who else to add?

For "miscellaneous" finch-related questions.
Ria
Wonder Wooer
Wonder Wooer
Posts: 342
Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:25 pm
Location: Cheektowaga(Buffalo), NY

who else to add?

Post by Ria » Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:42 pm

Hi everyone! I'm new to the forum, and a little rusty on my finches. I had a pair of zebras years in the past, wonderful darlings. Now, I have decided to begin keeping them again. I currently have a mated pair of zebras, and I'm looking to add more birds. the cage they will eventually share is 60 x 18 x 36, so according to the calculator, I shouldn't keep more than 5 birds. Obviously, this makes more zebras sound like not a good choice. What else can I add, and should they be male/female pairs too? Thanks in advance for any advice!

User avatar
JohnBoy
Weaning
Weaning
Posts: 1704
Joined: Sat Aug 01, 2009 6:38 pm
Location: Kentwood, LA.

Re: who else to add?

Post by JohnBoy » Wed Sep 16, 2009 7:01 pm

I keep approx. 25 zebras in cages 60"x24"x24". Societies also! It has never been a problem. But these are the birds I sell not breed. Personally I think you should be fine with 5 pairs of birds as long as they are compatible.
People Are The Ultimate Spectacle!
JohnBoy

User avatar
cartel
Perfect Partner
Perfect Partner
Posts: 366
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:04 pm
Location: Ontario,Canada

Re: who else to add?

Post by cartel » Wed Sep 16, 2009 7:39 pm

Let me answer your :?: with a question.Name a few birds that you like and people will help you out from there :P
Gouldians,Cordon Bleu's,Zebras,grey singers,strawberry finches

User avatar
Sally
Mod Extraordinaire
Mod Extraordinaire
Posts: 17929
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:55 pm
Location: DFW, Texas

Re: who else to add?

Post by Sally » Wed Sep 16, 2009 11:39 pm

Just remember when looking at species that the Zebras are considered pushy and may not mix well with some of the more passive species. I don't have Zebras, so you will probably get better advice from someone who does, but I would think 3 pair might be OK in that size cage. Is that one of those where you put two 30x18x36 cages together to make one flight?
3 Purple Grenadiers, 1 Goldbreast + 1 cat.

National Finch & Softbill Society - http://www.nfss.org

User avatar
CandoAviary
Good Egg
Good Egg
Posts: 8554
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2009 5:21 pm
Location: Panama City Beach, FL
Contact:

Re: who else to add?

Post by CandoAviary » Wed Sep 16, 2009 11:52 pm

Those cages are 60"high. The foot print is the same as the breeders 30" x 18" x 18". They make a 30" x 18" x 36" tall and a 30" x18" x 60 " tall. I usually use these tall cages for gouldians to color out in. The youngsters will fly up, down and all around... they are much more active than adults.
I have a pair of parrot finches in one now and they have a nest with chicks :D First cage breeding I have done with them. Usually I use an aviary for them since they are so active but they are doing great in this tall cage.
This is an 8.5 foot ceiling so you can see the height. Also in the second picture you can see the rack of four 24' breeder cages in the rear.
Image
Image

I have many zebras. Some are pushy and some are very peaceful. Being that they are already established in that cage means they have the territory marked out. When adding another species or other zebras for that matter, change the arrangements of the perches. seed dish, water, etc. This way maybe the original inhabitants won't be so territorial.

Ria
Wonder Wooer
Wonder Wooer
Posts: 342
Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2009 4:25 pm
Location: Cheektowaga(Buffalo), NY

Re: who else to add?

Post by Ria » Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:37 pm

wow, thanks for all the help so far! my current zebras live in 1/2 of the planned large cage (yes, it will be one made of 2 smaller cages) I do plan on rearranging most of the furnishings when I make the big cage, and introduce everybody at once to try to keep territoriality out of it. I would love to add 2 more pairs of zebras, just wasn't sure this cage is big enough. I also like owls, spice and society finches. Green singing finches are beautiful, but pricey at my local pet store. On a totally random note, what are people's thoughts about putting a small dove in with finches? If I can't do more zebras, i thought about a dove instead.
4 zebras Crystal, Beau, Bella and Dmitri (the little squeaker), 2 societies Diva and DJ (and their 6 adult kids), and 2 green singers Thor and Regina

User avatar
CandoAviary
Good Egg
Good Egg
Posts: 8554
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2009 5:21 pm
Location: Panama City Beach, FL
Contact:

Re: who else to add?

Post by CandoAviary » Thu Sep 17, 2009 1:02 pm

oops :oops: I thought you had the 60" tall cages......
I was thinking of joining these three 60" tall ones I have together. That would make the aviary 7.5 feet long and 5' tall. Or maybe just join 2 of them... Actaully I don't think they make this size any more. I have had these for 7 years now.

User avatar
mickp
Weaning
Weaning
Posts: 1822
Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2007 5:23 am
Location: South Australia

Re: who else to add?

Post by mickp » Sat Sep 19, 2009 5:29 am

most people, make that all members of the forum will probably disagree with me but I reckon that the best bird to keep with zebras would most certainly be a hungry hawk :twisted:
Addicted to Finches, yes I do admit it.
I pray they never find a cure.

AussieFinchForum

User avatar
lovemyfinch
Mod Extraordinaire
Mod Extraordinaire
Posts: 10036
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 7:12 am
Location: St-Hippolyte, Qc

Re: who else to add?

Post by lovemyfinch » Sat Sep 19, 2009 5:51 am

mickp wrote:most people, make that all members of the forum will probably disagree with me but I reckon that the best bird to keep with zebras would most certainly be a hungry hawk :twisted:

Ahhh Mickp. [-X
Janine

shaftails,gouldians,societies,green singers,owls,cubans, and 1 parrotlet
Image

User avatar
dfcauley
Molting
Molting
Posts: 6892
Joined: Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:28 am
Location: Carrollton, Georgia

Re: who else to add?

Post by dfcauley » Sat Sep 19, 2009 7:17 am

mickp wrote:most people, make that all members of the forum will probably disagree with me but I reckon that the best bird to keep with zebras would most certainly be a hungry hawk :twisted:
Not all members....... :oops:
Donna

User avatar
CandoAviary
Good Egg
Good Egg
Posts: 8554
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2009 5:21 pm
Location: Panama City Beach, FL
Contact:

Re: who else to add?

Post by CandoAviary » Sat Sep 19, 2009 12:02 pm

Ria,
Zebras are lovely finches. Don't let some members that do not care for them chase you from the forum. I Have been keeping zebras for most of my bird keeping years. They are hardy, beautiful and rewarding. Some of the biggest bird shows revolve around zebras.
I have kept orange weavers, canaries, societies, cut throats, javas, gouldians in the same enclosure as zebras before...not all at the same time. But any of these species presented no conflicts.

User avatar
dfcauley
Molting
Molting
Posts: 6892
Joined: Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:28 am
Location: Carrollton, Georgia

Re: who else to add?

Post by dfcauley » Sat Sep 19, 2009 3:59 pm

I saw some beautiful and difference species of zebras today at the Atlanta bird fair.

Some I had never seen before. I had zebras in a cage at one time, but in my mixed
aviary they just didn't work. They were beating up all the other finches. [-X
Donna

User avatar
Pukasand
Brooding
Brooding
Posts: 1288
Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2008 5:05 pm
Location: Southeastern Virginia

Re: who else to add?

Post by Pukasand » Sat Sep 19, 2009 4:46 pm

Check out Garry Landry's website (zebrafinch.com) if you want to see some jaw-dropping Zebras! Awesome birds.
JUDY

Canary: Blue, Red & Yellow, BC Cordon Bleu, Strawberry, Star, European Goldfinch, Owl, Shaftail, Splendid, Rosey Bourkes, Cocker Spaniel gal, Portuguese Water guy, and a freshwater tank. (no partridge, but I do have a pear tree).

User avatar
lovemyfinch
Mod Extraordinaire
Mod Extraordinaire
Posts: 10036
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 7:12 am
Location: St-Hippolyte, Qc

Re: who else to add?

Post by lovemyfinch » Sat Sep 19, 2009 6:57 pm

I actually just discovered that a green singing finch can kick some zebra **** if he wants to. My little sunshine now has the right to eat first and pick his perch. No arguments from any of the zebras, he put them all in their place - and took his. :)
Janine

shaftails,gouldians,societies,green singers,owls,cubans, and 1 parrotlet
Image

User avatar
Domenic
Weaning
Weaning
Posts: 1833
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:09 pm
Location: Reedsburg, WI

Re: who else to add?

Post by Domenic » Sun Sep 20, 2009 4:08 am

lovemyfinch wrote:I actually just discovered that a green singing finch can kick some zebra **** if he wants to. My little sunshine now has the right to eat first and pick his perch. No arguments from any of the zebras, he put them all in their place - and took his. :)
I second that! :shock: At first my Green Singer was insecure and got bullied, but now he will not even allow another bird on the same perch as him when he is singing his song. He's turned into something of a meanie, but I'm sure in a large aviary he would do fine. And I disagree with zebras being very pushy, all of mine are pretty passive. I think given the right circumstances zebra can go with just about anyone.
Zebra, Orange cheeks, Owls, Gouldians, Blue-Capped Cordon Bleus, Goldbreasts, Black Face Fires, & Button Quail

http://www.Ironsidecomputers.com

Post Reply