FINCHforum

I know I am asking a lot of questions lately. Just want to do things right. I was able to return my two finches to the shop where I got them from, so they will go to a good home. Now all I have left is the two Societies. This is the same shop that has the Gouldians. I also found out today that they are getting a new batch of finches in and all different breeds. She named some, but the only one I could recall was the Owl finch. So what species are fairly laid back and go real good with Societies?
Thank you so much!!

Did you ever think about getting more societies? They are so awesome! Lol. But if you want to get another species, Twinmom0804 I am pasting the compatibility chart that is on the finch information center crystal made.This should help a lot. Thanks Crystal!!


Red Text indicates birds which typically become rather aggressive during the breeding period.
† indicates birds which should be housed alone (each pair in its own enclosure) for successful breeding to take place (this is not a concern if you do not plan to breed).
‡ indicates birds which are aggressive towards each other, and so should be limited to only one pair per mixed aviary.
Tier 1 - Passive

These birds are generally docile and can usually be kept with other birds within this tier. As always, observe the birds to make sure they are getting along.
Avadavats (Red & Green) †
Black-cheeked Waxbill
Black-rumped Waxbill (Red-eared Waxbill)
Blue-breasted Parrot-finch †
Blue-faced Parrot-finch ‡
Bronze-winged Mannikin †
Button Quail
Chestnut Munia
Chestnut-breasted Finch/Mannikin/Munia
Common Waxbill (Saint Helena Waxbill)
Cordon Bleu Waxbills † ‡ (do not mix with Purple Grenadiers)
Gold Breasted Waxbill †
Gray-headed Munia †
Green Twinspots (do not mix with Star Finches)
Lady Gouldian Finch
Mannikins, Munias, Nuns †
Masked Grass Finch
Masked Firefinch ‡
Orange Cheeked Waxbill †
Owl (Bicheno) Finch
Painted Finch
Pearl-headed Silverbill
Pictorella Finch/Mannikin
Pin-tailed Parrot-finch
Quail Finch
Red-headed Parrot-finch
Silverbills (African & Indian)
Society (Bengalese) Finch
Spice Finch
Star Finch (do not mix with Melba Finches or Twinspots)
Swee Waxbill
White-backed Munia †
White-headed Munia
Yellow-rumped Finch
Yellow-winged Pytilia
Tier 2 - Pushy

These birds may be housed together in a large enclosure with visual barriers, but watch them to make sure they are not unduly harassing each other. Shaft-tail Finches may be suitable companions for some of the birds from Tier 1 as well.
Aurora Finch
Dark Firefinch ‡
European Goldfinch
Green Singing Finch ‡
Lavender Finch † ‡
Orange-winged Pytilia † ‡ (do not mix with Melba Finches)
Purple Grenadier (do not mix with Cordon Bleus or Violet Eared Waxbills)
Shaft-tail Finch (Long-tailed or Heck's Grassfinch) - (do not mix with Parsons or Masked Grassfinch)
Zebra Finch
Whydahs
Tier 3 - Aggressive

These birds need a very spacious enclosure with plenty of visual barriers in order to be housed together. Keep a close eye on them and separate birds that quarrel. *Note that the Java Finch is a peaceful bird that may be housed with birds from Tier 2 and possibly Tier 1, but is placed in Tier 3 because of its intimidating size and ability to coexist with the other birds in Tier 3.
Cutthroat Finch (do not mix with waxbills)
Diamond Firetail Finch (do not mix with other Australian finches)
Gray Singing Finch ‡
Java Sparrow/Finch (see *Note above)
Melba Finch ‡ (do not mix with other Pytilias, or finches with red masks [e.g. Star Finches])
Saffron Finch
Weavers
Finches which are generally not suited for a mixed aviary include: Bar-breasted Firefinches, Crimson Finches, Cuban Melodious Finches, Parson Finches, Peter's Twinspots, Red-headed Finches, and Violet Eared Waxbills.

For more detailed information about many of the species listed above, please refer to the Species Profiles.

Twinmom0804
Our Brian, gave you the whole download.
There are some exceptions to the rule of course (as in each group there are individuals, some friendlier than ithers). However as you look at these lists you can get a pretty good idea of what to expect.

Societies will usually get along with everybody, so it's the personality traits of the new comers that you have to consider. Also you have to consider the noise levels (taking hubby into consideration).

I have my six Socies housed with my male Canary, and they get along well. But! Male Canaries sing, at times loudly and endlessly. Female Canaries however chirp fairly quietly and are pretty, sweet birds to have around and they do come in a variety of colours.

Orange Cheek Waxbills, are tiny little sweethearts. They are small, quiet and pretty.

Go through Brians lists and look up individual species to get more detailed information. That will give you a good idea of what might fit into your life style.

I love my gold-breasted waxbills. I would love to have an entire colony of those, as they are one species that you can house lots of them together. I have two pair, and they chirp a lot but the chirp is so soft it is hardly noticeable. Owls are just cute, and they are very easy going. I plan on housing my owl pair with my societies as soon as I get some birds moved around.

Double post......itchy finger

The more I see the owl finches, the more I like them! Plus, I have a thing for typical owls anyways. But have not given up on more Societies either.

Star finches are also a good choice. Very passive and quiet, you have to strain to hear the male when he sings. They would do fine with Societies.

Goulds are quiet and get on well with societies too.

Spice, Owl, Gouldian, and Star finches are all fairly quiet. As are Gild-breast and Orange-cheeked Waxbills.

Thank you very much everyone! I love this forum!

I have one society finch and I keep him with 3 gouldians, a European goldfinch, 2 twin spots, one shaftail and a cherry finch. They all get along great.

I have a total of 11 societies over 2 flights, in one flight i have a breeding pair with 5 cherry finches, 1 pair of st. helena waxbills, 1 pair of strawberry finches and one european goldfinch x canary. And in another flight i have 9 of them with a pair of orange-cheecked waxbills and a pair of bluefaced parrot finches. From all of these finches, my societies are the loudest. I have friends who have them with owls, stars, zebras, javas, gouldians, cubans, black-throated and shaft-tailed finches. I'd say you can put societies with almost every other finch, as long as there is enough space, I wouldn't put a pair of cubans and a pair of societies in a double breeding cage, that's almost certain to go wrong, but in a big aviary, it won't be a problem.

We have a pair of Owls and Red-Ear Waxbills (very similar to St Helena, but distinctly different if you look closely). The Red-Ears are incredibly quiet. Every now and the then the male will give a single trill-type whistle. I don't know that I've ever heard the female make a sound, not even a chirp.

The Owls are fairly quiet as well. However, our flight is next to a window facing our backyard, where we have several wild bird feeders. For whatever reason, the Owls are in love with Blue Jays. Anytime a Blue Jays comes to one of our feeders, the Owls start howling at the top of their lungs. It's a loud, piercing, single note, repeated over and over by both the male and female, until the Blue Jay leaves. Lord help us if there are two Blue Jays out there at the same time - total chaos in the flight.

I haven't personally had Orange Cheeks, but I know people who do and have visited them. They are gorgeous, and very quiet. They are tiny though and highly skilled escape artists, so be careful with them.

D

DamonIRB I believe the owl finches see the blue jays as predators, and that is why they freak out. They don't understand that the blue jay cannot get to them. I observe this behavior in small wild birds when a hawk or other bird of prey is near.

KarenB - that is entirely possible. It's interesting that they don't go into the rant when we have the flight outside on the screened porch though. Perhaps they're smart enough to know they're outside and wouldn't be able to get away, so they don't want to draw attention to themselves. I have no idea... I just know that there are occasions when Owls are NOT quiet.

D