Finches and Parakeets. Can they be good buddies?

Strickalator · Post by **Strickalator** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 2:32 pm

So I have read that budgies and Finches (especially zebra finches) can get along well in a big cage because they are both native to australia and habitat in the same areas in the wild. I now have 2 male blue and white parakeets that I got for $35 housed together with my male and female zebra finch. They seem to be doing fine so far but I wanted to make sure I can do what I need to do to keep them from fighting ect if it ever happens. The finches seem slightly nervous but otherwise are ok as I designed the nest for bobby and jessie to be way above any other perch along with that the finches get the highest perch in the cage. I have had my zeebs for 1 month and now the parakeets have been in the cage 1 week.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 2:34 pm

If your budgies / parakeets have hooked bills (and I'm pretty sure all of them do) - they should NOT be housed together with finches.

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 3:30 pm

Asking for trouble except in a very large space...there are horror stories galore about mixing the two species.

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 3:34 pm

I agree with Liz. Having had budgies I know that some of them can be very mean and some very nice. You are asking for possible trouble if you mix them together.

This question has been asked before and some members here have mixed the two with no problems so it just depends on some factors such as having a very large aviary so the birds can get away from each other. Less space = more agression and fighting...especially during nesting and raising young.

Something to think about.

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 4:10 pm

Hooked bills and finch's don't mix allot like cats and birds.
at some point there will be trouble finch's will loose

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:42 pm

there was an article about this in the last issue of the just finches magazine. the person whose aviaries they showed had not had any problems housing the two species together.

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 9:01 pm

Strickalator
What size cage are they in ?

FinchMommy · Post by **FinchMommy** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:01 pm

I think a lot depends on the temperament of the budgie. Our old budgie Miso was best buddies with the zebs, he would often sleep on top of the zebs' cage. He was a mellow mellow bird. He never bothered the finches, and they were pretty relaxed about it. Our new budgie, Rollins, however, not so mellow, and sometimes he likes to torment the finches, not so good now that I'm trying to convince them to breed. I've never been tempted to keep the two species together in one cage. I wouldn't chance it.

Strickalator · Post by **Strickalator** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 1:42 pm

Well my cage size is 2 1/2 feet long by 2 feet tall by 1 1/2 feet wide. I designed it for flight so the zeebs can hop and fly a bit in there. However what I did to make the zeebs really relaxed is I provided a finch exclusive door at the top of the cage near the nest where the finches can get in and out anytime I leave the door open.

I have 6 perches all through the apartment, some have toys and some have millet occasionally and they are all nice and high and safe. So the finches have plenty of space to fly as in a sense I have turned my main living room into an avairy and closed off the bathroom and bedroom to the birds. They really love it and are very smart and know just where to go now that I have gotten them used to the perches. The parakeets want to stay in the cage so far and don't fly very well.

I got these budgies from a breeder who got them from a friend. One parakeet is very shy and the other likes to bite. However the parakeets have already been tamed so It will just be time until they get used to a new owner.