Mixing Species

[vinay]

Hey everyone

I currently have 2 female Gouldians , 2 diamond doves and one Senegal dove currently housed together who all get along great . I have 4 tiels and 8 budgies together in a separate aviary . I'm looking to purchase 2 male Gouldians and another dove in the near future . Since their current enclosure isn't big enough to accommodate more birds , I was wondering if I could switch them in with the budgies in the much larger aviary with the cockatiels.

I know the general consensus is to not mix non-hookbills with hookbills but I've read that loads of people do house tiels with finches/doves and they seem to get along fine . I don't breed any of my parrots in a colony situation so that shouldn't be an issue.
If I could house them all together , could I put in a few nest boxes for the finches without interference from the tiels or would that be too risky ?

Would love to hear your inputs

[Sheather]

I mix hookbills and finches, but the finches outnumber the parrots by five times, I'm not so sure the finches would be comfortable if so outnumbered by bigger birds.

[MiaCarter]

Woah. That's a really diverse bunch.

It can be very tricky to mix hookbills and finches.

Honestly, I wouldn't attempt it.
Both budgies and cockatiels can be fairly aggressive and bold -- quite different from doves, which generally tend to be very gentle and laid back.
There's a much greater potential for injury too. A finch could never defend itself from a hookbill (whereas doves and finches are fairly equally matched in terms of the damage they could inflict...which is not much.)

They would also be very much outnumbered, which is a concern.

I would be too nervous to attempt it, personally.
But I tend to be very cautious in this regard.
I only just allowed my cockatiel out for the first time during the finch free-fly. It was very anti-climactic. He just sat there watching them and ultimately, tucked his head and took a nap. But I still wouldn't trust him alone in there with them.

[vinay]

Thank you

I'm quite nervous about mixing them in together as well . The finches don't stand a chance against the massive tiels . Weirdly enough , my finches are the dominant birds in their cage. They don't hesitate to chase off the Senegal dove whose almost tiel size.

If being outnumbered was the only issue , I do not need any more reason to go out and get more of the little guys

[DanteD716]

I keep diamond doves, zebras, canaries, bronze wings and two species of Weaver in my aviary. I have considered adding budgies but I'm not sure it would work, some have not had problems but personally I'll keep my hookbills separate

[MiaCarter]

vinay -- See, I think that's where the problem lies.
The finches may try to chase off the budgies or 'tiels and they're much less likely to flutter off and much more likely to stand their ground. Doves are so sweet and dopey and gentle.

My main worry would be their inability to really defend themselves if a confrontation occurred. Despite the size differential, finches and doves are pretty evenly matched.
But up against a 'tiel or budgie, they wouldn't have a chance.

[vinay]

Ahh well I guess the idea was a bust though I never really intended to go ahead with it . No harm in asking for opinions . I appreciate the input .

I shall hold off purchasing an additional dove until I have a larger non-hookbill cage set up .