Aussie Finch Forum

How many Finches can you put in your aviary.
Contrary to alot of peoples opinion allowing X amount of space per pair is NOT the whole exercise.
You must take into account how each specie acts,what they nest in and where they prefer to nest and so on.
Jayburd you mention that your aviary should hold 4 pair of birds yet your mate has 7 pair in a similar size aviary.
This could be so, I could also house 10 pair in your aviary size by being smart when choosing species.
Its not rocket science,it is research and common sense.
By putting one aggressive or robust pair in the aviary would most likely cut you number of pairs by at least half
so my 10 pair suddenly drops to 5 pair.add another robust pair then your numbers drop again and you end up having the initial 2 pair pushing
each other around so nothing else will breed freely.
You can go to extremes with examples, a nice well planned aviary with 10 pair of compatable finches all living and breeding in harmony
You are at the dealers and you see a beautiful scarlet Madagascar Weaver, you buy the pair and release them into your aviary.
Harmony is gone because of the birds size,possible agressive manner and anybirds with red on them could be doomed.The end of your breeding season for virtually all except maybe the Weavers.This could happen in an aviary 12sqm or on 20sqm.
Should you have one aviary you must be very careful with your choice in stocking and a particular specie that you love could be a restriction,if you decide you want to keep it accept your numbers will be down.
Go through all the species available,pick those that you desire then research where they nest,Gouldians and Parrot Finches like to breed in nest boxes so they will compete so you must allow extra boxes and breeding areas. Painteds will often nest high up ontop of the brush,Cordons will build their frail little nests
midlevel height of your dry brush,Fires low down, St Helena mid height but frequently at ground level,Nuns/Pictorellas in a grass clump.
Think of them as breeding zones, the more the compatable the species the more stock you can consider to keep.
I know you wont like this but Zebra Finches are dam pests in a small balanced collection and go into the robust nosey dept.If you want them be prepared to cut back,they are a lovely specie but its your decision.Think before you buy!!!!

Part 2
The brush layout,nesting box location,perch location is also critical to the numbers of birds you keep.
Once you have your birds in watch them in particular their daylight hours perching habits.You may have to change the possition as alot may be trying to use a small section because of morning sunlight etc.Also be willing to move perches as the seasons pass.A perch well located in summer my be useless in winter.
Make nest building easy for your birds,give them plenty of material to choose from and easily accessed. Maybe 2 feed stations,but if all are compatable this may not be required.Don't over plant your aviary,birds do like to fly and display. Read as much as you can of data written for our conditions,then sit down and think about what you have read.
If you see a bird/s creating a problem pull them out and replace them with another pair or specie.
Remember what works for one persons collection may not work for your. If your methods are different and your birds are healthy,happy and breeding you are doing something right so stick to it.

Well youngin your getting the best advice ... and if heeded you will have the best head start possible to be successful ...

Thanks for this advice e.orix

This is informative i guess i read this regularly between the lines but soon forget.

Cheers
Luke

Thank You, E Orix.
so what would you suggest out of the species aforementioned? I know saints inhabit lower areas, as do ruddies, painteds and plumheads medium - high, etc. etc.

E Orix wrote:Think before you buy!!!!

you offered me a whole boxful of zebras in March.

I am aware of the reducing for each pair of agro birds, which is why I have made a list of 8-9-10 listed birds. you will notice cordon is not on there, their rating is only a little higher than longtails, so you cannot say I'm being picky in my own favour.
I just got off the phone to someone I know, he has 9pr in an aviary 1.8m x 3.5m, species include melbas, double bars, gouldians, painteds, pictorellas etc.

RE the maddie comment, I am not weak of mind, I have never bought a bird without reading up and talking to other breeders first.
as it is I know maddies are not suited to my conditions, as are pintailed whydahs, grenadier weavers, and grey goshawks!

part 2.
some interesting things to think about. however,

E Orix wrote:Remember what works for one persons collection may not work for you

. I have extensively researched from a number of sources about aviary size, species etc. I think I have come up with a fairly definitive list of species for a start. I have heard absolutely nothing at all negative about double bars from a wide variety of sources, which seems a bit odd to me, so I rated them 9. etc. etc.

What you decide on is your decision totally
What I am trying to do is give those interested, my thought on 40 years worth of mistakes.
After all that time I still make mistakes and continue to change my thinking.
We have to be careful especially those trying to breed the rarer types, infact all should be responsible as we are trying to control a live being.
Why did I offer you the Zebras? Simply you had no aviary and you were thinking about getting birds too vunerable for your set up.
The Zebras would be tough enough and keep your interest until your aviary became a reality.

sorry I overheated Orix.
like I said though - what would be your suggestion?

We will sit down at the convention and have a discussion. It is only a couple of weeks away.

Jayburd,
I have been following the comments, I think E-Orix is right. I was told the same thing from an experienced breeder, learn and take your time, dont overdo. I think your biggest problem is that you love all the varieties and can build a case for each breed. We have all done this and still do want more varieties in our aviaries. However you are young and have obvious talents for being successful with birds and breeding, perhaps you should look at it another way. You have said you have talked to locals about different birds and what they have, how they manage theirs aviaries. Why dont you pick say three to four pair max, and set yourself the goal to be the local specialist in that breed. Be the specialist in St helena's, diamonds or whatever you choose.etc. Study and learn from these birds. Choose your species and breed the goddam best birds in ACT.
This is how you will become the next E Orix. Now thats a goal.

hi jayburd -

i'm with shox. when i was your age i was totally into the whole 'mixed lollybag' (do they still have mixed lollybags these days, i wonder??) in my aviaries - lots of different species, one pair of each, etc. i'm about to get back into the game (aviary arrives next week!!) and my first purchase will be six doublebars. they will be the only occupants until a true pair forms, and have perched young. then i'll add the longtails. my aviary is 2 x 2 x 4 m and i will hopefully end up with 3 pairs of double bars and a pair of longtails, all producing young.

my point is, you really should take the opportunity to take it slow! you've still got a long time living at home and you won't be building new aviaries whenever you feel like it. i'd choose a species, aim to breed it, learn as much as you can from that process, see what its habits and needs are, its nesting regions, its food intake, then add the next species according to what you learn. you know how exciting it is to hear young in the nest and see fledglings on the perch - with less occupants and an expert young keeper, your birds will reward you!