For instance, when you go away from home, you need to arrange care of the birds in your absence. Do you know of someone who is capable of caring for the birds whilst you are away? If you travel as part of your job and are regularly away, ask yourself if it’s fair to leave such sociable birds alone and without your company for long periods of time. Ensure you have a safe environment for your bird. You need to consider practical matters, such as whether you are a smoker. Also consider if you like to burn scented candles in the house. Finches are very sensitive to atmospheric pollutants. Cigarette smoke in particular is an absolute no-no when you keep birds. The odors from scented candles gets onto the birds’ feathers, which they can find distressing. This results in frantic grooming activity to get rid of the smell. Consider if you or your family have any health issues. People with suppressed immune systems are at risk for picking up infections easily. These include the very young or old, people on chemotherapy or those with health conditions which suppress the immune system. Some birds carry diseases such as salmonella or chlamydia. Although the birds themselves are not ill, they could pose a possible risk to vulnerable people. [1] X Research source Ultimate Encyclopaedia of Caged and Aviary Birds. David Alderton
Canary cages or other larger holed cages are unsuitable for keeping finches. Visit your local pet store to find the proper cage. Aim for a cage that is long rather than tall (like a parrot cage), since zebra finches prefer to fly horizontally.
Have perches of different diameters. The finch will need to use different leg muscles to stand on a smaller perch than on a larger perch. Don’t have too many perches in the cage. You don’t want your finch to hop so much from perch to perch that it never flies in the cage. [2] X Research source Some types of perches include: branches, rope, plastic perches, natural plants, artificial plants, and clothesline perches.
Sandpaper should not feature in a bird’s cage as it damages the bird’s feet. Don’t use corn cobs, walnut shells, kitty litter or cedar shavings. These can be dangerous if the bird ingests them. [3] X Research source
If you have one finch, try a mirror so the bird thinks it has company. But if you already have 2 or more birds, a male bird might think it’s looking at another male and be threatened.
One clue to good health is to examine the droppings in the cage. Healthy droppings have white and brown parts, and they are semi-formed. Any droppings that are completely liquid, yellow, or green are abnormal. Avoid buying birds in that cage. [5] X Research source Ultimate Encyclopaedia of Caged and Aviary Birds. David Alderton
They also tend to be fluffed up and sit resting on a perch or at the bottom of the cage. These birds are likely to be sick and are best avoided. [6] X Research source Ultimate Encyclopaedia of Caged and Aviary Birds. David Alderton
Young birds are mostly gray in coloring, with black beaks. They will achieve their adult coloration when they are about 90 days old. Pairs of males or pairs of females can form very close bonds, and can be very happy together.
If you may want a small colony of birds, make sure they have enough flight space. They should not be crowded. You will need multiple cages, you can set up an outdoor aviary.
Seeds should be considered a treat item. Do not give your finch seeds as their main source of food.
Remove any untouched perishable food daily. Avoid avocado because it is toxic to finches.
This will train the finches to drink from different types of water sources. This is important in case you give your birds to someone else. If the new owner doesn’t use the same type of water dispenser that you used, the bird may not know how to drink. It can easily become dehydrated in this case. Change the water every day to ensure that it is clean and fresh.
An alternative is a large outdoor aviary in a sheltered spot, where the birds can fly free. Make sure the birds have boxes and sheltered areas where they can roost and sleep at night. Also, make sure that they are not exposed to direct rain or harsh winds. If you live in a harsh climate, an indoor cage might be the better option. [12] X Research source The easy approach to Finch Care. Jennie Samuel.
Signs of ill health include being withdrawn, being fluffed up, resting more than usual, breathing more rapidly, tail bobbing, loss of voice, weight loss, liquid droppings, and lack of appetite. [13] X Research source Ultimate Encyclopaedia of Caged and Aviary Birds. David Alderton
If you have the space to keep several birds, its fine to keep more hens than cocks. But if you are using indoor cages, then one pair of finches (one of either sex) in the same cage works best. [14] X Research source Zebra finches. Hans-Jurgen. A happy male zebra finch uses a special song to woo the female, and will “bounce” on the perch to impress her.
Zebra finches like an enclosed nest box with a single entrance hole. Zebra finches prefer wicker nest boxes. These types of nests are not great for disinfecting afterwards, however. If you opt for wicker, consider it as a single-use box. Throw it out after each clutch of eggs and replace it with a new one. [16] X Research source Zebra finches. Hans-Jurgen. Check out your local pet store for suitable nests. The nest box should contain a substrate that is warm and comfortable. Dried grass (hay) works well. Use caution with man-made substrates made of cotton (such as those sold for hamster bedding). These contain fibers which could get tangled around your birds’ legs or necks.
The female bird starts to incubate the eggs as soon as they are laid, but both birds will take turns in keeping the eggs warm. The eggs will hatch after about 2 weeks.
It is impossible to distinguish new eggs from the infertile ones, so it’s important to keep them separate. Separate the mating pair between clutches. Make sure to give your birds a rest before the breed again.
After 6 weeks, they will develop their adult plumage and colors. Most Zebras are very good parents. They won’t need any help from you.
Talk to your local bird store about selling the chicks. The pet store may also allow you to trade the birds for seed and supplies.
These bands should be put on the right leg once the bird is around 8 days old. There are specific bird ringing kits available from specialist avian shops, or you can find them online. [17] X Research source Ultimate Encyclopaedia of Caged and Aviary Birds. David Alderton
