Need Advice

[cbert4444]

I joined about a month ago posting about getting back into the hobby. I was originally going to buy a pair of society finches for my F030 cage I bought. I went to a local bird shop in Eugene, OR and the gal had a rescue male star and female lady gouldian. I watched them for almost an hour and they seemed to get a long fine. I wasn't keen on getting two different species without a mate, but for $50 bucks for both and wanting to give them a good home, I bought them. They get along fine but they are definitely not best buds. They pester each other at times but they don't get so bad they are plucking out feathers. Question, should I buy them a mate of their own species or would adding in 2-4 society finches make them happier? Buying them mates at the finch farm would cost about $170 plus shipping. Buy society finches local is much cheaper. I just need some advice on what the best route moving forward is. By the way, they had been in a small cage their whole life and they are loving the F030

[Sally]

I'll bet they are loving that F030, it is a great cage! Either route could work, but you will need to decide if you want to get into breeding them. If so, then I would say get a mate for each of them. Two pairs could get along in that size cage, even with breeding. If you add in 2-4 Society finches, and you have a mix of males and females, you will surely have eggs, if not babies.

The male Star and female Gouldian may be doing a little bickering because they are still opposite sexes, so not getting along as well as if you had two males in the cage.

So it is basically whichever route you choose to take. $170 plus shipping would be a bit pricey for those two birds, perhaps you can find mates for them closer to you?

[debbie276]

Do you have any idea how old these rescues are? It may not be worth getting mates if they are "seniors". There will be a bit of bickering at first which is normal till they sort out their pecking order. Give them time to settle in with each other before you panic that they aren't getting along.
Not familiar with that particular cage so can't help with space. As long as each pair can have their own territory and nesting site without disrupting the other it should be fine with a couple pair in there.
good luck
keep us posted on how you do

[wilkifam]

www.pacificfinches.com is in Oregon. He sells stars for $65

[cindy]

http://www.pacificfinches.com is in Oregon. He sells stars for $65

I know the breeder personally and recommend him.