Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I currently have 9 zebra finches that I placed in to a new cage that I got for them. I had 4 that were hatched 2 months ago and turned out to be all males, and then I received 5 more birds from the next clutch. After placing all the birds into the new cage, Ive noticed the four males chasing the five new birds all around. The fly around and it seems as if they attack the new ones. I'm assuming that maybee I have too many birds in one cage, even though this cage is fairly large and looks as if it should have enough room. How many should I be removing if so, can anything else cause this behavior, Thanks.

You have a zebra finch territorial fight on your hands. The four 2-month olds consider the cage belongs to them and the newbies are not welcome.

You'll need to put the five being chased in a separate cage, or they'll continue to be harassed, maybe even injured by the more aggressive finches. Don't wait to separate them. The ones being chased are under a lot of stress and that's not good for them.

In my own experience I found it best to have a male/female in each cage, rather than several males or females together, but that's just what has worked for me.

Let us know how it goes.

>>I currently have 9 zebra finches that I placed in to a new cage that I got for them. I had 4 that were hatched 2 months ago and turned out to be all males, and then I received 5 more birds from the next clutch. After placing all the birds into the new cage, Ive noticed the four males chasing the five new birds all around. The fly around and it seems as if they attack the new ones. I'm assuming that maybee I have too many birds in one cage, even though this cage is fairly large and looks as if it should have enough room. How many should I be removing if so, can anything else cause this behavior, Thanks.
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PH Canary
Bird Forum Message Board Host

yeah i agree, having all males or all females seem to cause teritorial problems, i think it's because they cant get their sexual frustration out LOL, but kidding aside, you'd be better off if you can have the same amount of boys and girls. Also providing them with a lot of nesting site will also help. you might have more birds but that's the fun part. you have a fairly large cage though i cannot really see if you have a lot of perches, increase the perches to break up the free flying zone, it'll be harder for the aggressor to chase the other birds if their are branches that cuts off the path. Plus your birds will enjoy it too.

well good luck and let us know what happens

get some females and don't let them in breed with one another, just a note