Mixed Collection...?

[Jayburd]

Hi all,
I have been hearing for some time about the theory of each species having it's aviary 'niche', and was wondering if you could clear this up for me.
I believe this refers to nesting sites only? is that true? The theory behind is is that apparently the birds will have far less competition, thus increasing the likelihood of breeding as well as being able to house more pairs.

Therefore, can you tell me what 'niches' in the aviary these birds would come from, and which ones would compete with one another?

Zebras
Longtails
Orange Breasts
Cordons
Tri-Nuns
Gouldians
Tri-Coloured parrot finches
Namaqua (masked) Doves

I understand that zebras would compete with just about anything, but they are rather special to me

[E Orix]

Jayburd
There are two species on your list that will most likely interfere with other breeding pairs and
also would not hesitate taking over existing nests.
Longtails and Zebras can cause problems.If they nest they also will defend an area around their nest.
In a big aviary you can get away with it but not in a smaller one.
With regard the Zebras,they are a great little bird but they have some issues when put in a mixed collection.
Because you like them you just have to watch them closely.Don't let them over breed to the expense of others.
If you have an aggresive pair/bird move them out.
As you will have a single aviary your decisions have to be spot on otherwise all harmony will cease and breeding results will
deminish and losses through stress may occur.
The more harmony in a collection the more birds you can keep in an aviary.

[Jayburd]

so I could have a collection of any of the other species and no problems would occur and I would experience medium breeding results?
I want longtails because they were requested of me, and because It's the least I can do seeing as the requestee is the one paying for the aviary.
as for zebs, I don't need to have them, it would just be nice.
I can see though that longtails can be a problem, I will have to try a few pairs before I find a nice one I think, my last were really aggressive.
thanks Orix.

[finchbreeder]

What Orix said about Zebs. I have bred them a single pair in a mixed avairy. But it is very hard to contain their enthusiasm. And you can easily wind up with an avairy that is over run with Zebs. If like me you really love them and are in a position to have a smaller cage that you can exile them to if necessary (budgie double breeding box type) you could give it a try. Working on the princlipal of pulling them out of the main avairy and into the breeder box (minus nests) once they have bred. And only putting them back after a couple of months enforced rest. This would give you periods with and without them in the avairy to observe the leval of disturbance they do/don't cause. As with all birds the nature of each pair varies.
LML

[SamDavis]

I have not found my longtails to be an issue. Recently I had a pair of gouldians take over a longtail nest - I guess it depends on the individual. My longtails are in a 8m X 3m aviary with gouldians, plumheads, stars, and painteds. Have you considered plumheads and painteds - in my experience they're the most inoffensive to others (and free breeders).

[Jayburd]

thanks guys.
Finchbreeder, yes I have 3 such cages, and 2 will be used for my rotational breeding programme, the other is for new birds... so maybe I won't get any zebs.
Sam, this aviary is much smaller, being 3.5 x 2.3m. I have considered painteds but on showing the picture to the rest of the household it was unanimously (except by me) decided they weren't getting a spot. I love plumheads, and have looked after an injured one (broken wing) before, so maybe I'll swap zebras for plumheads if I have enough money.

[BENSONSAN]

Jayburd im the same as sam davis. But seeing i got my longtails off him i no no better. The pair i got off sam are completely timid to the rest of my birds and funnily enough im the same as sam if anyones the agressor in my aviary its the damn gouldians when there nesting.

Mine are blackheads and they dive bomb everyone hehe. One thing about the longtails they change there roosting nests constantly and hop in and out of everyones nest box and brush nests. But having said that my double bars were worse but i dont keep them anymore.

Guess im lucky.

Ben

[monotwine]

Sorry that I cannot comment too much on your bird list as I am not familiar with many of them. I can say in my experience with a planted aviary that the CB's and waxbills I find are mid to lower region birds spending a lot of time foraging and hopping between shrubbery. Gouldians seem to be quite happy higher up in the aviary and Parrot finches are opportunist and forage where ever there is food available. Piglets, though I would say they do spend a good proportion of their time on the floor or in the upper region of my aviary and flying between these two areas.

I can understand that breeding success has to do with where they nest for sure, but I think it also depends on where they spend their time foraging / mating rituals. If you can use the levels in your aviary wisely then the birds will probably feel less pressured or get less interuption and feel safer to get on with things.

I have not kept Namaqua doves, but are they similar to diamonds? Temprament? Do you plan on keeping more than one pair? I found keeping multiple pair of doves very disruptive in my aviary. Aggressive fighting and chasing between males and males courting/chasing females. I eventually got rid of my Diamond doves because of their insistent chasing and flapping upset the finches even though I was down to one pair.

[Jayburd]

I plan on keeping just the one pair, and they are a bit bigger than diamonds, maybe peaceful or talpacoti dove size, but apparently according to Mr. Pollard the best dove to have with finches.
My list has now changed a bit. I was planning on 2pr of orange breasts, but I have recently been offered a pair of saints in stead of a pair of O/Bs (thanks M!!) so they'll have their spot

[Jayburd]

well, my prep for the sale is going well I have organised a nice RH gouldian cock (a bit old, 3 years, but I think it should be OK), some saints and tri parrots, some tri nuns, (thanks M & D respectively ), and I think I'll be able to organise some plumheads as well I've decided to go with them instead of zebs