Gouldians and Cutthroats

[emmo]

I am currently holding 3 pairs of Cutthroats and one male Gouldian together in a small cage planning to keep them plus a Gouldian female in a 4m x 2m x 2m aviary. The Cutthroats seem a bit picky or pecky towards the Gouldian and I am hoping it is just a matter of numbers and space, but does anybody have any experience keeping them in a mixed aviary. There doesn't seem to be much about Cutthroats on this forum.

[Lukec]

Not that I had any success with cutthroats, but i did find the pair I had in with a colony of gouldians, did enter the gouldians nest a bit, I even witnessed the hen feed fledged gouldians.

I don't think I would keep them together again, for the main reason, that they seek the same nesting locations.

Others may disagree.

[tonytoast]

Quite different personalities....I recently gave away all my Cuthroats, partly because they constantly invaded other species nests and partly because they would not stop breeding....Gouldians will be more defenisve during the breeding season, and perhaps stick up for themselves more. The issue will be your tolerance levels and the doubt factor if you were to lose a nest of youngsters (always wondering whether it was the nest invasion or something else)....

[finches247]

I have had to Cut Throats,Gouldians,Parsons,Blue Face Parrot Finches mix together and breed well.But just watch them with smaller finches as they are bossy towards Cordons,Fires,Orange Breasts etc when I have had them in a mixed aviary.

[thewaxbill]

[quote="Lukec"]Not that I had any success with cutthroats, but i did find the pair I had in with a colony of gouldians, did enter the gouldians nest a bit, I even witnessed the hen feed fledged gouldians.

I don't think I would keep them together again, for the main reason, that they seek the same nesting locations.

Others may disagree.[/quote
Would agree entirely with keeping them apart, Cutthroats are reknowned for being disruptive in a mixed aviary, however there are always exceptions to every rule.
Bob

[Buster]

I have had to Cut Throats,Gouldians,Parsons,Blue Face Parrot Finches mix together and breed well.But just watch them with smaller finches as they are bossy towards Cordons,Fires,Orange Breasts etc when I have had them in a mixed aviary.

Hi 247,
I've read a number of interesting comments regarding mixing finches such as yours. Most are discussing breeding. I wonder if there is less a problem if you are not intending to breed. I was considering a hexagon avairy 1.5dia. x 1.8high. (2.8m2) keeping 6~ birds.
At present Gouldians are probably my favourite but also like Star and Cuttthroat. How do you think those combinations would go?