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Conference 7.286::pet_birds

Title:	Captive Breeding for Conservation--and FUN!
Notice:	INTROS 6.X / FOR SALE 13.X / Buying a Bird 900.*
Moderator:	VIDEO::PULSIFER

Created:	Mon Oct 10 1988
Last Modified:	Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	942
Total number of notes:	6016

585.0. "Two little zebra problems" by SALSA::DEFRANCO () Fri Aug 02 1991 13:39

    I have a problem, or shall I say I have two problems.  You see, my
    finches produced some lovely babies back in May and now my finch cage
    contains 5 males and only 3 females.
    
    As you can guess, this is not the perfect distribution of the sexes and
    my little males are now staring to fight over who will win over the
    little females' hearts.
    
    So, what do I do with the TWO extra males?   I thought of taking them
    out of the finch cage and putting them into their own cage. If I do
    this will they still fight or will they become good buddies?  Also, If
    I do this, would I be able to put in with them (1) male canary?  
    
    Please send your comments and suggestions.  
    
    Thanks,
    
    Jeanne
    
    P.S.  I've thought of selling the two males but my husband won't hear
    of it.  He said "No, these are our babies, how could you sell them?" 
    This, out of the mouth of the man who originally didn't even want a bird
    in the house!  My how time changes things!

T.R Title User Personal
Name Date Lines

585.1 no, *many* little zebra problems! WAYWRD::TILLSON Sugar Magnolia Mon Aug 05 1991 12:26 38

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
585.1	no, many little zebra problems!	WAYWRD::TILLSON	Sugar Magnolia	`Mon Aug 05 1991 12:26`	38
	Jeanne, The two extra males will do FINE together and will be wonderful buddies. Zebra finches (and all finches to the best of my knowledge) are social creatures and need the companionship of others of their species. Same-sex pairs will do perfectly well as companions. Some finch breeders even have same-sex pairs that will foster and raise other finch's eggs/chicks! Now, however, you need to consider the OTHER problem you will have. Very little that you can do will prevent opposite-sex zebra pairs from breeding. They will breed until you are quite literally OVERRUN with zebra finches - you could potentially have HUNDREDS in a years time. Do you WANT that many zebra finches? Also, your opposite-sex pairs are all siblings. Breeding brother to sister is likely to produce weak, small, less healthy chicks. If you really want to breed your babies, you will need to find unrelated mates for them. If you just want to keep your babies as pets, consider this: Get two rather roomy flight cages. Put ALL of your boys in one cage, and all of your girls in the other. They will give each other company, set up little communites, and be real delights to watch - their interactions are terrific! If you want a few more, let your original mom and pop finches (who, I assume are unrelated) have another clutch. And if you want some unrelated birds, let me know, I can probably help out. Rita (who learned the hard way how quick those little beggers reproduce!)

    
    
    Jeanne,
    
    The two extra males will do FINE together and will be wonderful
    buddies.  Zebra finches (and all finches to the best of my knowledge)
    are social creatures and need the companionship of others of their
    species.  Same-sex pairs will do perfectly well as companions.  Some
    finch breeders even have same-sex pairs that will foster and raise
    other finch's eggs/chicks!
    
    Now, however, you need to consider the OTHER problem you will have. 
    Very little that you can do will prevent opposite-sex zebra pairs from
    breeding.  They will breed until you are quite literally OVERRUN with
    zebra finches - you could potentially have HUNDREDS in a years time. 
    Do you WANT that many zebra finches?
    
    Also, your opposite-sex pairs are all siblings.  Breeding brother to
    sister is likely to produce weak, small, less healthy chicks.  If you
    really want to breed your babies, you will need to find unrelated mates
    for them.
    
    If you just want to keep your babies as pets, consider this:  Get two
    rather roomy flight cages.  Put ALL of your boys in one cage, and all
    of your girls in the other.  They will give each other company, set up
    little communites, and be real delights to watch - their interactions
    are terrific!  If you want a few more, let your original mom and pop
    finches (who, I assume are unrelated) have another clutch.
    
    And if you want some unrelated birds, let me know, I can probably help
    out.
    
    
    					Rita (who learned the hard way how 
    					      quick those little beggers
    					      reproduce!)