Housing white javas with existing silvers

[jack91]

Hello there various helpful folks,

I had initial problems with silvers when I first got some. I had to seperate two pairs, and put 2 cages next to each other to sort of get them used to each other. Eventually I put them together and they were OK aside from one male constantly chasing the other two.

I was waiting for some pied javas from the breeder for a while, which I got today (lovely) and have been molting haha. He swapped the pair with the problemous male in and put the two pied javas in who are approx 5 months old. Now I watched carefully and the silver female who has always been placid started coming down to them and being curious, but the closer she got the pied javas started flying everywhere and then started chasing them.

I then seperated the pied javas and put them in a seperate cage next to the existing one, in the hope they will de-stress first and get used to each other. Is this a good move?

Thank you.

[cindy]

How big is the cage they are in. I have had javas in the past and just got back into them. They are quarrelsome at times especially closer to maturity. Once in a while I see a tiny feather plucked, but nothing harmful like zebras can inflict, mostly scolding and chasing. I am sure mixing the mutations in a flight will be fine but watch closely the white ones, white even in zebras seem to be targeted more. You might need to separate them if the chasing gets to be to much.

Provide equal height perches at the top, two swings, two feeding stations...it might help easy the tension a little. Most of the time the chasing and quarrelsome behavior does not last long and they are back to sitting near each other again, even with older whites in a group.

[jack91]

The cage they were all in is a big flight cage, plenty of room two water dispensers two food trays and two grit trays. Then have two perches at the top, two underneath those, two in the middle and two at the bottom.

It's really weird because she never chased any of the other birds, and I can't tell if it's a case of the whites fly off because they are scared and then she ends up chasing them or just that she is curious. The main reason I seperated them was one of them held on the side of the cage and the silver female jumped on the side with it and started pecking before it flew off.

[cindy]

Some of yours might be starting to mature and become territorial over a space or another bird...you could also separate by sex also if this is a mixed sex flight.

[jack91]

Sorry I made a mistake on the breeds and have been for some time! I actually have 2 normal Java Sparrows and 2 whites, now I know. When would be a good time do you reckon to put them back in for another attempt please? I also actually think he said they are 5 weeks old not months.

[cindy]

Can you post a picture...if they are all whites and very young (5 weeks) often you will see a silver saddleback effect on the back that does molt out. At 5 months that should be gone or almost all gone.

what color eyes black or red?

[jack91]

They seem to have black eyes and they certainly have the saddleback effect Cindy

[jack91]

Tried again today and went well for a while, mild chasing but obviously the whites are not used to the cage yet. I have instead seperated the original normal java sparrows and put the new white pair in the big cage to get them used to it.

If they are only 5 weeks old please can someone tell me when they mature into adults, the point where they may feel less vulnerable and stick up for themselves? Once they grow up a bit get used to the cage they are going to be in, I will put the other two back in in the hope things may be better. Thanks a lot.

Jack

[30 Seconds to Bob]

I'm still relatively new to javas, but compared to other finches I've owned, they seem very slow to mature. I have a seven month old chick that is still in the midst of attaining his adult plumage and is just begining to sing. It is not recommended to breed them before they reach one year of age. Other than that, they are great and intelligent little birds. I love them! Bob