FINCHforum

Hi Everyone,

I've had such a bad experience with trying to keep multiple zebra finches that I'm alway afraid to add a bird to any of my groups. So I want to run something by the experienced owl finch keepers.

I got my first pair of owl finches early last month and I do really enjoy them. I stopped for bird food today at the local bird farm and while there got an offer to take a free young owl finch. Do the owl finch do okay in odd numbers or mixed groups, for example one female and two males or vice versa? I believe my pair to be a male and female pair, but no breeding for us as they are siblings. I wanted to jump on the offer of a free owl finch but didn't want to get into the same problems I had trying to keep multiple zebra finches.

Lisa

If you have two hens and one male the odds are a little more in your favor that they will get along well. Two males and 1 female may cause a little issue.

Since this is a young owl it may be difficult, did they give you an age. I would take the young owl (not everyday you get such a finch for free) if it is not related and someday if you decide to mate them you can pair it with one of the siblings.

cindy wrote:If you have two hens and one male the odds are a little more in your favor that they will get along well. Two males and 1 female may cause a little issue.

Since this is a young owl it may be difficult, did they give you an age. I would take the young owl (not everyday you get such a finch for free) if it is not related and someday if you decide to mate them you can pair it with one of the siblings.

All I know is that it is the last chick in the clutch so I do believe it is pretty young. I really hate to pass the offer up but everything in the bird room is pretty peaceful right now and I'd like to keep it that way. If I take it and don't put it in with the owls the only other cage I could try would be in with my four society finches. I have two males and two females. They are in a big double flight cage so I'm sure that is big enough but would it be happy in with the societies?

What a delemia.

Owls need their own kind (JMO)....you can try it with the two you have, keep an eye on it...provide plenty of roosting spots since the two most likely have their own established.

I have mine in flights, several in each....everyone gets along and has their own spots to sleep in.