
Mixing species
- Gráinne Barrett
- Flirty Bird
- Posts: 206
- Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2014 1:03 pm
- Location: Ireland
Mixing species
Hey everybody, just wanted to ask yet another question! In your experience what species are housed together well? 

Gráinne
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Finches, hookbills, canaries and diamond doves!
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Finches, hookbills, canaries and diamond doves!
- Sally
- Mod Extraordinaire
- Posts: 17929
- Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:55 pm
- Location: DFW, Texas
Re: Mixing species
There are so many variables, that it is difficult to give an exact answer. It depends on whether you are talking about cages, flights, or aviaries, and what size? Here is an article about compatibility with many species of finches, but keep in mind that each bird is an individual, and they haven't read the article! A bird from the passive species may be a holy terror, and a bird from the aggressive species may be a sweetheart. The charts and articles are a guide.
http://www.finchinfo.com/housing/compatible_species.php
http://www.finchinfo.com/housing/compatible_species.php
- Gráinne Barrett
- Flirty Bird
- Posts: 206
- Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2014 1:03 pm
- Location: Ireland
Re: Mixing species
This is for a flight. Also what species crossbreed as I DO NOT want this to happen, because even though hybrids are beautiful, I don't want them!
Gráinne
_________________________________________________________________
Finches, hookbills, canaries and diamond doves!
_________________________________________________________________
Finches, hookbills, canaries and diamond doves!
- Sally
- Mod Extraordinaire
- Posts: 17929
- Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:55 pm
- Location: DFW, Texas
Re: Mixing species
Many species actually can crossbreed. At www.finchinfo.com, in the Species section, each species has an area called Special Considerations, and that often tells what other species will crossbreed with that particular one.
- Gráinne Barrett
- Flirty Bird
- Posts: 206
- Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2014 1:03 pm
- Location: Ireland
Re: Mixing species
Thanks Sally !
Gráinne
_________________________________________________________________
Finches, hookbills, canaries and diamond doves!
_________________________________________________________________
Finches, hookbills, canaries and diamond doves!
- MariusStegmann
- Weaning
- Posts: 1726
- Joined: Wed Nov 16, 2011 12:20 pm
- Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Re: Mixing species
I would stay away from Cubans. Very pretty, but kills birds twice their size quite easily.
Marius

- Gráinne Barrett
- Flirty Bird
- Posts: 206
- Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2014 1:03 pm
- Location: Ireland
Re: Mixing species
Thanks, I don't have any however. 

Gráinne
_________________________________________________________________
Finches, hookbills, canaries and diamond doves!
_________________________________________________________________
Finches, hookbills, canaries and diamond doves!
- Colt
- Weaning
- Posts: 1940
- Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2013 1:43 pm
- Location: East Texas
Re: Mixing species
In my experience I enjoy housing species together from the same areas/habitats. So to me an Australian flight/aviary with Stars, Shaft-tails, Gouldians, Owls, or any of the other Australian grassfinches with a pair of Diamond Doves to spend some time on the floor would be beautiful. Granted some of those species may hybridize but generally speaking when birds are paired and you don't have any oddballs left out the chances of that happening are quite slim.
But I'm the same way with my fish tanks. I prefer biotype tanks with plants and fish from the same region that would generally exist in the wild together.
But I'm the same way with my fish tanks. I prefer biotype tanks with plants and fish from the same region that would generally exist in the wild together.
Amethyst Starling
BF and RT Parrot Finch
Chestnut-breasted Mannikin
Lady Gouldian
Owl Finch
Shaft-tail Finch
Society Finch
Star Finch
Strawberry
Tri-colored Nun
Zebra Finch
Diamond Dove
Bourke & Scarlet-chested Parakeet
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brushy-C ... 0659711916
- MariusStegmann
- Weaning
- Posts: 1726
- Joined: Wed Nov 16, 2011 12:20 pm
- Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Re: Mixing species
Species generally won't hybridize if there is a female of it's own specie available. (Not true for Blue faced parrots)
Marius

- Gráinne Barrett
- Flirty Bird
- Posts: 206
- Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2014 1:03 pm
- Location: Ireland
Re: Mixing species
Thanks everyone MariusStegmann Colt Sally .
I guess there shouldn't be a problem anymore because all my finches are paired.
I guess there shouldn't be a problem anymore because all my finches are paired.

Gráinne
_________________________________________________________________
Finches, hookbills, canaries and diamond doves!
_________________________________________________________________
Finches, hookbills, canaries and diamond doves!
- DanteD716
- Good Egg
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- Location: Buffalo, NY
- Contact:
Re: Mixing species
Grainne, given the flight is large enough i would personally do a flight of mixed mannikins or waxbills. It's all in your personal preference though, it may take some experimenting though
Dante
- Gráinne Barrett
- Flirty Bird
- Posts: 206
- Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2014 1:03 pm
- Location: Ireland
Re: Mixing species
Cool thanks! 

Gráinne
_________________________________________________________________
Finches, hookbills, canaries and diamond doves!
_________________________________________________________________
Finches, hookbills, canaries and diamond doves!