Can i keep cockatiels with finches

With the exception of Canaries, it is not possible to keep a pet finch healthy and happy if it is alone. All pet species will be happy in a pair, and for many this is the ideal permanent setup; but some only really thrive with the full interaction of a flock.

If a shop or dealer is offering to sell single birds with no questions asked, you should question their competence - a good seller knows that a single finch is an unhappy and unfulfilled bird. Finches are best kept in cock-hen pairs. Single birds will be fine together in a larger flock at least three pairs , and juveniles will perch and feed together happily, until that moment when the hormones kick in after about nine weeks and they have the urge to pair up.

At this point, male-male or female-female pairs will begin to fight, if they are being kept together with no other birds. Any unpaired birds will tend to live alone, rather than with their fellow singletons. In the case of cock birds, they can cause confrontation in a cage by vying for the attention of a hen who has already chosen her mate.

Zebra finches, and many other species, are usually monogamous, so a single bird will have a long wait unless new blood is introduced into the aviary. Canaries are good natured birds. Two males or two females together will squabble; but any other combination usually works very well. Three or four males, for example, should be able to cohabit without going head to head.

This easy-going nature also makes Canaries good mixers, and they are highly unlikely to intimidate any other species. But there are two sides to the coin, and the problems with Canary cohabitation in an aviary come from the other species. Many finches are territorial and will bully a less aggressive bird such as a Canary. Establishing a harmonious community of birds depends on two factors - space and species. Keeping at least two separate feeding stations is necessary, otherwise a bully might establish himself on the food tray and not let anyone else get near.

You also need lots of roosting perches high up in the aviary. The birds will compete for the high perches, so making sure there are plenty eases a lot of tension in the daily settling-down routine. As a bird keeper, one of your jobs is to watch the aviary and assess the situation. For example, simply placing a new bird in your cockatiel's cage may cause the existing one to view the new bird as an intruder in his space and instigate a fight.

Start with multiple cages placed far apart but in view one another. Introduce the birds slowly in neutral territory, such as an area outside of each of their cages, to increase the chance that they will get along. Gradually increase the amount of time they spend together, as long as they are getting along. If you hope to eventually house them together, place their cages near each other; as they become accustomed to each other and get along well outside of the cages, move them into a new, larger cage together.

Young birds, including cockatiels, tend to be more accepting of other birds if they are introduced at a young age. Whenever possible, let captive birds get to know each other while they are still young; as they grow into adulthood they are likely to remain friendly with each other. This is not always possible, but if you take a young bird into your home and already know you want a second bird, consider bringing the new bird right away so that the two can develop a bond while they are young.

A cockatiel closely bonded to you may become jealous if he sees his human giving attention to another bird. If you add a zebra finch to your cockatiel's cage, he may pick on the smaller bird.

If you had the cockatiel first, he might be jealous of a new addition. Introduce your cockatiel to other birds at as young an age as possible. Cockatiels tend to be more accepting as youngsters. Cockatiels get along with most varieties of parrots, who are similar in size. Zebra finches get along well with other varieties of finches and also do well with some larger birds. Finches can be aggressive if they feel threatened by larger birds and become territorial during breeding season.

This is not a good time to introduce another bird.