Housing/Breeding or a bit of both.

[cindy]

I am going to add an opinion. THis is just my opinion based on past experiences. In the past with flocked hookbills, pairs that were bonded (banded to tell who was who) they were pulled during breeding season. Allowing a pair to breed in a larger cage to themselves ensured the couple would not be disturbed or their, nest, eggs or chicks harmed. After the chicks were reared and weaned, the parents were allowed to join the colony again. During nesting and raising chicks I do not see much exercising and flying going on, most of their time is spent sitting and feeding. I found this true with the shaftails, they had this large cage to fly in and the only thing they did was go from the food back to the nest. Same with the zebras and societies. So maybe pulling finches from the aviary to cages to breed will not be a bad thing.

Most breeders I know use cages to breed desired pairs and then allow the birds to go back to the flock to rest and exercise. They rotate breeding pairs to cages.

I do not have a free flight aviary but cages 30x18. My Red headed finches will have a cage that is 30x18x36 the same as the shaftails. The birds are happy and doing well. Maybe someday I will have a flight/aviary but right now it is not something that is can be done right away.

Monotwine, if your birds go into the cage to nest they may feel that it is secure inside, enough so to build a nest and raise young in there. Perhaps you can try mounting a few more cages on the walls and see what happens if you leave the doors open. Perhaps more birds will do as your other birds did and start building a nest in their own space.

I also believe if your birds get along, have enough space in a flight, respect others nests then let them breed in a free flight aviary. This is all personal choice based on what works best for you.