Zebra Finches

arcadam · Post by **arcadam** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 5:59 pm

My wife and I are relatively new to finches. We have 10 finches in a 64 X 30 X 55 flight cage. We have 2 Owls, 2 Gouldians, 2 Orange Cheek Waxbills, 2 Societies, and 2 Zebras. The only one that doensn't get along with the others is one of the Zebras. It is kind of a jerk to the other Zebra and only the other Zebra. All the others get along fine.

It also seems like the Zebra and one of the Society finches are awfully clingy. If we remove all the little nests in the cage will they get along again? Or will I have to take them both out permanently? Or do I take out the pushy one?

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 6:57 pm

Removing the nests might lessen the bickering. Zebras are pesky little birds, especially in a mixed flight, so you may have to resort to removing those two. Are your Zebs of the opposite sex? It has been my experience that the male Zeb will sometimes act as you describe toward the hen when other birds are around. I think he's feeling insecure. ;)

The cozy zeb/society pair have bonded. Beware, these species will interbreed.

arcadam · Post by **arcadam** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 7:06 pm

The two Zebras are males because they both have orange cheeks (that's how I thought that you sex them)

. I am just assuming that the society is female, but I can't tell.

We just bought a 64'' flight cage for the little guys and we introduced them all at once. But you are right...those zebras are full of it.

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 7:08 pm

Ahh, that explains it then. The aggressive Zeb is staking his claim on the society hen.