Solitary Members of a Species & Quality of Life

[sierranomad]

A couple of weeks ago I read a thread that addressed whether finches needed another of the same species to be happy. One poster (I forget who) said he felt that birds that choose to be with others in the wild would be happier if kept that way in the aviary. This made sense to me, and for that reason I had gotten another European Goldfinch to go with the one I already had.

While I thought they both would be happier together, I didn't expect to be able to tell a difference in their behavior, but I was in for a surprise! It took me 15 minutes of catch the bird that had been in quarantine and it was quite fearful; so I left the aviary immediately after releasing her. It took about 15 seconds for me to get out of the aviary, and when I turned to look, the two goldfinches were already together!

Since then, they both are more active, inquisitive and bold than before. They also chirp more (no real singing, I think I may have two females) and eat more. When alone, they almost never went below the top of their enclosures, but do now more often. It looks to me like when one is in an area where she feels less "safe" the other one stays back as lookout. I don't know but that's what it looks like to me.

Anyway, I couldn't be happier with the effect that being together has had on both of them.

[finchbreeder]

Glad to hear that you and your feathered friends are now happier. Most finches seem happier with their own kind for company.
LML

[sierranomad]

Thanks finchbreeder. I expected that they would be happier together, but didn't expect to be able to notice a difference in behaviour.

Such "night and day" difference makes me think that they were unhappy, even depressed when without another of their species.

[Nrg800]

I got a male cordon bleu, and the second I introduced the female to him he went crazy, courting and the like! They're never apart!

[djb78]

I have found the same, when I split my ruddies then reintroduce the hen back to the cock both seem much happier. The reason I split them is that the hens want to keep on laying and I am afraid that the hens will get egg bound as happened in the past. I do have a couple of spare cocks (strawberry, ruddie , painted) which I put in a large cabinet I call this the Batchelor pad and all seem to huddle together but I still believe that this is probably not the best situation for them but as having no hens don't want them to disturb my breeding. It is nice when your birds can find a partner and enjoy company of their own kind because what one kind of finch might see his actions as being affectionate another may take it as a threat. All in all it is good that your goldfinches have taken to each other so well.