upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

I'm happy to see that upatsix.com is still alive and well! I haven't been to the site since I had about 10 species of birds, from finches to Amazons, in high school about 10 years ago. I had to leave the birds behind when I went off to college and medical school, but now that I'm settling into a new home, I'm hoping to have a handful of finches join me.

I had zebras and spice finches years ago, but only a few, and only for a short time (gave them to a friend who was an expert on finches). I want to make sure that I do the best I can for my new roommates, so I have a few questions. Some of these may have been answered in other posts, and I did do a bit of reading, but I have to admit that I don't have time to search all of the archives.

I'd love to know the following and any other tips you may have for me:

1. Which species are best together? I'd like to have 3-4 pairs, each of a different species. No breeding, just pleasant company. I like the looks of the Gouldians and Cordon Bleus, and the sounds of the zebras, for example.

2. What size cage is best for 6-8 finches? Any thoughts on where to get attractive cages? (I can't stand those things the pet shops sell.)

3. When I had my parrots 10 years ago, pellet feeding was all the rage (supplemented with fresh food, of course). Is that still the case?

Thanks SO MUCH for any advice you can give me! I learned 90% of what I know about birds from this forum and unfortunately have forgotten a lot of it! Can't wait to get back up to speed!

Roadrunner wrote:
<ship>
I'd love to know the following and any other tips you may have for me:

1. Which species are best together? I'd like to have 3-4 pairs, each of a different species. No breeding, just pleasant company. I like the looks of the Gouldians and Cordon Bleus, and the sounds of the zebras, for example.

2. What size cage is best for 6-8 finches? Any thoughts on where to get attractive cages? (I can't stand those things the pet shops sell.)

3. When I had my parrots 10 years ago, pellet feeding was all the rage (supplemented with fresh food, of course). Is that still the case?

<snip>
!

Welcome back, Roadrunner. What's your specialty?

I'm no expert, but I can assure you that "no breeding" and "zebra finch" just won't fit into the same sentence. Gouldians and Cordon Bleus should do well together. Zebras are a little more aggressive but probably wouldn't drive the rest totally nuts, particularly if you kept their numbers down (good luck). I like strawberries' song a lot, though you can't keep them w' other "red" birds.

I would want to give 8 finches a pretty good sized space. We kept 3 pair in a cage about 20x36x40 for a while, and they seemed pretty content w' the situation. I found good options at the local bird fair -- is there one in your area?

If you hang out on some of the parrot boards, you'll get caught up on the pellet wars pretty quickly. They can get heated -- the organic folk get down on the fruit-flavored fans, who go after the "if God had wanted birds to eat pellets" crowd, etc. etc. etc. People should worry so much about what they feed their kids...

Anyhow, there are a couple of folk on this board who are true experts re finches. I'll shut up & let them take over.

Cheers & again, welcome,
Pat

Thanks so much for your advice! I spent quite a bit of time poking around online yesterday and managed to answer my own questions. But of course, if anyone else wants to chime in, I'll take all the advice I can get!

Oh, and to answer your question... Emergency Medicine. But I'm just a lowly resident.

I agree that Zebras will be nearly impossibly to keep from breeding. I like the little birds but I don't think I'd put them with waxbills or any bird that is less 'active'.

Buy the largest cage or aviary you can afford. If you want really large, they have some nice net-type aviaries advertised in BirdTalk or you can search for some cage manufacturers online.

One that I use often, but he's local for me, is http://www.qualitycage.com/avian.html

He will make any cage dimension you want as long as it can still be shipped, and he will also powdercoat them either black or white. The size Pat mentioned is good but I'm not sure which number is height. If you're going to use a cage, get one that is longer than it is high.
Here's another site: http://www.birdandcage.com/flight.html#2580