Cordon Blue's in a mixed aviary Any Thoughts?experience??

[Mel7610]

Hi I'm just looking into keeping Cordon's,Has anyone got some in a mixed aviary? If so, What have you got in with them?and If any aggretion at breeding nesting season towards other species?
Any definate DO'S and Dont's ??
What I have read on the net so far is fairly vague and wish to hear from someone first hand?
In advance thankyou for your veiws and comments

[shaunh]

I have two pair in with my stars, gouldians and painteds. They are a lovely bird with a georgous song. They love there live food and have a real fascination with feathers. Mine haven't gone to nest as yet, though havent had them overly long. My goulds do give them a little bit of a rough time lately when they get near there nest boxes. I have plenty of tea tree for them to tuck themselves away and I'm forever seeing them and the stars in there together. A really lovely little bird they add some wonderful colour and noise to my aviary.

[tonytoast]

Mine love November Grass for nesting and generally won't build until I provide lots...
Mine love feathers and the cock bird will often use a feather as part of his courtship dance
Mine love termites and will spend a lot of the day in the termite tray
Mine are fairly intolerant to other birds who choose to eat the Cordons termites (especially the Cutthroats)
My hen has had a couple of egg binding issues but has worked herself through them - so lots of eggshell/cuttlefish and any other supplement that may help
Mine fight with the Orange Breasts a lot about nest site choice and I never know why they just don't choose either ends of the aviary...always next to each other????
I have had them nest in long grass but usually brush...
When not in the termites, they can often be found sitting together in the sun....

Hope the above is the detail you were after....

[djb78]

Cordons can and will go in a mixed collection, but be careful as some individuals can be a bit more nasty. As for breeding I find that they like to build a natural nest instead of a artificial nests but i provide some anyway, thin grasses and feathers are what mine use, live food is a must and lots of it would be great as I found out the hard way.

[BENSONSAN]

Lets just say i could never ever imagine a cordon killing another bird. They will fit in fine. I would be concerned for there safety tho if you kept them with say zebs or bengos. Cordons can stand up for themselves but i highly doubht they are capable of ever doing harm to anything ever.

I also agree with the feathers they love erm! And all sound advice. Not a hard bird to get to go to nest but harder to get young on the damn perch..as ive found out. Definatly need at least lotsa egg food if your not going to feed mealies maggots or termites. Your are talking red cheeks tho arent you? Blue caps live food all the way!

Even with red cheeks i found out the hard way. Like djb said...and i just had red cheeks. I think djb keeps blue caps or both? Anyways i agree with his coments.

[Jayburd]

I have only ever really kept cordons with other finches, and they could nnot be nicer! the occasional swipe at a finch that gets "too close" perhaps.

[Tiaris]

An excellent species for a mixed finch aviary comprising other passive species. Aggression is rarely a problem with Cordons if they are housed in sparsely stocked breeding aviaries with just one pair of Cordons in there. Some rivalry between cocks if more are housed together or next door but normally more vocal than physical. Best breeding results achieved with termites as main livefood, maggots the next best option (distant 2nd). Mealworms are far from ideal as main livefood for Cordons usually giving poor breeding results, high juvenile mortality & higher incidence of egg-binding. If regular livefood is not a real prospect for you they would not be a good choice if breeding is a priority. In summary, they ideally do very well in a sparsely stocked, dry & warm aviary in which termites are the main regular livefood offered - anything less than this is a compromise away from what is ideal for them.

[Mel7610]

Great advis Thankyou I will have check out live food sourses first.Again thankyou Exactly what info i was after!!
MEL

[Mattyboy]

Like most African finches, they need to be able to access live food when nesting. Be careful you don't keep then with anything too aggressive or pushy, especially anything that'll hog the live food table.
They are perhaps a wee bit more timid than some, and like privacy and a place to hide. But they're generally an ideal bid for a mixed collection of peaceful species.
I had excellent results with mealworms.

[Nathan Morleyy]

Mel,
I put mine in a mixed collection and they did terribly they were always dying. That's just my experience.

Thanks Nathan