Little Beaks

‘Can budgies and weiros live together?’

I see this question all the time in bird groups, with many differing responses.

So what's the answer?

They can, in the right environment.

In a small cage? Don't. But that's really the case for keeping any birds.

They're considered compatible species, which doesn't necessarily mean they'll be besties, but can live in harmony in the same area, dependent on a few factors.

Budgies spend much of their time flying through the aviary in active flocks, constantly moving, exploring, and interacting with one another.

Weiros are often happier resting on higher perches, observing what’s happening.

Rather than constantly interacting, they naturally create some separation.

That’s one of the keys to a successful mixed aviary.

Not forcing birds together, but giving them enough space, resources, and choice that they can move away from each other whenever they want to.

Multiple feeding stations, at different levels, help reduce competition.

Natural branches, shelter, and foliage create different places to rest and explore.

And just as importantly, each species still has access to their own flock: budgies need other budgies, and weiros need other weiros.

The critical thing: there are no breeding boxes/areas. Introduce or enable breeding, and this harmony falls apart... suddenly there's increased aggression and territory protection.

Which is really no fun for anyone 🫠

Feel free to share your own experiences.

video description: on the soily aviary ground some shredded vegies are scattered. Budgies, weiros, kakarikis, and Japanese quail, are foraging and waddling around inspecting the vegies and whatever else is on the ground for them. They're enthusiastic, focused, and somehow perfectly navigating around each other.

People during wet weather:
'Do you bring the birds inside?'
'How do you keep them safe from the rain?'
'Won’t they get sick?'

The finches:
'It’s raining! Let’s go sit in it.'

Despite what many people expect, birds don’t automatically avoid rain.

Light rain can provide opportunities to bathe, preen, and explore a changing environment. Many species will happily spend time out in it before choosing to move to shelter when conditions become less comfortable.

What’s also interesting is that finches rarely do it alone.

As flock animals, they constantly watch and take cues from each other. The flock provides extra eyes looking for danger and helps birds judge when it’s time to stay out, move on, or seek shelter.

Of course, in captivity it’s still our responsibility to provide appropriate shelter and monitor conditions. The birds make choices, but those choices should happen within a safe environment.

The beepers know best 😉

video description: several zebra finches are hanging out together on a hanging branch, with another finch on their own on a branch in front of them (nearer the camera). A couple of finches fly off while others hop around, changing position and looking around. They all appear relaxed and engaged. Drops of rain are falling around them.

‘Do you bring all the birds inside during storms?’

It’s one of the questions we get asked most often whenever Perth gets severe weather, like the past couple of days.

Usually, the answer is no. For one, there's hundreds of birds here. That would be totally chaotic and unnecessarily stressful for them (and likely us 😅).

This surprises a lot of people though, because bringing birds indoors sounds like the safer option.

But for many aviary birds, suddenly being caught, handled, moved into an unfamiliar environment, and removed from their flock and surroundings would often be far more stressful than remaining where they feel secure.

Wild parrots, finches, and doves don’t disappear indoors when storms arrive.

They seek shelter, stay close to their flock, and wait for the weather to pass.

Our aviaries are designed with that in mind.

Before severe weather arrives, we check shelters, secure anything that could move in strong winds, protect food and water, and pay extra attention to birds that are elderly, unwell, disabled, or otherwise vulnerable.

Once the weather arrives, the birds make their own choices. Some retreat into sheltered areas and barely emerge. Others seem completely unbothered and carry on as normal, even chilling under the rain.

One of the things we’ve learned over the years is that birds are often far more weather-hardy than people expect. Given appropriate shelter, good nutrition, and the ability to choose where they feel safest, most cope remarkably well with conditions that look much worse to us than they do to them.

The important thing isn’t keeping birds away from every raindrop or gust of wind.

It’s making sure they have the ability to respond naturally to the weather, alongside the flock and in an environment designed to keep them safe.

Storm days are usually more stressful for the humans than the birds.

While they’re sheltering together, we’re outside checking aviaries, watching the radar, and making sure everyone is okay.

video description: panning across a hanging branch with weiros and budgies perching closely together. The two budgies in the group are head bobbing and beak tapping a bit. The weiros are just looking relaxed.