FINCHforum

Have you ever put canaries in with finches? I did. I read that canaries will get along with finches. And they did! But the finches did not like them there. Some where scared to death and stayed as far away as they could. The others where also scared but attacked them. The canaries on the other hand didn’t bother the finches but did care for the ones that attacked. Have any of you ever tried this?

We have five canaries in the same large aviary as a bunch of smaller finches and the only small conflict I've ever observed is that the zebras and canaries don't like to share food with eachother; canaries will share with any other bird, but will not let a zebra finch to eat while they do - they have to wait until the canary is finished.

What color are your finches and canaries. Sometimes if you add a white or bright yellow bird to brownish or darker birds, they are scared (or vice versa). My canaries (3) get along with my dove and linnies and each other (mostly) but canaries like their personal space. Also, while they are not bullies, they are not passive and will defend themselves and are constantly squabbling amongst themselves.

The canaries I put in the finch aviary at that time where yellow ones.

I have 3 canaries housed in an outdoor mixed aviary with many finches. For the most part, the canaries keep to themselves and don't bother the finches, and vice versa. The sole exception is the male green singer that constantly chases away the male spanish timbrado when the green singer pair is in breeding season. I think because the spanish timbrado and the green singer look so similar, they consider themselves rivals for breeding purposes. It's usually the smaller green singer that initiate all the aggression. The poor canary runs away most of the time.

In their own little corner, the 3 canaries get along fine with very little squabbling. I've found canaries to be pretty peaceful.

Acky

I have a male Canary, 2 females, and 2 Canary juvies, together with Gouldians, Parrot finches, and Stars. No problems.

Did used to have same Canary male with Societies and Zebras. Societies were fine with Canary. Zebras, not so good.

~Elana~

Zebra finches and canaries seem naturally hostile to each other.

I think that was it. The Zebra where the ones that mostly bother the canaries. Well I guess it doesn't matter anymore. The canaries have their own place noe.

Thanks for posting. I have been debating putting my blue pied gloster in with some of my finches and was not sure which ones. I guess it won't be the zebs!

Derk
It really depends on the individual birds. My canaries are fine with the zebras in the mixed aviary. They pretty much leave each other alone.

I used to have some big canaries, but they prevented my smaller waxbills from breeding. If you want a passive breed, you could do what I did and get a raza espagnola, it's about the size of a common waxbill, and very friendly towards other birds.

My canaries have their own home now. I was wondering if anyone else tried this.

I do know someone who has a canary with a pair of society finches and what was a pair of cordon bleus. The bleu hen dies so the male cuddles up with the societies. The canary keeps to himself.

Another friend had a male canary with a star finch, a pair of fire finches, and a pair of goldbreasted waxbills with no problems. Again canary stayed by itself. She also successfully raised a couple of clutches. She later added a pair of strawberries. The star did interfere with the strawberries - there is sometimes aggression but in this particular case the star appeared to be attempting to help with the nest. Because no eggs were laid, she re-homed the star. Still no eggs.