planning for our new finches

[Boe]

Just starting out with finches. I am building a 4'X4'X2' cage I would definately like gouldians is there finches i should or should not mix. How many birds would be comfortable. Since the cage is still under construction any ideas of what I should include.

[christie99]

I do know that you will need to keep at least three pairs to limit fighting. Don't provide nests unles you plan on breeding. Have several feeders, even an hanging one would be good, like the kind for outdoors.

Lots of perches and even bird safe plants or silk plants for them to hide in.

I know owl finches will do well with Gouldians, so will societies.

[poohbear]

Depends on whether you intend to breed them,a couple of pairs would live happily in there (Gouldians). But if you provide nestboxes you may find one pair is dominant and make life hell for the others....Not fair on the birds, and their happiness should be the priority.
Like humans they may get on...or not.Better to have less birds but happy rather than more birds under stress.
If you're still building the cage go to the trouble of making a central divider so you can clean out one empty side of the cage at a time.Without one you will be trying to clean it with the birds panicking...not good.
Your cage will be twice the size of the lower 4 foot breeder cage in this picture...as you see they all have dividers in the middle to enable cage cleaning etc.
And I'm sorry to disagree but after 40 years of breeding Gouldians I've never seen the addition of another pair limit the aggression between birds.If you want to keep more birds in a small space choose Bengalese (Society) Finches they are the most amiable.

Paul.

[christie99]

Paul,
I'm glad to have advise from someone that has mutiple pairs. I am going from my reading and research. The only large flight of goulds I've seen had easily 10 pairs in there. They all got along well, but I do understand the possibility is there!!

Personally, all my birds are housed in pairs.

Also, where do you get those cages? I can only find a small breeder cage and wish I had something much bigger like your bottom cage.

[birdsnreps]

i love finches, and their little beeps!! i need a finch buddy for mine, hes all alone :(

[poohbear]

Originally Posted by christie99

Paul,
I'm glad to have advise from someone that has mutiple pairs. I am going from my reading and research. The only large flight of goulds I've seen had easily 10 pairs in there. They all got along well, but I do understand the possibility is there!!

Personally, all my birds are housed in pairs.

Also, where do you get those cages? I can only find a small breeder cage and wish I had something much bigger like your bottom cage.

Mine were sourced in the UK...but try these people on the link below in the States.....Paul.
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[Boe]

So basically a community cage would not be advised especially if you add nests for breeding? I've seen breeders (I use that term loosley) pairing birds in a cage, and in a community cage from the brief time I spent observing the birds both seemed to be viable methods. 40 years expierence trumps the people I visited, like they say even the blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile. So to use this as a flight only keep the numbers low.

Thanks


Boe

[poohbear]

If someone wants to breed gouldians the best way is one pair per cage or flight.Depends whether you want to be a keeper or a breeder.To my mind the ideal is a cage for breeding, then when resting and overwintering they are put into a large flight together where they can get lots of exercise.

There's nothing wrong in keeping a couple of pairs in a large cage as a colourful feature...but once you provide nesting opportunities the whole ball game changes and aggression can start.

I've been in this game donkeys years but I still make mistakes.....all the time.
Love the squirrel bit.

Paul.

[Boe]

I can see why it would be one of your favorites.

[Johno]

Couldnt agree more. If you want to breed them, one pair per cage. If they are purely for show, then lose the nest box and materials and dont overcrowd them.