Gold-breasted wax bill looking for new roommates!!

peeps3 · Post by **peeps3** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:29 pm

Hi again! We're starting over after we learned how incompatible the pair of firefinches we bought are with other species. The seller has agreed to take them back and replace our male gold-breasted waxbill. After really studying the charts ourselves for compatibility, I was just wondering if anyone here has a favorite combination of birds in their aviary. I am looking seriously at the red-cheeked Cordon Bleu or the Gouldians, but am open to suggestions for the best and happiest community! I would also like to have some nest-sleepers, so as not to worry about chills at night as much.

peeps3 · Post by **peeps3** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:34 pm

One more question: Since we have a flight cage, could we add two Society finches, maybe to males to either the pair of Gold-breasted wax bills or to the golds and another species? Would they get along or would the males have a problem with the others?

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:58 pm

Societies would do great with gold breasts. So would owls, red eared waxbills, orange cheek waxbills, gouldians, and cordons. They are all really calm finches...

I've personally never owned gold breasted waxbills, but I've owned all the above that I listed, and had them all in one aviary together.

Owls and societies will sleep in nests. Gouldians, orange cheek waxbills, and red ear waxbills most likely won't unless they are breeding.

Two society males won't fight... or I should say shouldn't fight.

peeps3 · Post by **peeps3** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 8:44 am

Thanks! Could you tell me what else you put in the cage besides perches? Is there any kind of grass we could grow that would be okay or anything natural? I had heard some people use artificial plants. I want to give them something to hide behind but still have room for plenty of flight.

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 8:30 am

I would suggest fake leaves and plants as they are easier to wash. Finches love to have a swing. A few toys. My finches love their mirror. Also make sure they have a cuttlebone and perches of different sizes.

peeps3 · Post by **peeps3** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 8:46 am

Okay, thanks. And I will be adding a red bulb for a heat/light source. Our little gold-breasted waxbill got some good-looking friends yesterday! We were able to trade in the firefinches for a pair of quite precocious gouldians and then couldn't resist a pair of red-cheekd cordon blues. And so now there are 6 gorgeus finches and they're getting all my attention. If you have suggestions on the heat lamp, I would appreciate. I left a regular light bulb with them all night in a little lamp. Should a light be left on all day and night? Or after the sun goes away from the area of the cage, only? This board is so helpful.

Post by **Sally** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 11:44 am

What a nice selection of finches! They should all get along well. What size cage do you have them in? If the cage is in your house, and the temps stay above 60 day and night, you probably don't even have to worry about additional heat. If the temps are 70 or above most of the time, you don't need extra heat at all for them. They don't need or want the lights on day and night, but at night, you can have a small night light near the cage, just enough so they can see. That way, if something should scare them during the night, they can see the perches and settle back down.

I have all three of these species, and just love them. They like to bathe, too, so be sure to have either a hang-on bath, if it fits your door openings, or a dish of water on the bottom of the cage.