Questions about Zebra Finches

blue28570 · Post by **blue28570** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 3:10 pm

Ok I am new to birds. I did a bit of research before I got my 2 birds. But obviously not enough. I assume the 2 I have are males. Beause of the beak color. They seem to get along ok. I even provided a nest and they both sleep in it.

What I was wondering, is it possible to just keep males together? I ask because I am really scared to get a hen, due to the egg laying. But what scares me the most is the possibility of egg binding.

I am planning on getting a flight cage this weekend. It is 30 x 18 x 18 I believe. Is it possible to get 2 more males and have 4 males live together happily? I attached a pic of my 2 below. Thanks.

Love Of Finches · Post by **Love Of Finches** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:58 pm

Yep Two Males.

I'm pretty sure you can keep males together.

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 5:33 am

yep by all means keep males together ,but no nests!

ken

blue28570 · Post by **blue28570** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:11 am

You can't keep a nest in with them? My 2 boys sleep in it together.

marocanary · Post by **marocanary** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 10:42 am

Hello
How to distinguish a male and female

H2015 · Post by **H2015** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 12:10 pm

From what I read, nests can lead them into being territorial, they may be fine now but to avoid risks it'll be better to take it out. And from my experience, once they become territorial it's VERY hard to calm them down!

The birds are beautiful together btw!

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 12:30 am

In my opinion, you can continue to keep the two males together as you have it with the nest.

However, if you introduce two more males into the picture and still have nests in there, than you might run into problems.

By the way, the male on the left is so beautiful!

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:05 am

the pne on the left is a chestnut flanked white ,but his markings are alittle faded,but after all you will be not showing him will you..they look really well together

http://www.zebrafinch.com/NewZebra/ches ... white.html
ken

blue28570 · Post by **blue28570** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:23 am

They are starting to fight alot now. I am getting the new cage tomorrow. I am thinking of getting Java finches, being they are considered passive. Because would like the option to add more passive birds, should I ever choose too.

What I think I will do, is try my 2 lil boys in the new cage and see if they get along. If not, then I may have to get a female and return one of my lil boys, which I really don't want to do, to be honest.

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 4:01 am

Zebras can sometimes be hard to start out with because they are pushy and like to chase each other around. If you are not satisfied, you should try and return them and get societies or spices, as they are much more mellow. Or maybe just a pair of javas.

But I agree that zebras can be difficult birds. Although you do have a really pretty one there. You could also just keep him and get some other species.

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 8:57 am

hi blue
there are a couple of things you could try,before you get rid of them.if you have any perches that are higher than others ..put them all at the same level as the others as there is that pecking order thing about birds and the most dominant one always goes to the highest perch and makes sure that anything does not sit up there with it!......next if you have a nest in there get rid of it....did you buy the birds both at the same time and put them in at the same time as one of the birds may think the other is inferior and will bully it ....this can be corrected if you have a temporary cage!take the bully out and put it in the spare cage overnight or longer if possible ,then introduce it back into the cage and then you will find either the roles are reversed or they will stop fighting altogether i have done this with quail with great effect when introducing new members in to the aviary i have which ever is the bully i have taken it out and kept it out over night and when it goes back everything is hunky dory!try it you have nothing to lose

ken

blue28570 · Post by **blue28570** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:02 am

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

I don't want to give up either of my boys. Today I am going to get them a much larger cage and see if they do better. Hopefully that will do the trick. The cage I am getting has multiple feed positions. They only squabble over food.

Other than that, they preen each other, cuddle together, sleep together. I tink I just neea bigger cage. We shall see over the next day or two.

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:11 am

hi blue
the larger cage is an ideal solution ,if you can give them more places to feed from you should get less fighting,my canaries have 4 feeding stations and they still argue but thats canaries for you they usually make up within a few minutes...and usually they are fighting over eggfood or cucumber or broccoli

ken

blue28570 · Post by **blue28570** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:30 am

Well I will keep you posted. If worse comes to worse, I can get a 2nd cage, large enough for 2 and get a female for both and just have one pair per cage.

I really like them both, but Marshmallow is my fav.

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 4:43 am

Well good luck! Just know that if you end up getting females you will most likely end up with lots of babies