Aussie Finch Forum

Hi there,

I am just about to put some finches into my aviary. I'm going to keep a mixed selection of red faced parrot finches, goulds, maybe a canary or two, gold finches etc. Do you suggest I pack in some tree branches for the birds to hide/nest, or leave it bare and use cane nests, open nests, boxes and throw in a heap of material on the floor? I was thinking of using a combo of both but I am not sure what the best tree braches are to use. Thanks for any help.

Firstly Welcome to the forum.

I use tree branches, brush, and nest boxes and baskets. I dont like to put stuff on the floor due to the possibility of damp. Any nesting material such as feathers, swamp grass and coconut fibre I place in a holder and the birds help themselves from there.
Regarding your mixed aviary choices, just be sure to get pairs of the RFPF and the gouldians as they can hybridize. I did have canaries but decided to get rid of them due to the possible higher incident of air sac mite, seems like canaries are prone to it. I cant say anything about the goldbreasts as Ive never had them.
Hope you will post some pics of your aviary.

Bit of all of the above ...somewhere to hide , a choice of nesting receptacles , some free flying area . Chuck some nesting material in an old ice cream container or such coz as Di said it can get damp , pooped on etc.
Goldfinches can be boof heads , I had them and they destroyed everything they could get their beaks around , they hogged the feed dish and I swear they crap up side down coz they can get poo everywhere imaginable.
Am starting to get a bit over the gouldians bcoz as gawjus as they are to look at they can be boof heads too , my pair have laid claim to all but one nest box (8 in the aviary with 2 pairs of birds ) so result is 1 pair of birds hijack the entire community ( usually 5 or 6 pairs of birds ).
Anyhoo this may not happen in your case so trial and error will soon dertermine who gets along with who ...Good luck and welcome