Do loons live singly or in groups?

Pet finches that can live alone?

• I have quite a few pets, including 2 parakeets, who I devote many hours to every week. They are the little noise-makers of the house and they sing so beautifully and cheerfully, I'd get more than 2 but of course they ONLY sing and act comfortable in their small cage. I had a large breeding cage for them to live in, but they were mostly silent the 3 months they were in it. Literally the day I moved them into their smaller cage, they sang so loudly and happily. So I have this small canary-size cage and the huge cage left over. I'd like zebra finches, but are there any other relatively friendly/tameable finches I may buy? I'd also like to know if there are any species of finches that can live singly in cages, not in pairs or groups. I'd put that bird cage next to the budgie cage to keep them company, as I prefer single birds to keep them friendly toward me (the 2nd budgie was a rescue and I wasn't going to get a 2nd one, but she's lovely and the male loves me more than her so it's alright). So the budgies would be able to sing and keep the bird company while I'm away and when I'm back I'll be spending most of the time around the cages in my room. ...Or would the finch hate to be next to the budgies and should I keep it in a separate room? Also... if I don't get finches, I'll probably buy a canary and keep him in the little cage! Are there any other finches that would be lovely little singers in the big cage? It's about 3 feet long, 1 1/2 feet tall, and the width is around 2 feet. I do really love the noise because it keeps me company, along with my dog, cats, and fish. Do you have finches? What species are they and do they sing a lot? Do I make any sense? (hehe) I have a lot of questions, but I've never learned anything about finches before this! Thank you!!!

• Answer:

  I have zebra finches. I'm not breeding right now and keep separate bachelor & bachelor-ette cages. I just enjoy their sound and watching them. Society finches are another species that do well in a cage setting, even if mixed w zebra finches. It's best for the finches to have a minimum of 2 living together, preferably the same sex. Males are the ones that make most of the cute noise & you don't have to deal w hens laying unfertilized eggs. Any finch(s) would not stress being in the same room w budgies but never, ever in the same cage. The finches won't think of the budgies as their "company" however and really should be kept at least in 2's. Their instinctive nature is to feel safer in the company of others of their kind---that has not & cannot be bred out of them in captivity. This site can help: http://www.finchaviary.com/Maintenance/FinchFAQ.htm I've never kept canaries but they don't need to live with other canaries except at breeding time. Only the males sing. http://www.pittwateranimalhospital.com.au/canaries.html