Co-Housing Finches...

[JannFann]

I have 2 cages that is 30"x18"x18". In one cage I have a male and a female Zebra Finches that are nesting right now.
The other cage is housing another pair of Zebra finches but not nesting or breeding. (and I don't want them breeding)
I have several other cages as well that are the same size.
I was wondering what type of finches or maybe even canaries or other birds that can be put into the cage with my finches.
In other words, I am looking to mix a community of birds (mostly finches) in one cage.

[finchbreeder]

The size cage you have mentioned is not big enough for more than one pair of birds. However a pair of canarys would be suitable for a cage of their own in this size. As would a pair of Gouldians.
LML

[JannFann]

The size cage you have mentioned is not big enough for more than one pair of birds. However a pair of canarys would be suitable for a cage of their own in this size. As would a pair of Gouldians.
LML

I suspected that my cages where to small to house any other finches besides my 2 pairs. (thats why they are in separate cages)
I just wanted to know what kind of finches can be housed together. I am in the process of designing/building an Aviary thats 8'x6'x6'.
Thank you.

[Diane]

I have a community aviary. I have 3 pair Gouldians one pair have 5 babies in the nest, others with eggs, one pair emblemas with four just fledged babies, one pair of Orange breasted waxbills with three young, one pair of canaries and two pair of ruddies, and one pair of parrot finches. Everyone gets one very well.

In a second aviary I have one pair of gouldians with a single canary and a pair of blue faced parrotfinches and a single seagreen parrotfinch. Dont seem to have any problems there either.....(touching wood)

[Pete Sara]

do u realize di that in that last aviary of yours all but the canary can inter breed with each other if your not carefull...pete

[Diane]

The pair of blue faced parrot finches and the gouldians were set up as pairs before introducing them to the aviary. The seagreen and the canary are both hens. So hopefully I should be ok. I havnt noticed any interaction between different species.

[E Orix]

Personally In wouldn't stress too much.There is a slight possibility of Parrot Finches hybridising but it is remote.It has happened but the young are infertile anyway.
The big worry is with the Munia family both non Aust. and Australian(Yellow Rump,Pictorella Chestnut) etc they will cross and the young are fertile.
Not all crossings are fertile or infertile(mules) Red Siskin cross Canary,males are fertile(called an F1) but the females are infertile.
Not to mind but there are fertile females and infertile males in some specie crosses.

[Diane]

I will admit to being a bit concerned about putting the parrot finches and the gouldians in the same aviary, but I had read and was told that in most cases if they have a opposite sex of the same species it shouldnt be a problem. So I made sure they only saw their partner for at least a month before going into the mixed aviary. Now and then I check on them with binoculars, my son calls it "spying on the birds" I reckon it gives me a close up look at their normal behaviour.

[finchbreeder]

Should be pretty safe, as cross breeding tends to happen when the birds do not have a mate of their own kind. But do have all the other necessities of life kindly supplied by their attentive keeper.
LML