FINCHforum

I got two expert opinions recently about a pair of male zebras I have had to put into separate cages because one had become very aggressive and territorial with the other.

Since these are the my only birds (I live in a small apartment and I am very fond of them.) this situation makes me sort of sad and worried, so I have a few questions.

They seem to be doing OK...The food-denied one is getting strong again, and the other is skittish as usual, but keeps busy. They are both singing and foraging as much as usual, etc. I realize they need to be in pairs. Will each eventually suffer from it's isolation.?
What is the consensus about having male/female pairs even when I know it would be reckless for me to let them breed.?
I feel kind of odd about a no nest --replacement with fake egg regime . Should I?
Finally what about getting another male, at least for the less aggressive one? A lot has been said pro and con about male pairs.

Note: Both are in 30" x 18"x 12 flight cages, They have been separate for two weeks.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.







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It would be downright foolish to get a 3rd male.
Get them a famale each but simply provide no nest and only limited protein (eggfood) to prevent breeding. There should be no need for fake eggs then.
There is nothing wrong with keeping a pair without a nest, a pair with no nest will still be much happier than single birds with no company.

Have you considered a canary breeding cage? The type with a removable divider in the center. They could then be close but out of reach for contact and violence. After a while you could try reuniting them and if they still fight put the divider back in.
These come in sizes typically 30" or up to 36" wide.

paul-inAZ wrote: Have you considered a canary breeding cage? The type with a removable divider in the center. They could then be close but out of reach for contact and violence. After a while you could try reuniting them and if they still fight put the divider back in.
These come in sizes typically 30" or up to 36" wide.

I love dividable cages! I have quite a few, and I have a few birds that have to stay separated from time to time.

w.l. I have to fully agree with Laszlo here, every thing mentioned is exactly what id advise

In my experience with about six different zebra cocks over the years, even couples that didn't like each other much when there were nests in the cage would get along and bonded strongly when there wasn't one in the cage to defend.
I even had two brothers bond so strongly they built a nest and shared it together as long as I had them.

Hi there,

I have two cock birds (Zebra finches) and they LOVE being out together (free flight) but I keep them in separate flight cages the rest of the time. They bicker and fight occasionally, but its never serious, and they hang out - a lot. I don't think they'd get on very well in the same cage if the door wasn't open for them to fly in and out of themselves/

I also have a very old star finch (male) whom I keep separate as well because he cannot fly and is very weak, and they would probably kill him (birds being birds).

Good luck with your pair.

Kind Regards

Zebrafincher