Two pairs in one aviary - Any thoughts?

[WesselG]

Hi everyone

I have 2 pairs of IRN's, a well-established pair that's been together for years and a pair of grey birds of which the female is a new addition.

I'm in the process of finalising a large aviary and is considering housing both pairs in it but has been advised by experienced breeders that this might lead to territorial behaviour and one bird possibly killing another. I would like to know if breeders have managed to let pairs live in peace in the same aviary and how they managed it.

Just a bit of background history: the female of the established pair lays eggs but never hatches them plus she has some plucking and aggression issues so breeding with her is a no-go. Her male is incredibly territorial to the extent that I had to remove my other male (now paired up with the new female) because he was intent on eliminating the intruder...but that was when there was only one female.

Would the addition of a new female alter the dynamics enough for them to live in peace or is it better to simply keep them separated?

 

[crimson]

sounds great in theory, but I would not advise it.

Anytime hens are nesting ALL become highly territorial and will protect their nest, even right down to tiny small finches.

could you divide the aviary down the middle, but still be able to access both sides?
that way all birds are protected and still be housed in one large aviary.

 

[WesselG]

Hi Crimson

Thanks for the reply.

Unfortunately it's not possible to divide it in half and still have access to both sides for food, nest-checks etc.

Plan B at the moment is to keep the female who I don't intend breeding with and her male in their current cage and moving the other pair into the aviary.

The problem with the aviary is that the entire one side is a gate (an old pigeon coop) that opens up and since I'm wheelchair bound I have to send someone in to retrieve any birds that need catching. I'm not sure yet how to circumnavigate that little issue.

 

[crimson]

what about a long net? would that work?

 

[WesselG]

I do have a net but it has a rather short handle but guess I could always replace or extend the handle with a broomstick or something.

 

[MikeyTN]

I'm with Beth on this one to keep the pairs separately as you don't know what they would do. Can you not buy just a stick to try to extend the net???

 

[WesselG]

I could but the problem is the gate to the aviary consist of one entire side opening so if you open the gate you only have 3 enclosed sides.

One other option I have thought of is to put the female I do not want to breed with and her male in the big aviary (less opportunity of opening the gate and birds possibly escaping) and switch the breeding pair into the cage the non-breeders are in now since it's quite spacious yet more manageable for catching out chicks etc.

 

[MikeyTN]

Whatever you feel is easier for you to do really. But its better to have actual breeders in a flight aviary. But that's up to you.

 

[WesselG]

Thanks for all the advice.