A note about Cut-throat.

solo_birdlover · Post by **solo_birdlover** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:15 pm

I have a pair of Cut-throats that I've had for about 5 months now. I always read that they're aggressive towards other finches especially smaller ones. A few breeders also told me the same thing and warned me not to put them with smaller finches. So when I bought my two Strawberry finches I decided to see for myself what would happen if I put them with the CTs. So I did put them in the CTs cage (2'x1'x1'5 cage). CTs reaction : Nothing. Only when one of the Strawberries would land right next to the CTs would they try to pick at them. And it was mostly the female CT who would do that but they never actually bit them and never chased them around the cage. Of course the CTs didn't allow the Strawberries to get inside their nest (empty) and they would only try to pick at them to push them away from the nest. But it wasn't long before the Strawberries started going inside the CTs nest.At first they used to run out of the nest if a CT came close to the nest, but then the Strawb. started to stand their ground and stay in the nest. They started to sit in the nest with the CT at the same time. In less than a month they were all cool with each other with no problems at all. The CTs don't even pick at the Straws. any more. But one thing about CTs, they sure like to go into all nests in the same cage. So, that would be a problem if you have other nesting birds that aren't aggressive enough to keep the CTs from entering their nest. But most nesting birds become aggressive when defending their nest anyway,even the small ones. Now I have the CTs in one bigger cage and I have one pair of Straws. in another one, but still have one Straw. living with the CTs. and believe it or not, it's the one chasing around the CTs when it comes to food. I just wanted to put this out in case someone is interested in Cut-throats and wondering what they're like. I find the online info about CTs not to be accurate and sometimes even wrong. So, are CTs aggressive ? Not at all. At least that's my own experience. I know individual birds differ in their behaviour, but I have two CTs and not only one, and they both seem to be as peaceful as a bird can be.

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:31 pm

The information contained in the Finch Information Center is a good resource, but it's not always 100% and nothing is really going to be. There are many exceptions. I haven't come across any information that would indicate the Cut-throat as being passive....I've only read or heard that they are agressive. As you've said, individual birds differ in their behaviour. Maybe the Strawberries you have are just more confident and pushy and are on the opposite side of the passive line.

Post by **Sally** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:41 pm

There are always exceptions. I have a Greenbacked Twinspot male, supposed to be pushy. I had placed him in various cages, never had a problem. Then I decided to try him with a pair of passive RH Parrot finches--not such a good idea, since they are both red heads, which often triggers aggression. But I kept a close eye on them, and they got along just fine. Sat together on the perches, but did not allopreen. I thought all was well.

Suddenly, the Twinspot was beaten up and plucked. The passive finches had taken out the more pushy one. Apparently, the Parrot finches are getting ready for breeding season, so they became the aggressors. Poor Mr. Twinspot is in a cage by himself for now, so he can regrow his feathers. So even when all seems well, it can change overnight.

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 1:30 am

it is a great help having the passive/aggressive lists available for finches. as with a lot of things in life though you cant take them as being 100% correct. I tend to use them as a guide to which species to house together but in the end I still try it for myself.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 7:33 am

I had a pair of shaftails in my mixed aviary for about 8 months. I kept hearing how they were agressive. Then suddenly they became very agressive in there and I had to remove one of them. I paired it up with one of its babies and left the female in the aviary. Now all is peace again.

It can suddenly change and it is usually when one goes into breeding.

solo_birdlover · Post by **solo_birdlover** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 4:07 am

Well dfcauley, from what I know just about all birds become aggressive when they're breeding, even the tiniest of them.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 6:24 am

solo_birdlover wrote:Well dfcauley, from what I know just about all birds become aggressive when they're breeding, even the tiniest of them.

Well that is true....... but these shaftails were overly agressive to the point of chasing others continously and bullying unrentlessly.