOR differences between caring for owls and zebras? I think my zebs are pretty happy, but I'm wondering if there are any factors in nutrition, housing, etc for owls that make them significantly more difficult to care for than zebras.
I am sure i will come up with more questions and things I haven't already thought of, as this is a pretty new idea....
I am planning on purchasing whatever I get at the bird fair here in june so I do have some time to plan and decide.
Thanks in advance for your input!

Owls are great birds that are easy to care for. They are more timid than zebras and may be harassed by them. Owls are not always easy to sex or breed. Two of either sex, if you can determine it, would be fine. They can cross breed with the zebras and create hybrids so housing them together as same sex pairs (especially males) may not work.

Owls are wonderful little birds, but I would not house them with Zebras. I think the Zebras would be too pushy for the Owls, and they can definitely cross breed. I recently saw an ad for a Zebra/Owl hybrid, and it made me so sad--each of those species are wonderful, why make a 'mutt'! And I was floored at the asking price--$150! I mean, how easy was it to get that hybrid--put a male Zebra with a female Owl, and there you have it. That person has an inflated idea of the worth of that bird!

Owls are sweet!
I'm thinking of getting a pair.
I love the meowing sound they make.!

Jerry

I love owls they are ace, I have 3 in a flight cage with some silverbills, as far as breeding , I find they are more picky than zebs, they won't just breed willy nilly
they are great to watch though