Starting a finch aviary

[Ajw132]

Hi I have converted a 3 x3 m shed into an aviary I have a pair of red stars red painteds cordons ruddies I am on the Gold Coast I also want to put a pair of tri coloured parrots and another pair of red painted and yellow painteds any suggestions of breeding tips diet boxes nesting materials ? Any other finches I can house them with ? Should I have plants in the aviary ? My other aviary has mixed gouldians in it any tips suggestions would be appreciated and listened to also does anyone know of breeders on the Gold Coast with reasonably priced birds thanks in advance I tried to get a pair of tri coloured parrots off mush reeder but not answering the phone and have sourced some nice painteds from Ipswich thanks in advance

[finchbreeder]

Welcome to the Forum. Nice mix of finches there. But remember if you keep your red and yellow Painteds together you will not be able to be sure if they are pure, or if cross colour breeding occurs. Enjoy.
LML

[Shane Gowland]

Hi, congrats on your first post.

Sounds like a good mix of finches and a good sized aviary to house them. I'd also echo finchbreeder's point about keeping the emblema lines pure.

I've found painteds and cordons strongly prefer building their own nests in shrubs, bushes or brush; so perhaps that answers your question on whether you should add plants to the aviary.

[Masterfincher]

Hi,
Cordons and ruddies will devour termites, and to a lesser extent the painteds too. Try to have a steady supply at breeding time. Plenty of white feathers, coconut fibre and mixed grass for nesting, and cane nests work well for all your types (except gouldians, they prefer wooden box nests).
They would all enjoy some sort of shrubbery /plants if you can get it to grow, otherwuse use dry brush or christmas trees for some shelter/cover.
Other compatible types would include plumheads, cubans, longtails, any mannikins/nuns, and the list goes on.
Have fun

[Ajw132]

Thanks should I put the yellow painted in with my gouldians and have 2 pairs of reds in the one aviary ? And when I get tri coloured parrot finches how long will I have to keep them separated from my red faced parrots before they pair up so they won't mix breed thanks

[vettepilot_6]

Thanks should I put the yellow painted in with my gouldians and have 2 pairs of reds in the one aviary ? And when I get tri coloured parrot finches how long will I have to keep them separated from my red faced parrots before they pair up so they won't mix breed thanks

Personally that aviary too small to mix 2 different species of parrot finches... paired or not... IMO

[finchbreeder]

that aviary too small to mix 2 different species of parrot finches... paired or not... IMO
put the yellow painted in with my gouldians and have 2 pairs of reds in the one aviary
I concur with both of the above statements.
Painteds like to have a little charcol to place in their nests, which they prefer to make themselves. Though I did have a pair use a woven rag nest my daughter made. It was about the size and shape of small pumpkin but dun coloured.
LML

[starman]

when I get tri coloured parrot finches how long will I have to keep them separated from my red faced parrots before they pair up so they won't mix breed thanks

Ajw132, my understanding of this is that RFPFs and TCPFs are not at serious risk of hybridisation, it is the BFPF that presents the most likely risk here.
As has been pointed out already, it is not a good idea to have more than one pair of parrot finches in anything but the largest heavily planted aviary.
To the more docile finches, several pairs of parrot finches will be like bad housemates on party pills.....it is not that they are bad natured or aggressive, but just so active, boisterous and fast flying....this can be unsettling to placid or shy species in a confined environment. Most texts say one pair per enclosure for harmonious relationships.

Sm.

[Ajw132]

Thanks for your advice so my new plan is to put red stars cordon ruddies tri coloured parrots and 2 pairs of red painted in larger aviary and yellow painted and red parrot finches in a smaller aviay

[Ajw132]

Could someone please tell me how to make wire nests for painteds size dimensions entry hole size where to place in aviary should I start the nests off I have 1cm aviary to make the nests out of thanks