Pairs or more females than males?

[Kiko]

I will eventually get my big flight cage finished. At 5 feet long, 3 tall and 2 wide, it appears I could keep 5-6 birds. I have NO intention of breeding.

I have been considering getting a cordon pair, and maybe another pair of something, but now really think I will stay with Gouldians. I just love their quiet personalities and delightful song.

My sister is visiting (she has budgies) and I told her I was thinking about getting one more male and the rest females (because my female tells the boy to get lost), but she said that birds often pair up, and I could end up with a lonely female or two.

I have been watching my pair, and even though she seems to tell him to get lost frequently, they also spend a lot of time just sitting beside each other.

So ------ should I get one or two more pairs of Gouldians (admit I would love two more colourful singing males) or just one more male and several females?

What do you think?
Q1. 6 gouldians in a 5x3x2 flight cage? NO breeding.
Q2. 2 males & 4 females, or 3 pair?


Thanks!

[Sally]

6 Goulds in that cage should be great--plenty of room. I kind of favor the males, just for their cute song and more color. Since you already have one pair, maybe 2 more pairs? A lot of people separate their males and females when they aren't breeding, but since you aren't interested in breeding anyway, as long as they don't have nestbox or materials, they should get along fine.

[Kiko]

Thanks Sally - thats really what I wanted to hear. Now I get to decide what colours I should get...... (and how much money I need to get those colours!)


I briefly considering giving the female back to the breeder and just having males, but she is such a character that I could never give her up!

[L in Ontario]

Let the game begin!!

[mickp]

if it were me, it would certainly be three pairs in the cage. just need to make sure that there are plenty of nests for them to choose from when the time comes for breeding