Question about society finches

[bunburryist]

I have three pair of zebra finches and one male society finch in the same flight cage. Everyone gets along. My society's mate (female) died and after about three weeks I put in a new female. She died a few days later with signs of what might have been "over-breeding" on the part of the male (scruffed up feathers on her side/back). I don't want the same thing to happen again. Should I -
A - Get two (or three?) females so his amorous advances get spread around?
B - Get another male?
C - Leave him alone?
D - Try putting one female in and see what happens?
Any thoughts?
Thanks.

[Sally]

It is very possible that the Society female was killed by the Zebra finches. It is rare for a Society male to be that aggressive with another Society, but it does happen with Zebra finches at times. When a new bird is added to an established group, it is often picked on or attacked by the others, seeing the new one as an intruder.

Personally, if the Society and the 6 Zebras get along, I would leave them be. If you want a mate for your Society, I would get another cage for them so they can live in peace.

Welcome to the forum! There's lots of good reading at www.finchinfo.com, where there are many articles on finch care, including one on introducing new birds to a cage. If you put your general location in your profile, it makes it easier for members to answer your questions later on.

http://www.finchinfo.com/housing/reduci ... ession.php

[StodOne]

bunburryist How big is your flight?
Try when buying a mate for your bird to pull out all the birds from the cage and rearrange all the perches , food cups , water dispensers etc.. and then put them back in with the new bird.
Society finches will get along with anything , even if you put another male they will cuddle .
Maybe zebra finches attacked your bird because she tried to get in their nest if there are any nests, she maybe tried to cuddle into the nest with zebras?
If you plan on breeding them , probably best option is to place them in separate cages so that no fighting occurs , if not for breeding then remove all the nest and put them back together in a rearranged cage .
From what I learned that is what I would do in your situation , but still don't take my word for it since I am relatively new to finches.

[tam]

I agree with Sally. I always liked to have a couple of societies together. Good luck. - tam

[bunburryist]

I found her in the back of a nest box, so it is very possible it was a zebra defending it's pad. I really don't have place for another cage, but I'll try putting another male in so he has a pal. Thanks for all the ideas!

[Susan39]

I found her in the back of a nest box, so it is very possible it was a zebra defending it's pad. I really don't have place for another cage, but I'll try putting another male in so he has a pal. Thanks for all the ideas!

From what I have been reading Zebra Finches can be aggressive towards other finches of different species. Maybe you should get another female Society Finch but put it in a separate cage with your Male Society Finch. I would never combined Zebras with Society Finches.