Question: Senegal (Red-Billed) Fire Finches
- Leo519
- Flirty Bird
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- Location: California
Question: Senegal (Red-Billed) Fire Finches
Hi Everyone,
Does anyone have experience with keeping just two male Senegal Fire finches in a mixed flight of mostly males?
Are the Senegals peaceful with each other and the other finches?
Or would it be better to have only one male Senegal?
I have an indoor non-breeding flight that's on the smaller side with ten finches that consist of Gouldians, Societies, Spice, Owls, and one Red Cheeked Cordon Bleu.
All are male except for one Society, and I think one of my Owls is a female.
They all get along great with each other.
Thanks for any advice and have a great weekend!
Does anyone have experience with keeping just two male Senegal Fire finches in a mixed flight of mostly males?
Are the Senegals peaceful with each other and the other finches?
Or would it be better to have only one male Senegal?
I have an indoor non-breeding flight that's on the smaller side with ten finches that consist of Gouldians, Societies, Spice, Owls, and one Red Cheeked Cordon Bleu.
All are male except for one Society, and I think one of my Owls is a female.
They all get along great with each other.
Thanks for any advice and have a great weekend!
Laura
Society, Spice, and Owl finches, Gouldians
Red Cheeked Cordon Bleus, Senegal Fire finches
American Singer canary
Society, Spice, and Owl finches, Gouldians
Red Cheeked Cordon Bleus, Senegal Fire finches
American Singer canary
- Sally
- Mod Extraordinaire
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- Location: DFW, Texas
Re: Question: Senegal (Red-Billed) Fire Finches
I find Senegal Fire finches to be very passive, getting along with everyone. The one thing to watch out for is other birds picking on the Senegal Fires, since they are so passive. I've had no problem keeping two males together.
- Leo519
- Flirty Bird
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Sun Feb 01, 2015 2:02 am
- Location: California
Re: Question: Senegal (Red-Billed) Fire Finches
Thanks Sally for the quick and helpful reply!
..I'm probably going to a bird mart tomorrow morning and wanted to be able to make an informed decision in case they have any Senegals
..I'm probably going to a bird mart tomorrow morning and wanted to be able to make an informed decision in case they have any Senegals

Laura
Society, Spice, and Owl finches, Gouldians
Red Cheeked Cordon Bleus, Senegal Fire finches
American Singer canary
Society, Spice, and Owl finches, Gouldians
Red Cheeked Cordon Bleus, Senegal Fire finches
American Singer canary
- jamezyboo21
- Weaning
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- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:35 am
- Location: Pensacola, Florida
Re: Question: Senegal (Red-Billed) Fire Finches
I have a pair in a flight cage. I tried introducing a new male but the other male immediately starting chasing him aroundthe entire flight. I'm sure it was because they have a nest and he probably was just chasing the male away from the nest and female.
Society Finches, Fire Finches, Strawberry Finches, Owl Finches, Plum Head Finch, Goldbreast Waxbill Finches, Orange Cheek Waxbill Finches, Blue Capped Cordon Finches, Zebra Finches, Bronzewing Mannikin Finches, Red-Cheek Cordon Blue Finches, and Button Quail
- Sally
- Mod Extraordinaire
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- Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:55 pm
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Re: Question: Senegal (Red-Billed) Fire Finches
Anytime you try to introduce an extra bird to a pair, especially when they are breeding, it is asking for trouble. The present male sees the other as a threat to his little kingdom (hen and nest). Two males should get along just fine when there is not a female present for them to fight over.jamezyboo21 wrote: I have a pair in a flight cage. I tried introducing a new male but the other male immediately starting chasing him aroundthe entire flight. I'm sure it was because they have a nest and he probably was just chasing the male away from the nest and female.
- Jen
- Weaning
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Re: Question: Senegal (Red-Billed) Fire Finches
I have a pair of Fires in a mixed outdoor aviary. They are very peaceful and stay together all the time except when nesting. Then there is one or the other on the nest, but again they are not aggressive. I have my pair mixed with Gouldians, Spice, Orange Cheek, Stars, Owls, Society finches, Budgies and a Rosey Burke. Best of luck with your choice and please post photos!
Jenny
Gouldians, Red Cheek Cordon Blue family, Gold Breasted Waxbills, Fire Finches, Owl finches, Yellow Face & Red Face Star Finches, Lavender Finches, Society Finches, Canary,Rosey Bourke, Scarlet Chested Grasskeets, Cockatiels, too many Guineas, Izzy my 16 year old cute doggie dog, two spoiled kitties!
- jamezyboo21
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Re: Question: Senegal (Red-Billed) Fire Finches
Yeah I thought I had introduced him before they had bred but they surprised me with a nest full of eggs so I took him out immediately after I noticed they had a nest. I have him desperate till I put them all in the aviary and I will find him his own mate so they will even pairs.
Society Finches, Fire Finches, Strawberry Finches, Owl Finches, Plum Head Finch, Goldbreast Waxbill Finches, Orange Cheek Waxbill Finches, Blue Capped Cordon Finches, Zebra Finches, Bronzewing Mannikin Finches, Red-Cheek Cordon Blue Finches, and Button Quail
- Colt
- Weaning
- Posts: 1940
- Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2013 1:43 pm
- Location: East Texas
Re: Question: Senegal (Red-Billed) Fire Finches
I think Elana (@lovezebs) has two male Fires in a cage together. Brothers I think, and captive-bred. I believe they have even nested together and one of the males "breeds/mounts" the other on occasion. So I'd think without any hens they'd be fine.
I have a m/f pair that were in a flight with a breeding pair of Red-cheeked Cordon Bleus but the Fires got out every time I opened the cage to feed and water them. So after the fiftieth time of them getting out, plus just finding the male foraging in the floor one day, I pulled them and put them in their own breeding cage.
I have a m/f pair that were in a flight with a breeding pair of Red-cheeked Cordon Bleus but the Fires got out every time I opened the cage to feed and water them. So after the fiftieth time of them getting out, plus just finding the male foraging in the floor one day, I pulled them and put them in their own breeding cage.
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
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- Leo519
- Flirty Bird
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Sun Feb 01, 2015 2:02 am
- Location: California
Re: Question: Senegal (Red-Billed) Fire Finches
Thanks guys for sharing your experiences with Fire Finches
I got two males this morning at the bird mart and have them set up in their quarantine cage. They are so sweet! Making little chirps, no singing yet, but they've only been here a few hours.. I will take some pictures of them hopefully next weekend to post on here
Colt - I chuckled when I read the part about yours flying out whenever you gave them food and water! My red-headed Gouldian, Garrison, is a little devil and does that too about half the time whenever I open the door to give them fresh water and food!

I got two males this morning at the bird mart and have them set up in their quarantine cage. They are so sweet! Making little chirps, no singing yet, but they've only been here a few hours.. I will take some pictures of them hopefully next weekend to post on here

Colt - I chuckled when I read the part about yours flying out whenever you gave them food and water! My red-headed Gouldian, Garrison, is a little devil and does that too about half the time whenever I open the door to give them fresh water and food!
Laura
Society, Spice, and Owl finches, Gouldians
Red Cheeked Cordon Bleus, Senegal Fire finches
American Singer canary
Society, Spice, and Owl finches, Gouldians
Red Cheeked Cordon Bleus, Senegal Fire finches
American Singer canary
- Leo519
- Flirty Bird
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Sun Feb 01, 2015 2:02 am
- Location: California
Re: Question: Senegal (Red-Billed) Fire Finches
Laura
Society, Spice, and Owl finches, Gouldians
Red Cheeked Cordon Bleus, Senegal Fire finches
American Singer canary
Society, Spice, and Owl finches, Gouldians
Red Cheeked Cordon Bleus, Senegal Fire finches
American Singer canary
- Colt
- Weaning
- Posts: 1940
- Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2013 1:43 pm
- Location: East Texas
Re: Question: Senegal (Red-Billed) Fire Finches
I haven't had any luck with breeding. But the male came to me severely plucked. I've had him for months and he's just beginning to pin in some of the plucked areas. So I imagine it will be a while before there are any babies. They don't even show any interest in nesting. The RCBB pair built several which the Fires slept in after a couple of weeks of being in the flight, but I haven't seen them construct their own.
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
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- Leo519
- Flirty Bird
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Sun Feb 01, 2015 2:02 am
- Location: California
Re: Question: Senegal (Red-Billed) Fire Finches
Colt
Awwww the poor little guy.. Definitely needs to generate some nice healthy feathers before he can generate some nice healthy baby Fire Finches
Good to hear he's well on the road to recovery though
Awwww the poor little guy.. Definitely needs to generate some nice healthy feathers before he can generate some nice healthy baby Fire Finches

Good to hear he's well on the road to recovery though

Laura
Society, Spice, and Owl finches, Gouldians
Red Cheeked Cordon Bleus, Senegal Fire finches
American Singer canary
Society, Spice, and Owl finches, Gouldians
Red Cheeked Cordon Bleus, Senegal Fire finches
American Singer canary
- Leo519
- Flirty Bird
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Sun Feb 01, 2015 2:02 am
- Location: California
Re: Question: Senegal (Red-Billed) Fire Finches
Laura
Society, Spice, and Owl finches, Gouldians
Red Cheeked Cordon Bleus, Senegal Fire finches
American Singer canary
Society, Spice, and Owl finches, Gouldians
Red Cheeked Cordon Bleus, Senegal Fire finches
American Singer canary
- Derk
- 2 Eggs Laid
- Posts: 734
- Joined: Mon Feb 17, 2014 9:09 pm
- Location: Vancouver, BC
Re: Question: Senegal (Red-Billed) Fire Finches
Leo519
Beautiful birds! I totally forgot about the gallery.
Beautiful birds! I totally forgot about the gallery.
************************
Mary
zebras
societies
strawberries 1 pr, 2 F
gold-breasted waxbill 2 pr
cordon bleu blue capped, 2 pr, 1 M
cordon bleu red cheeked M
red-faced starfinch M
yellow faced starfinch M
Melodious Cuban finch M
gouldian red head norm. M, yellow white breast M
green singer M
canary, gloster, corona, blue pied, M
cut-throat 1 pr & 1 M
Mary
zebras
societies
strawberries 1 pr, 2 F
gold-breasted waxbill 2 pr
cordon bleu blue capped, 2 pr, 1 M
cordon bleu red cheeked M
red-faced starfinch M
yellow faced starfinch M
Melodious Cuban finch M
gouldian red head norm. M, yellow white breast M
green singer M
canary, gloster, corona, blue pied, M
cut-throat 1 pr & 1 M
- Leo519
- Flirty Bird
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Sun Feb 01, 2015 2:02 am
- Location: California
Re: Question: Senegal (Red-Billed) Fire Finches
Laura
Society, Spice, and Owl finches, Gouldians
Red Cheeked Cordon Bleus, Senegal Fire finches
American Singer canary
Society, Spice, and Owl finches, Gouldians
Red Cheeked Cordon Bleus, Senegal Fire finches
American Singer canary