Red Bishop Finch

[ddickens]

Hello everyone,

I am new to the forum so I hope I am doing this right. I have a big cage with 6 finches in it. I have 4 zebra finches and 2 Lady Gouldians. Last week I bought a Red Bishop Finch to add to my collection. He is currently in a seperate cage with 2 canaries while I make sure he is healthy. I planned to put him in with the other finches, but I just read that Red Bishops are aggressive with other finches....so now I don't know what to do. Should I leave him seperate? Should I put him in the aviary with the parakeets? Is it safe to put the 2 canaries in with the finches (my original plan)? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks, Dawn

[JohnBoy]

It should be kept with other weavers, whydahs, and larger mannikins. But you may not have a problem with just one red bishop.
You don't mention cage size. That makes all the difference also.
I have heard that red bishops don't cause as much trouble as the yellow bishop (Napoleon Weaver).

[L in Ontario]

Hi Dawn, How big is your aviary or cage?

[ddickens]

The cage is 30"X36" (tall)X18"
Dawn

[JohnBoy]

The cage is 30"X36" (tall)X18"
Dawn

Too small in my opinion.

[ddickens]

Really?

OK I saw a caGe on the internet I was thinking of buying, 30X18X55...do you think this would work? Could I put the Bishop in with them then? I am a new finch owner but I've had parrots for many years...

Dawn in Hot Hot Phoenix
I have 4 cockatie. a quaker parrot, 2 senegals, 1 GCC, sun conure, 2 canaries, the 7 finches and the parakeet indoor aviary....
plus dogs, kids, gineau pigs and turtles and a husband

[L in Ontario]

If the 55" is the width - it would be much better than the single flight you have. You could split them up between the two cages then. Finches need more width than height in cages. They need to fly unlike our parrots that need more height than width as they can get some exercise by climbing. Our finches won't climb around their cage.

I have a CAG, Eclectus and 3 types of Pionus parrots in addition to the finches in my signature. Sounds like you enjoy your parrots too!

[ddickens]

Well, actually it was 55" high! I'm used to the tall cages for my parrots....I've only had the finches for about a month and they've been great. But there's a cage on ebay that says you could put two together and it would be 60" long by 18" deep by 36" tall...so its like putting two of the ones I have now together to make one long cage....is this better for finches? And then could I put the canaries and bishops with the others, or is it still not a good idea?

Thanks, Dawn

[JohnBoy]

As Liz said it's the width you want so that the finches can fly back and forth instead of up and down. With the addition to make your cage longer the size IMO would be OK for the 7 finches and 2 canaries. But you will need to observe behavior to make sure everyone is getting along and no one is stressing out the other birds. Good luck!

[wellingtoncdm]

Weavers are generally intimidating to other birds. I had a pair in my 12 foot by 6 foot outdoor community aviary. The male harassed but never attacked any others although they were always nervous and on the move away from him. In addition to being overly confident the male will weave anything anywhere including cage bars and doors weaved closed. He also weaved six nests in the ficus trees in the aviary and then protected them all. Even his mate was scared of him. Both would also take mealworms right out of the mouths of the parrot finches and hoard the live food station. Only the javas could keep up with their intimidating personality. The only good thing was watching him transform into his breeding colors every Spring. They never bred and I finally found them a new home and the other birds are much happier without them. Hopefully yours will be better in a cage without a mate.
Good luck but please watch him closely.
Charlie