FINCHforum

I'm thinking of doing some rearranging of my birds and was wondering if anyone knows if I can put my zebra pair ( boy/girl) in with my fire finch pair ( boy/girl )? Right now they have their own cages but for simplicity sake I was thinking of getting a large cage and put them together. I don't want to get anyone hurt so thought I could ask one of you more experienced bird owners? I tried to attach a picture of my fire finches so you can see what kind they are. If that matters. Thanks!

artist

God NO!!!

I would never ever put Zebras with any Waxbills, unless you want murder and mayham.

Okay.
Wouldn't want that!
Thank you.
Glad I asked.

artist, I've had to rearrange birds SO many times since I started this hobby. I've learned that it's way better to ask the more experienced bird folks than to net birds in my aviary. My most recent disaster was adding 3 spice finch babies. There are 2 adult spice finches co-existing fine but when I added the babies, my 3 bronze winged mannikins (1M, 2F) made it their mission in life to terrorized the new kids. They ganged up and would go after one baby. After the BWMs bedded down in a nest last night, I relocated them to a cage. I may reintroduce them (one at a time) at a later date but, for now, they are in time-out!

Yeah, that is why I asked. Even though it sounded like a stupid question. I'm pretty new to this finch hobby ( and love it) but knew you all have so much experience. My zebra pair are marvelous to each other and my fire finch male is a bit testy. I noticed on the bird compatibility chart on Finch Info center website they list Dark Fire finches on the same tier as zebras. Not sure what fire finch I have. Senegal? So I thought I'd post my question to see what the finch forum users thought. I wouldn't want murder and mayhem.

Shannylee

Is it the mannikins that you removed?
If so,I don't think you should return them. That's one of the most aggressive species of finch and would always be a ticking time bomb in a communal aviary, especially if breeding is allowed there. They should get their own cage or perhaps be kept with species like the whydahs and the Javas only.

@artist

You have red-billed aka Senegal firefinches.

Whenever it comes to mixing species it comes down to the individuals. I've kept a lot of species, and the only times I experienced a problem was with a single male zebra who just couldn't get along, and a cutthroat hen attacking a society to take over its nest. The great majority of my zebras haven't been aggressive.

w.l. wrote: Shannylee

Is it the mannikins that you removed?
If so,I don't think you should return them. That's one of the most aggressive species of finch and would always be a ticking time bomb in a communal aviary, especially if breeding is allowed there. They should get their own cage or perhaps be kept with species like the whydahs and the Javas only.

@artist

You have red-billed aka Senegal firefinches.

Yes...the mannikins are in a cage of their own. They were fine in the aviary until I added the babies. The mannikins were busy but they kept to themselves and didn't bother the other birds UNTIL I added the babies. Then, they turned into evil little killing machines.

If the mannikins were to breed in your aviary, they could become aggressively protective of their nest.
If anything else were to breed, they could consider any fledglings newcomers and attack them.