Aussie Finch Forum

OK, folks, I am now a total loss on what to do next. Hoping someone can help.

I have an aviary W318cm X H180cm X D89cm and a total of 9 zebra finches. I introduced all of them into the aviary at more or less the same time but before too long, some severe fighting among the birds started - constant chasing, beak fencing and divebombing, which got as severe as a bird having its wing grabbed by another and hanging vertically trying to get free, followed by a puff of feathers.

I narrowed it down to a single common grey young male causing all the terrorizing so I removed him out of the aviary and put him into solitary confinement so he could think about his actions. All seemed peaceful in the aviary...at least for a short while. Then the fawn male snapped and then he started terrorizing everyone, so out he came into solitary confinement. Then my black male and white hen started to mate and settle into a nest, so now they are chasing everyone else around.

I got the sh*ts with these birds and took everybody out of the aviary except for the breeding pair. I put all 7 birds into a flight cage with no nests, just the bare essentials like food, water and three perches. Now of course the breeding pair in the aviary are happy and loving their space, peace and quiet. And the 7 in the flight cage seemed harmonious. Well, that harmony only lasted one day and now fighting is starting again among the birds in the flight cage, again instigated by the fawn male which I removed from the aviary earlier. So now he is again in another cage in solitary confinement. But now more fighting has broken out, this time seemingly from one of the hens chasing everyone else around!!

So much for all the reading I have done about new surroundings creating an equal playing field and having more than 2 pairs to help prevent fighting. Why are they always fighting?? Why is each bird seemingly having it's turn to "snap" and then go ballistic? Is it perhaps the amount of birds I've got that is causing all this tension? I often see youtube clips of cages and aviaries with dozens and dozens of zebra finches and they all seem happy. So does perhaps an extra large flock retain the harmony versus a smaller flock of say less than 10 birds (which in my case is causing alot of tension)? I am THIS CLOSE to getting rid of all my zebras coz of their constant fighting no matter what I try, and having a go at keeping a flock of bengalese finches and owl finches which from what I am hearing are a lot more peaceful and live in harmony...unlike zebras.

Please help!!

A few suggestions from the top of my head:

- Add additional sight barriers and hiding places.
- Make sure there's lots of spare nests and a surplus of nesting materials
- Extra hen birds.

ShaneGowland wrote:A few suggestions from the top of my head:

- Add additional sight barriers and hiding places.
- Make sure there's lots of spare nests and a surplus of nesting materials
- Extra hen birds.

Totally agree...need 2 to 3 nests per pair of birds...Zebs squabble but no real damage done...I've see my Goulds hanging onto to wings of others also...doesnt seem to worry either party...unless blood is drawn I wouldn't worry too much..

ShaneGowland wrote:A few suggestions from the top of my head:

- Add additional sight barriers and hiding places.
- Make sure there's lots of spare nests and a surplus of nesting materials
- Extra hen birds.

So you mean put all the birds back in the aviary with those suggestions in place?

What about the breeding pair currently in it? They have mated multiple times and seem to have chosen a nest but no eggs laid yet.

Is the size of my aviary big enough to house more than one breeding pair, let alone 9 birds? I would have thought so coz I've seen much more densely populated cages/aviaries with none of those items and they all seem harmonious, which is what has me baffled.

The male/female zebra ratio of my total 9 birds is 4 males and 5 females.

Maybe its a case of putting in the suggestions above then letting them sort out the pecking order, there is bound to be some fighting and chasing while this goes on. Hopefully they settle once they know their place in the aviary hierarchy.
Of course if blood is drawn you may have to remove one.

[quote="magna_elite"]OK, folks, I am now a total loss on what to do next. Hoping someone can help.

I have an aviary W318cm X H180cm X D89cm and a total of 9 zebra finches. I introduced all of them into the aviary at more or less the same time but before too long, some severe fighting among the birds started - constant chasing, beak fencing and divebombing, which got as severe as a bird having its wing grabbed by another and hanging vertically trying to get free, followed by a puff of feathers. I am THIS CLOSE to getting rid of all my zebras coz of their constant fighting no matter what I try, and having a go at keeping a flock of bengalese finches and owl finches which from what I am hearing are a lot more peaceful and live in harmony...unlike zebras.

These birds will always fight amongst themselves,it's in their nature.It doesn't matter how many nest boxes you put in it will still happen as they will fight over nesting materials,foods and even bathing water.
If they are getting you down so much,get rid of them and try something else like DB's but you will still find that they will bicker also if there is more than one pr,it's all part of the pecking order.
Be content with one pr of finches and let them breed and experience the thrill of producing young from them,with out competition you soon have a small colony of young birds to sell. In other words,less is better in the long run as with what you have now one pr will most likely breed more young than the 4 pr you have now.
Craig

Diane wrote:Maybe its a case of putting in the suggestions above then letting them sort out the pecking order, there is bound to be some fighting and chasing while this goes on. Hopefully they settle once they know their place in the aviary hierarchy.
Of course if blood is drawn you may have to remove one.

OK, I have added a lot more foliage in strategic places in an attempt to divide sections of perches, spread out heaps of nests with foliage around them for privacy and added multiple feeding and water stations. I have placed all 9 birds together in the aviary once again. After some initial excitement, it didn't take long for the squabbling and chasing to start up again. Will see how it goes over the next few days. Hopefully they will work out this pecking order business and settle down a bit. I am wondering how the two pairs I have seen mating will actually succeed with rearing a clutch of chicks though. Thanks for your suggestions.