FINCHforum

Hey,

I was hoping someone could tell me if it's normal for finches to chase each other all the time. I have 2 owl finches, 2 goldians, 2 cordon blues and 2 green back twin spots. Everyone is male, except for one of the owls (I think). They are in a new environment. I just got them Friday. The cage is bigger than what they were used to (6 feet wide x 46 tall x 20" deep). There appears to be more than enough room, as well as ample food and water so I'm trying to figure out if they are having fun or being trying to dominant with one another. Any ideas?

Jeanette

Finches in a new place have to sort out a pecking order. Make sure there are lots of perches high up and in the corners. Also, you can clip clothes pins to your perches to make "dividers" on the hot spots so they can't chase each other along the perches. Also, fake plants are good placed so they can hide from each other. Don't offer nests, and make sure there are multiple food and water stations.

Other than that, it should settle down in 5 days or so. Unless they are hurting each other, the buzzing and hissing is just annoying.

This is what they do...
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=92 ... _processed

Hope you are able to see the video.

I have a double flight with 2 male Gouldins, 2 male zebras, m/f pair of European Goldfinches. They do this behavior all day as well. They are not chasing.... I think they afer enjoying th flight area and maybe teasing and playing. Definetly not quarreling. I wouldn't worry.

I didn't see chasing in the aggressive sense in your video. Looked like they were just enjoying the flight. That is kinda what finches do all day :]

Birds WILL have a period of sorting out their relative ranks within a group, even if they are in separate cages. I have three male birds: canary, zebra finch and star finch. I actually put out a post on this forum because my new finch (Zebbie) was being beak fenced by my star finch, Merl! This went on for a few weeks, and they pretty much ignore eachother now. My canary is the top bird, so they pretty much don't squabble much.

Good luck with your birds.

Zebrafincher
Proud owner of:
*Kevin aka “The Old Man” – very cranky canary – 13 years old and rules the Roost!
*Beaky aka “Beaky Beak” the Zebrafinch – 1 year old – and a real, real cutie!!!
*Merlin aka “Merl” the Starfinch – 3 ½ years old – and “bossy as anything for such a small fry!”

Thanks for the advice, everyone!