Oh Dear, is my cage too small?

[ilovetomp]

So, I have four society finches. My cage is 18 inches wide and 40 inches in length, it is round and long. Is this cage too small for four society finches. I have seven little egg in a nest and four of them are sitting on the eggs just fine. However, yesterday they kicked one of the birds out and will not let him back into the nest.

Therefore, I am concerned that my cage is too small. I know it will be too small for eleven finches (if all of the eggs are fertilized and hatch and all survive), but in the interim is it too small and is this why they kicked this one guy out. I have had them for three weeks and never had any problems until just yesterday.

As always, any input is more than needed.

[Sally]

Trying to visualize this cage--18" deep, 40" long, and how high or tall? It should be fine for four Societies. Often Societies will share nesting/brooding/raising duties, but perhaps three of them have decided that the one is not wanted.

[ilovetomp]

It is a round cage. Is that all right? The one that they kicked out snuck back in when the guy who was bothering him was not looking. It was quite humorous.

Thank you. And if these eggs hatch I guess I need a different cage. This will be the only off spring for these guys.

[Sheather]

It is big enough for probably 5 or six non-breeders, but I wouldn't allow more than one breeding group to share it. I say 'group', because societies sometimes pair up, sometimes form trios, and occasionally many birds will all bond and share breeding duties. However, whichever birds are not part of that club will then often get picked on in a cage that size.

[Finnie]

Trying to visualize this cage--18" deep, 40" long, and how high or tall?.

I am also having trouble visualizing a round cage with such dimensions. All I can come up with is a skinny tall tube, like a silo?

But round cages are not the best for birds. They like to have a back to the cage, or a corner, so that they do not feel like they have to keep an eye out in all directions. I would suggest looking for a nice large rectangle or square cage to move them to once the babies fledge. I wouldn't disturb them while they are nesting.

You might be able to find a good deal on a used cage while you are waiting.

[Ginene]

Sounds to me like the cage is 18" in diameter and 40" tall...definitely not large enough for even 4 society finch. I wouldn't worry about all 4 adult finch sitting on the eggs...sadly, sometimes babies can get squished and die in the nest. I'm not sure it's a good time to make any cage changes, as your adults might abandon fertile eggs. Have you candled the eggs? If they aren't fertile, you can make the move before they start a fertile clutch.

[wilkifam]

Not having trouble visualizing this at all folks, the way they described it TWICE above is 40 inches LONG. Plenty big for half a dozen finches, but when the babies fledge, you might want to rehome or get a second cage and separate by sex.

[Ginene]

I never saw a round cage that was 40" long...

[Sam007]

I agree with Ginene. A round cage which is 40" tall and 18" wide is small for 4 finches.

[lovezebs]

ilovetomp
~Welcome to the Forum.
~Regarding the mystery cage. A picture would be 'extremely' helpful.
~There appears to be some confusion about the dimensions of your cage. I understand that it is round, which is not the best for Finches. Measure from top to bottom, then the circumferance of the cage around the middle, which will clarify things for everyone.
~Now, regarding your Socies. There are four adults, and seven eggs, is that correct. For all of these birds, if you decide to keep them all, you will need a sizable flight. Check out flight cages in Amazon.com, to give you an Idea. Needs to be at least 30 in. from left to right and as big otherwise as you can afford. They need room to fly from side to side and enough space for everyone to move around and find some privacy.
~If you don't want anymore babies, you will have to remove the nest once these babies are out of it, and also toss any subsequent eggs that will be laid here, there and everywhere .
~Goodluck and hoping to see some pictures soon.

~Elana~

[wilkifam]

Ginene

I never saw a round cage that was 40" long...

There were plans on this very forum on building long round cages from hardware cloth.

[Ginene]

That's great to know, wilkifam. I was looking all over the internet for a round cage this size to hang in my family room for a canary. I no longer have the canary, but will keep this in mind if I ever get one again

[wilkifam]

http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=19438

It took some looking, but I found it!

[Ginene]

Thanks, wilkifam!!! Not exactly what I pictured...but a very cool idea! I bet I could build what I have been dreaming of, with a bit of help from my hubby . If I ever get another canary, I will try to convince him to help me. I would love something oval-ish with rounded sides, about 30"W, 20"D and about 25"H (that comes to a point at the very top to attach a strong hook for hanging from a chain).

[wilkifam]

If you cut 1" wood into the oval shape you wanted it would probably make great ends to fasten the hardware cloth to. Just would have to figure out doors and such.