male to fem ...

[amalan11]

I have only 2 males and 5 females one boy has 3 girls the other 2 will they be happy/breed like this or should i try and buy more males?
also in experience are yellow more fragile than red?

[salaar]

Mutations are always weaker.

[jluna]

although i'm sure trio breeding can be successful theoretically, painted parents both feed the young, so without pairs, one parent has to do more work. for best results, you need pairs.

[natamambo]

Depending on your aviary space, more males isn't necessarily your answer. Perhaps you should be changing the ratio by swapping birds. It would be fairly easy to swap a spare cock or two for your spare hens.

While salaar's generalisation is a bit too general in this case, you don't want to be adding yellows to your reds, all you wind up with is red young split for yellow, no help to you and definitely no help to the breeder further down the line who has unexpected mutations appearing in his flock.

Painteds have a fairly tight pair bond, it's highly unlikely anything will happen other than left over hens trying to bust up marriages.

[amalan11]

ok thanks,iv had 2 yellow die so will stay with red.I have a huge cage for them so will have to look for some males by the sound of it .Iv heard zebs the ladys should always outnumber the males so was hoping painteds may be the same

[natamambo]

I have a huge cage for them so will have to look for some males by the sound of it

That's 5 pairs. At 1sqm minimum per pair around nests plus flying and breeding space you'll need a flight at least 3mx3m / 2mx5m or so for that number of birds ideally. Painteds are bit less territorial than some other finches but they still need some space, especially when the young fledge as they need mum and dad around for at least another three weeks. Unless you can provide that space cut your numbers back.

[amalan11]

its not that big ,not nearly .Its hard with size I find diffrent people tell you different things.I have prev had them one pair to a breeding cage but as I lost the males I have put them with eachother.I thought they would be happier all together in a big cage but perhaps it would be better if I pair them to put seperately again in breeding cages.
Im not ready to buy yet im just trying to figure out what to do.I may look at swapping like you sugested or just wait and see ,perhaps they dont want to breed and will stay happy as they are I may just watch and make sure they are ok and fights dont develop

[Finchman1]

I breed both yellows are normal reds.I have found both as hardy as each other.As they spend a lot of time on the ground I have found a well drained /dry floor works best,they like alot of small twigs ,charcoal and feathers for nest building,some will build up high and others will build down low