which finches can i keep together
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mandy
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- Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:45 pm
- Location: England
which finches can i keep together
Hello i have just joined your forum. i live in england west yorkshire, i wondered which breed of finches i could keep together in an unheated outside avairy, i have six zebras at the moment.
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FeatherHarp
Hello Mandy....glad you found your way here! I am pretty new too so can't help you too much but the bird experts will reply soon! 
You might want to check out this link that lists species that get along...might help you get started deciding.
http://www.finchinfo.com/birds/finches/ ... /index.php
I only have 2 Zebras and 2 Gouldians right now...I am just getting starting with Finches myself.
You might want to check out this link that lists species that get along...might help you get started deciding.
http://www.finchinfo.com/birds/finches/ ... /index.php
I only have 2 Zebras and 2 Gouldians right now...I am just getting starting with Finches myself.
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hilljack13
- Jute Junkie
- Posts: 524
- Joined: Sat Jan 26, 2008 11:05 pm
- Location: Fort Walton Beach, FL
Hi Mandy, I don't have a chart but I know there are some good guide on the internet. In general most finches will be OK together. I think some of the large species may not do well with others. One quick way to group them is to see what finches your pet store keeps together. The ones around where I live have had just about all finches available together at one time or another.
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Nipper06
- Novice Nester
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- Joined: Thu Oct 04, 2007 10:49 pm
- Location: Wilmington, Delaware (USA)
Chart of what finches can live together
Mandy - Go to this link and there is a chart of compatible finches:
http://www.finchniche.com/f-chart.mgi. There is also useful text on that page about mixing finches.
In my opinion, in addition to size compatibility, a big problem is over-crowding. Even some mild-mannered finches can become aggressive if over-crowded. And if you through breeding into the mix, that will only complicate the issue. Some finches, like Green Singing Finches for example, are known to be especially aggressive when breeding. So my advice would be to follow the guide above and try not to put too many finches in too small an enclosure - and consider breeding cages for pairs you want to breed. And if you try to breed several finch pairs together, put up more nest boxes than they need to avoid fighting.
I had a bad experience once. I gave a pair of Java Sparrows to someone who wanted to breed them. Unknown to me, he tried to breed them in a very small aviary with other finches and even cockatiels. It turned out the Javas fought with the cockatiels and in the end, the supposedly "peaceful" cockatiels killed both Javas. Apparently, the cockatiels and Javas got very aggressive when housed together in such a small space. I was very upset when I heard this and I couldn't believe that the person didn't have better sense than to jam different species of breeding birds in such a tiny aviary (the aviary was only something like 5 feet cubed, which is way too small to try and breed different species of finches in, let alone mix them with cockatiels). People need to remember that finches are not tropical fish - in nature, birds usually defend quite a large area when breeding. Personally, I don't think multiple pairs of finches should ever be bred together in anything but a very large aviary, unless they are specifically colony breeders.
Another factor for you to consider: Some finch varieties can handle unheated aviaries but I wouldn't recommend adding any new birds now, in the winter, unless they are already coming from unheated avairies. Wait until late spring so they can adjust to the cooler temps gradually.
http://www.finchniche.com/f-chart.mgi. There is also useful text on that page about mixing finches.
In my opinion, in addition to size compatibility, a big problem is over-crowding. Even some mild-mannered finches can become aggressive if over-crowded. And if you through breeding into the mix, that will only complicate the issue. Some finches, like Green Singing Finches for example, are known to be especially aggressive when breeding. So my advice would be to follow the guide above and try not to put too many finches in too small an enclosure - and consider breeding cages for pairs you want to breed. And if you try to breed several finch pairs together, put up more nest boxes than they need to avoid fighting.
I had a bad experience once. I gave a pair of Java Sparrows to someone who wanted to breed them. Unknown to me, he tried to breed them in a very small aviary with other finches and even cockatiels. It turned out the Javas fought with the cockatiels and in the end, the supposedly "peaceful" cockatiels killed both Javas. Apparently, the cockatiels and Javas got very aggressive when housed together in such a small space. I was very upset when I heard this and I couldn't believe that the person didn't have better sense than to jam different species of breeding birds in such a tiny aviary (the aviary was only something like 5 feet cubed, which is way too small to try and breed different species of finches in, let alone mix them with cockatiels). People need to remember that finches are not tropical fish - in nature, birds usually defend quite a large area when breeding. Personally, I don't think multiple pairs of finches should ever be bred together in anything but a very large aviary, unless they are specifically colony breeders.
Another factor for you to consider: Some finch varieties can handle unheated aviaries but I wouldn't recommend adding any new birds now, in the winter, unless they are already coming from unheated avairies. Wait until late spring so they can adjust to the cooler temps gradually.
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Tyler.GiGi
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