New to finches

[little_finch]

hey all

i am new to finches. i live in south east queensland. today i went to cabolture to the markets and got a pair of ruddy finches.
dad and i built a avery type cage that is of the ground. it is 1200x400x600 and divided into 2. i am planning to put the ruddy pair in one side to try nd breed. i was wondering what another good type of finch i could have in the other side if the cage/avery.

cheers ben

[finchbreeder]

I may be wrong but I would think the Ruddies would need all of that space. Which is not to say you can not put another pair of finches, like orange breasteds or painteds in with them. Just that they need more flying space. Most small finches are very active and need at least that much flying space, but don't mind sharing it with a compatible pair as long as the nests are at opposite ends and the food and water in the middle it should be OK.
LML

[Diane]

Hi and welcome to the forum.
I have two pair of ruddies and one pair of goldbreast in a large aviary, I have only noticed in the last week or so the pair of ruddy males flying/fighting, just getting the pecking order sorted now there is a second hen in there! The OB are the quietest, unobtrusive pair, got 3 babies flying around with them at the moment.
As finchbreeder says the more space the better.

[gomer]

Welcome Ben,May be a good chance to try the ruddys by themselves.no doubt you may want to expand in no time.

[little_finch]

hi guys

thanks for the help sofar.

they are in there new home and seem to be liking it imo . i took out the divider.
i am looking at maby gettong some orange bresteds fo go in there aswell would they be compatible with the ruddies.

i have set the cage up so the feeding trays are in the middle and and i hve put some hollows on the back and shoved some of thet nest grass in them 2 nesting spots on both ends 1 up high aand one dowwn low.

will all oof this be ok? i will get some pics up asap.

cheers ben

[triplea]

I have a pair of ruddies in a mixed aviary at the moment. they are sitting on eggs in a wicker type nest they filled themselves.
They are generally quiet and go about their own business.
They do like everybody to know when they are annoyed about something.
Your set up sounds fine at the moment.
Let them settle in, let yourself watch them and learn.
They will reward you.

[little_finch]

thanks all.

i think ill let the ruddies settle in first.

is there a way of telling how old the birds are?

cheers ben

[BENSONSAN]

Good question i rekon i u can tell sometimes the younger birds are a bit duller for those first few months. But thats me i could be totally wrong! Anyone else got any ideas?

Ben

[Fischer]

Don't know if it's a good idea to put Orangebreasts in with your Ruddies Little_finch, I did that a few years ago and they cross bred.

Has anyone else had that happen?? or was it a one off

[finchbreeder]

As long as you have pairs it should not be a problem. But any closely related birds will cross breed if they do not have a mate of their own kind and you kindly provide eveything else that they require.
LML