Aggressive Bird Species.

[PAUL HEARN]

Hello all,

On another thread on the Forum the not so sweet nature of the Bronze Winged Mannikin has been mentioned.

But I have a question or two regarding certain Birds that are well known for being bad mixers in a community aviary.

Certain African Mannikins such as the Bronze Winged, Black and White/Blue Billed, Fernando Po, Rufous Backed and Magpie Mannikin etc, are all well known for being troublesome under mixed conditions.
But does this mean that they are not worthy of establishing in Aviculture?

Many other Bird Species are well known for being bad mixers to the point that they are bred under conditions where they are allowed aviaries all to themselves.

If certain Parrotlike Species and Softbill Species should be allowed individual aviaries due to their aggressive nature, then why shouldn't Finch or Mannikin Species be treated the same?

I bred Rufous Backed Mannikins very well some years ago due to the fact I provided them with a 6ft x 6ft x 3ft aviary all to themselves, the very same can be done for all of the above mentioned.

If you have any sense then you wouldn't include any Roller Species in a mixed collection of Softbilled Birds, but that doesn't mean that Rollers shouldn't be bred in UK Aviculture.

Paul.

[Waxbillman]

your quite right there Paul

they are worth establishing, i'd love to dovote a whole aviary to a pair of birds but in my current situation, i ain't got the room

Matthew

[chris]

same here matthew,

i would but it isn't my back garden, so i cant do as i please:roll: hopefully that wont be a problem for too long now though

Chris;-)

[kenny]

hi paul
i would love to have an aviary for hard to breed and aggressive species,but like the others i have only room for one,and really i was lucky to get that as ny sheds have alredy taken up more room than was alloted to me,the thing i am always thinking is that in the case of bronze wings....which by the way i have stated on other threads i quite like myself......if they eventually domestically breed enough pairs of any aggresive species surely the nastiness can be bred out of them ,as a lot of species not just birds have been bred so they are more docile and i dont mean experimentation a case in point is some of the nasty dog breeds have been bred so they are not as nasty as they once were........am i rambling down the wrong path here or does anyone think it would be possible

ken:roll:

[Waxbillman]

hello Ken

what are you suggesting, anger management courses? :lol:

Matthew

[chris]

kenny,

i can see what your getting at, greenfinches are often evil little buggers (at least the cocks) while breeding, however those that are fostered under canaries are often less aggressive.

Chris

[Strawblady2000]

I agree Paul. Because a particular species has a reputation, doesnt mean it should be ignored. I am on the other end of the specrtum from y'all, in a way, as I dont have any mixed flights. But, I still dont have the room to do this just yet...at least not without rearranging things. I think it would be quite fun to raise some of the more aggressive species. Also, though, I think it would be great to have a mixed aviary, LOL.

On another note, trying to breed the aggressiveness out of them would be changing their purpose, no? I mean that in changing certain "ways" of the bird would mean altering the behavior that it uses to survive and proliferate. Of course, on that note, if I were so dead set on not changing nature, I would foster now, would I?

Gosh, I'm my own worst enemy, lol.

[PAUL HEARN]

Hello all,

Thanks for the great replies, but I'm not saying that in order to breed the above mentioned Mannikin Species that you would have to devote an aviary to just one pair of them, it was only a comparison regarding how we would house a pair of White Crested Laughing Thrushes or a pair of Pennant Rosellas.

I'm sure the above Mannikins would breed well under the conditions provided for Exhibition Zebra and Bengalese Finches, Canaries and Budgies etc, after all even certain Waxbills have proven to be willing breeders in cages.

Regarding Ken's comments about reducing the aggressive traits in certain Species I know where he is coming from, Chris and a few others will back me up on the aggressive nature of the Green Singing Finch, they are very attractive Birds, with a very sweet song, perfect,:D no they have the sweet nature of Mike Tyson in the boxing ring when it comes to housing in a mixed aviary with other similar sized Birds!:x

But although the domesticated Canary (which is a decendent of a member of the Wild Serin Family) is generally quite peaceful in a mixed collection, there are cases of particular Canaries becoming a problem under mixed aviary conditions (Laura has personal experience on this subject).

Nikki,

Mixed aviaries are OK providing the Species involved are carefully planned, the area available, nest sites and siutable cover, Bronze Winged Mannikins and Black Cheeked Waxbills in a 6ft long x 3ft wide x 6ft high aviary obviously wouldn't work due to similar size and colour sceme.:roll:
But a pair of Strawberry Finches and a pair of Cordon Bleus should work out fine in an aviary measuring the same as mentioned above and with various nesting sites available.

Paul.;)

[kenny]

hi all
so i did manage to put my point across without confusing myself also,i think it comes under the realms of natural selection,as over the years birds have adapted their feet,bills and even their eating habits to survive so it should be possible to breed the nastiness out of them,as you say chris greenies that are fostered are usually less aggresive.look for instance at the bengalese who knows what they were like before they became the softest,daftest most docile and freindly bird you can keep in a cage,i mean you can tame a budgie from being a nasty pecking little bird into something that talks so why would it not be possible to breed the nastiness out of certain birds

ken

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Ken,

No worries mate, if I understand what you are saying then I'm sure others will catch on.:lol:

Paul.;)