Budgie + Finches = ???

[HareTrinity]

I remember a previous thread where someone claimed there are diseases budgies can catch from finches or such? Is this true?

My male budgie has just lost his female companion (she'd been unwell for a while so I'm glad it was relatively peaceful at home), and has always loved trying to talk to my Zebra finches, often hanging upsidedown to chat to them.

Would it be alright to move my Zebra finches (father and son) in with my budgie?

Thanks to all who replied on my last thread about keeping my finches, I didn't know anyone would consider them as snake food, and knowing it reminds me that there are things in life far more important than smearing your genes about, so my 2 boys can stay with me!

[kali]

lol that last comment made me laugh, i have NO IDEA what it is about, but it certainly cheered me up!!!

as for budgies and finches i've never heard of anything but there could be! wait for someone who know what they're talking about

[catschair]

I don't think budgies and zebras would make good cage mates, though they enjoy watching each other. Their energy levels and diets are a bit different. Have you considered re-homing a friend for your budgie? There are a lot of "used" budgies at local animal shelters, in the pennysaver and on CL and the like, who would just love a new home.

[Freedomoflight]

Budgies are much to aggressive to be caged with finches.

[HareTrinity]

Originally Posted by Freedomoflight

Budgies are much to aggressive to be caged with finches.

I understand that female budgies in particular can be hostile towards smaller birds, which is why I've kept them separate before.

Theon (my remaining budgie) however has never shown any hostile feelings towards my finches, and obviously I would keep a close eye on them for the first week or so.

For one night a Zebra finch already spent the night in the budgie cage with no problems (the finch's parents had a new chick and rejected her attempts to spend time with them). Didn't keep her there because I knew Pío (female budgie) was not comfortable with her and that it might escalate over time.

Originally Posted by catschair

Their energy levels and diets are a bit different.

I'm aware the seed is slightly different, but generally I alternate between which one they all get and have never seen any real problem other than the budgies not eating all of the finch food. I assume you mean in how their greens should be presented (that budgies like leafy things hung in their cage and finches need it diced up)? Which wouldn't be a major problem as I can just offer them both.

EDIT: Oh, and that finches are better with sandpaper perches whereas this could hurt a budgie's feet, but I figure spacing them out properly added to the fact that the finch perches wouldn't hold Theon's weight much would avoid them using each other's perches too much