Can I put a Gouldian in with Zebras?

Pinksand · Post by **Pinksand** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 5:07 pm

As you can see from my other post this morning, I lost my female Gouldian this morning. I was wondering, once it warms up, can I put my male Gouldian from inside to my outside aviary with my Zebras? He is alone now and I am not sure if we will get another female Gouldian.

Would he mate or bond with a female Zebra?

Thanks.

JeannetteD · Post by **JeannetteD** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 10:28 pm

I've heard from some people that it's okay to put gouldian's in with other finches, but I'm sure it all has to do with the set up. The cage must be big enough, etc..

You'll think differently once it gets warmer. If you're like me, you wont be able to look at his lonely little face without getting him a friend.

Jeannette
aka bleeding heart extraordinaire

Pinksand · Post by **Pinksand** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 4:53 pm

It has only been a day and already I am so sad for him, he is really sad. Only cheers up when I really pep him up and talk to him. He must have already really bonded with the girl. Well, we will probably get another girl when we can find one, they are very hard to come by around me.

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:51 am

He would probably appreciate the company of the zebras (until you can find him a new mate), but you have to be careful about how you introduce him into the 'established' group, since the zebras will likely feel territorial and may not want to accept a newcomer. I have found that taking all of the birds out of the enclosure (your outdoor enclosure in this case), and completely rearranging its contents (altering the placement of perches, dishes, nests, etc.) to create the feel of a "whole new cage," and then placing ALL of the birds (zebras and gouldian) into the cage simultaneously helps a great deal to reduce territorial bickering.

Other tips for preventing aggression can be found here: http://www.finchinfo.com/housing.htm#aggression

Pinksand · Post by **Pinksand** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 2:21 pm

Thanks so much for the replies! I have good news we were able to find a new Hen a few days after the other one passed. She is much more docile and more his energy level than the last one. Only problem is that I can't be 100% sure she is a hen. She is the same coloring, black head and such, but she has a white chest instead of purple. On the old female, the purple was substantially different so we could tell she was a hen, on this one being her chest is white, she is almost as vibrant everyplace else, so it is difficult. However, she is twice his size, and the same age, so does that typically indicate a female?

I can try and post a photo later, on my way out, but in general, if the new birdie is very large compared to my male, can I consider her a female?[/img]

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:16 pm

The size difference does not indicate sex, but the belly color, the blue band around the mask, the back color, and possibly the beak color can help you. The beak will be black if it is a hen and she is in breeding condition, otherwise it is pearly in color. If it is a cock in breeding condition, the tip of the beak will be vibrantly colored; if not breeding, the beak is pearly white and similar to the hen's.

The belly of the cock is a much brighter yellow than the hen's. If they are similarly bright, you probably have two cocks.

Hens tend to have much less blue around their mask than cocks. If the blue ring is a similar intensity/width/completeness, you probably have two cocks.

Lastly, the back color of the hen is a shade less vibrant than the cock's.

Also, not a visual indicator really, but only cocks sing.

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:58 pm

I'm glad to hear you found a new mate for your Gouldian. I hope you have worked out an arrangement with your mil regarding the cleaning.

TammieB.

Pinksand · Post by **Pinksand** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 9:45 pm

YES! It seems everyone is very sorry and will be very diligent to not put them in harms way again. I think it all ended well! Thanks so much!

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:24 pm

Wonderful news! So glad they realized their mistake and don't wish to repeat it.

TammieB.

Sally H · Post by **Sally H** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 11:15 pm

So how's it working out? Were you able to determine the sex of your new gould?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:20 am

Oh gosh, so much has happened. Turns out the new Gould was a male, it was fighting with our original male and the return of that new male to the pet store was a nightmare, but in the end we got our money back. Now we have a red head FEMALE in with our boy and for the most part they are the best pair yet. They like one another quite a bit and most nights sleep next to one another, about a finch or two apart. I think from what I have read that means they are liking one another.

Although tonight, I did see them being testy a bit, the boy picking at her when she was flying about after his bedtime. I have never seen two birds sleep so much in my life! They go to bed by 7 or 8pm, they assume their positions and want their cover on. Then if we get them up at 8am they are still sleeping most of the time! And yesterday and today since it was raining I got up late, 10am and they were still NAPPING! It is funny, even once I uncover them, they take a while to wake up like people do! Too funny.

We are wondering when they may mate or if they ever will. They are obviously not like our Zebras. We have a second clutch of babies with our Zebras out back, 4 new ones a week and a half old now. And we are wondering if the Gouldians will ever mate or when if they will.

Our Zebras have had a bad week. Yesterday, my husband was cleaning th cage and the daddy accidentally got out and flew away. He was so sad and afraid to upset me that he went out and got a new male for our mom. I noticed the dad had a funny squeeky voice yesterday, but not until today did he tell me what happened. He felt so bad, but I told him it was an accident, and it was ok. Well, the mom meanwhile had picked the head until it was bleeding on the poor new male. She obviously was protecting herself and the babies fiercely. As soon as I saw what was going on and realized it was a new male, we tried to put him on the other side (separated with wood) of our outdoor aviary, with the past clutch of 3 babies, two girls and one boy. Immediately, he started screeching a lot and fighting with the boy. He was a lot older than them too, they are only about 5-6 months old. He was jumping all on top of all of them, picking at the boy etc. So we took him out after about an hour and decided it isn't worth the risk. We thought maybe they would figure out he is in charge now and be submissive to him, but that little boy and he kept fighting and it was really just too stressful on them all. We found him one of our spare cages and I am nursing him with love. We are going to give him to a friend this Thursday to have a new home by himself. Maybe she can get him a female too. He is really sweet, but now all are happy again as nobody is getting picked. I am really worried his feathers won't grow back on his head, will they? He is so cute and it is sad our little daddy is gone, but I think the mom will be able to do ok with the 4 new chicks.

I think that taking out our separator and letting the 3 old babies combine with the mom and 4 new chicks would be a mistake too, we thought she would like the company, but they may hurt the babies...so we are leaving her on her own with the 4 chicks until the chicks can eat on their own, then maybe we will just open the entire aviary up into one big one.

WHEEEEW! Ok so it has been a big past few weeks with our birdies! But I think they will all be ok now.

What is new with your birdie family?

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 11:57 pm

You probably won't witness the gouldians mating because they tend to prefer to do their business in the privacy of the nest box. I have only seen mine mate outside of the box once and was very surprised at their boldness.

Your male zebra's head feathers will grow back. Just keep him on a good diet.

Good luck!

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:59 am

I'm glad you found a mate for your male Gould. They should settle down soon and be a happy couple.

Sorry to hear about the escaped zeb. I hope his mate is able to care for the chicks without her health suffering. Give her lots of tender loving care now and a well deserved break from breeding after these chicks fledge. Then I would separate the sexes and give everyone a vacation.

northernflirt · Post by **northernflirt** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 9:08 pm

I just had to post because it seems our Goulds are 'different' from what I'm reading! I have a female who sings!!! And I know she's a female because we've watched her lay eggs and her mate didn't look for anywhere private to make his intentions known to her either. Typical in our house...none of our pets are 'the norm'.

FINCHforum

Can I put a Gouldian in with Zebras?

Can I put a Gouldian in with Zebras?

might be ok

Odd Gouldians