Cordons & Goulds

sunnydove · Post by **sunnydove** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 1:26 pm

Last Saturday I went to a local bird show (San Antonio, TX) and I purchased a large flight cage (a black one like the one FeatherHarp has in the gallery). I also purchased a young pair of Cordon Blue's and dilute Gould's. I still have my one LGF that hasn't moulted into adult colors yet, so have not gotten a mate until I know the sex. I have the single LGF in it's original cage, the Cordons in another large cage and the dilute LGF in the large flight cage while in quarantene.
My question is (and I've looked at the species housing link on the forum) since I have just the one pair of Cordon's and I do want them to breed, can they be put into the flight cage with the Goulds or do I need to keep them in their own cage. I know that seperate cages would be the answer for more than one pair of Cordon's, but wasn't sure about mixing them with the Goulds.
Also, before I put the single LGF into the flight cage with the dilutes, should I wait to get his/her mate or will the 3 be okay together until I determine the sex and get another?

Thanks,
Judy

Fancie Flight · Post by **Fancie Flight** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 5:33 pm

I have a pair of cordon bueus in with 2 juvenile gouldians that are just coloring up. they do fine HOWEVER I will seperate them soon.
I had 2 more gouldians in there and had to remove them because when the boy decided it was mating time HE terrorized my cordon male who is handicapped and cant fight back,

So Id say long story short, lol they would probably be ok until breeding season starts then Id remove i pair,
Also the cordons will steal the goulds nests.

Good Luck

Post by **Hilary** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 12:35 am

I have a pair of red cheek cordon bleus in with my gouldian hens, and they all get along great. The problem is that I know that they probably will never get "in the mood" unless I give them a little more privacy than they have now. I had a pair of blue caps (just lost the hen) in with owls and parrots and they did try to nest, but there were too many birds jumping in and out of their nest for them to ever incubate well.

sunnydove · Post by **sunnydove** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 11:49 am

Thanks for the info Fancie and Hillary. I think I will just keep the Cordon pair in their own cage. It'll just be beeter that way.
Any answers on my last question (as quoted below)?

Thanks,
Judy

"Also, before I put the single LGF into the flight cage with the dilutes, should I wait to get his/her mate or will the 3 be okay together until I determine the sex and get another?"

fairestfinches · Post by **fairestfinches** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 3:38 pm

Everyone has different experiences with housing different species together. We have Blue Capped Cords in with Goulds and we have no trouble with either species breeding. We are quickly becoming over run with Blue Cap babies. It all depends on the personality of the pairs. All you can do is give it a try and then seperate them if it doesn't seem to be working out very well.

Sean

Fancie Flight · Post by **Fancie Flight** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 2:27 pm

Your last question I THINK was can ya place the 2 gouldians together???

is that right? gouldians do VERY WELL in a group, so that would nOT be a problem, I did see ya had one which was moulting though?
I would be sure NOT to let her get to setting up house until she is finished with that as it could weaken and kill her, Moul ttakes ALOT out of them.

that said Id remove any nests put them all togehter and when every ones colored up and done moulting add nest boxes,

They will pick there own mates this way as well. so if you have certain ones ya want mated youll have to seperate of course.
ok so Did I answer YOUR question??? LOL

williep · Post by **williep** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 1:58 am

While we're on the Blue Caps, i was lucky enough to procure 2 pairs of blue caps for a ridiculous price of US$48pp, I just had to have both pairs! Now, I know they say you should not have more than one pair in an aviary but can you keep them together if your aviary is quite large 15ft x 10ft x 6ft high with a lot of plants?

And if so will this affect their breeding? I thought of maybe keeping them together so they can decide which mate to choose and then removing the other pair (if needed) later?

Post by **Sally** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 2:16 am

I don't think you would have any problem keeping a pair of CBs and 3 Gouldians in that single flight cage--whether the CBs will breed or not is another question. You could try it, and be prepared to move the CBs into their own cage if needed. That single LG will be a lot happier in with the other Gouldians.

williep, I have no idea if two pairs of CBs can be kept in that size aviary. They are very territorial, I know I cannot put mine in a flight cage together even when not breeding. You could try it, as long as you have another place to put one of the pairs if it doesn't work out.

fairestfinches · Post by **fairestfinches** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 2:28 am

Please, please, please, please ... do NOT put an odd number of male and female goulds in the same cage. Both sexes will fight other goulds of the same sex for breeding rights -- to the death in some cases. Please don't take the chance. I made this mistake last year even though I knew better -- had a brain fart, I guess -- and ended up losing two beautiful blue goulds.

As for mixing goulds and cordon bleus, we have 2 walk-in flights that are 7 ft x 6 ft x 7 ft and have one pair of goulds and cords in each flight (along with one pair of four other types of finches). We have not had any problems with them fighting each other and both types have bred prolifically for us. In fact, we have seen the cords helping to feed gould fledglings on occasion.

But, this success could be simply due to the personalities of these birds and it might not work for other birds.

When you mix types, no matter how passive they may be, it's always best to keep an eye on them for awhile to make sure everyone is playing nicely. This also applies when pairing birds of the same species. Better to be safe than sorry. Right?

Michele

Post by **Sally** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 2:41 am

I guess I just got lucky with my Goulds--I have 5 in the HQ single flight cage, two males and three females, and they all get along just great. In fact, I really broke the rules and put nest boxes in the cage, and I now have 4 fledglings from one nest, and there are 3 babies in another nest. Of course, it is like a commune in there (who's your daddy?

), and this is not responsible breeding. I will have to sell all of these as related birds.

fairestfinches · Post by **fairestfinches** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 2:58 am

Howdy, Sally!

Wow! You must be lucky! LOL! When our goulds are ready to breed, they would kill each other if I put odd numbers together.

Are your goulds used to being housed together? That could be why they're getting along and even breeding communally with an odd number.

How are those strawberries doing?

Michele

williep · Post by **williep** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 3:02 am

Tx Sally, I do have another flight cage and about 5 breeder cages where I can move them if needed. It's just that the aviary I referred to is my pride and joy and the CB look so beautiful in that cage.

Just a funny observation, when I bought the Blue Caps the shop had them in a 4ft x 6ft x 8ft cage and had about 50[airs in the cage and they seemed to get along well. Obviously he was not intending to breed them in that cage so that might be were the problem will come in.

Will keep you up to date.

Fancie Flight · Post by **Fancie Flight** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 2:56 pm

I too am lucky. I keep odd numbers sometimes and have never had fights or problems. phewww

But I also let my birds socialize meaning off season all girls hang out and all boys hang out and just be birds and play,

Post by **Sally** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 3:54 pm

Yes, I had those 5 Gouldians in another flight cage for quite some time, so they were like a little family already. What is funny now is that the four fledglings are being fed by one of the hens and two of the males. The third hen is in the second nest, and she has three new babies herself. She hardly ever leaves the nest, and so far is being so good--I know for a fact that she is young and this is her first clutch.

In the first nest, I think the first and second hens may have both laid eggs in that nest. The first hen (young and her first clutch) did most of the incubating and brooding of those four babies, but she did get help from the second hen (no idea of her history) and both males. Now the first hen is back in the nest on three new eggs, and so she is leaving the care of the four fledglings to the second hen and the two boys. Whew! I told you it was like a commune--bunch of hippies, I have!

williep, I also saw at an importer's that he had flight cages full of birds that aren't supposed to get along well together, but that's not a breeding situation, and temporary as well, so I guess it works.

Michele, my Strawberries are driving me crazy!! Still sitting, though they are both leaving the nest now. The babies should have fledged by now, if there are any babies in that nest, and I'm afraid to peek. I'm just sitting on my hands and giving them a little more time.

Fancie Flight · Post by **Fancie Flight** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 3:21 pm

Sounds like your birds have a system worked out for the young raising indeed. lol

I have a pair sitting on 5 eggs due to hatch starting on Valentines Day ( FINGERS CROSSED) Its there first time so nowt holding to muh hope for success

Good luck on your stars, Ive heard there tricky to get babie sfrom as well, Have ya had issues?

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