Red throated parrot finch breeding/housing...

[newlinta]

I'm considering getting a pair of red throats(1 red,1 seagreen) and was wondering if they can be housed/bred in a mixed aviary with gouldians,stars,societies and shafttails?
I know they can be aggressive when breeding...
Anyone have this type of set up for theirs?
Please let me know your thoughts/experiences.
Thanks!
Tim
ps: they would be going in here...

[CandoAviary]

I would say it depends on the temperment of the particular bird. I had a pied and seagreen with another pair and an extra female in an aviary that was 16' x 18' floor to ceiling with at least 20 nesting sites. I also had a few zebra finches as dither birds. The pied killed the other male red head.... or he accidently flew into the wall????? I believed he was chased. The peid male tolerated the females but became nasty with the zebras, both male and female. I was afraid to add any gouldians into the mix....especially red heads.
So I removed everyone except the pied and his mate and let them raise thier offspring in the over spaces quarters. The offspring have been seperated as well as the pair and are housed in individual flight cages. I will cage breed in the future or single pairs to the aviary. I have a red male and seagreen hen in a 6' long x 2' wide closet /conserted into an aviary. This pair would not allow any other bird in thier territory, ecept thier own offspring. So watch your breeding parrots closely. Though I have heard of others breeding them successfully in a mixed aviary. Like I said, I guess it depends on the temperment of the birds.

[newlinta]

Candace,
Thanks for the response...you were one of the forum members I was waiting to hear from.
I know you have bred/raised them and suspected you tried both methods.
I'm really torn, so far about getting them...
I don't really have room for extra cages, but suppose I would MAKE room if necessary...lol

[Sally]

I had a pair of Red-headed Parrot finches in a 32x21x35 cage. I added a Greenbacked Twinspot (I know, dumb!), but all seemed to be getting along very well. After quite some time of living together peacefully, one day I found the Twinspot feather-plucked severely. He survived, but the breeder told me that these RHPF can get very aggressive when in breeding mode, which is what happened that time. I have no experience with them in an aviary, except now that I have lost the RHPF hen, I turned the male out in a free-flight room (10x10), and he is loving it and not being aggressive to anyone.

[dfcauley]

I have never had any problems with mine being agressive. They love to fly and need lots of room.

The only problem I had with them was their obsessive nest building.

[newlinta]

Candace,Donna and Sally,
Thanks for your responses! All the research I've done is mixed about housing for them.
There is really not alot of info about it on the net...
I'm gonna give it a try and see what happens. If they are too agressive, I have a 4'x2'x4' flight cage I can house them in.
A supplier near me has reds and seagreens for $160 a pair,but I think they are all related.
I'm gonna see what's available at the bird show/mart on the 31st of this month in Exton,PA.
I would really like to find pieds, seagreen/pieds, blue faced or forbes...we'll see.
Thanks again!

[CandoAviary]

You know what the may be part of the mixed information that you get is if the birds are breeding or not. I think some people have same sexed couples. Even though they think they are breeding...they are not. Like in Donna's case they were nest building...2 males. In Steph case, lots of eggs...2 females. A true pair that is intent on breeding..... get out of the way When these birds are not actively breeding they are quite sweet and agreeable in a mixed aviary.