Caging Birds : Section 2

INCOMPATIBLE BIRDS

In nature there is usually much more space and a much greater choice of various perches, food sources and habitats than we provide for the birds we keep in captivity.

Where the environment is rich and diverse in plants we find that many different species of birds can live to-together.

When birds become overcrowded or confined in a small space (relative to what they experience in nature) many species are found to be incompatible.

Similarly when there is a lot of competition for just a few perches, shelter areas and feeding stations, the number of species of birds that can be kept in health in one aviary will be few.

There can be various signs of incompatibility. Fighting is an obvious one, but high probability of transferring agents of disease is another.

Predatory and prey birds should never be housed together or within sight of each other.

The particular species of birds, the size, shape and construction of the aviary, the number and placement of perches, sight barriers and feeding stations, and the provision of shelter areas affect compatibility.

In general terms the more species in an aviary, the more complex its management and the greater the probability of fighting, stress and infectious disease.

Similarly, the more birds of a given species confined to a cage or aviary, the greater the need for good management, hygiene and sanitation to minimise the increasing risk of disease.

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