Finches

What to expect from you Finch!

Finches are popular, hardy birds that are easy to maintain.  They are generally quiet and have a pleasant, melodious song.  Finches do not require the level of attention needed for parrots.

Linebreeding and in-breeding to achieve color or morphologic mutations produce a weaker bird with greater potential for genetic abnormalities.  A color mutation Lady Gouldian finch, for example, with have a reduce life span in comparison to it wild-type sonspecific.

Depending on the climatic conditions and the durability of the species, many finches can be maintained in attractive, outdoor activities planted with non-toxic vegetation.

What do Finches to all day?

Finches are less likely than parrots to develop a bond with family members.  However, they are beautiful and interesting birds to observe.  Because they may consume up to 30% of their body weight a day in food and may collapse from hypoglycemia if they are deprived of food for even short periods, finches spend a great deal of their day eating.  Some of the more exotic finches enjoy live food such as mealworms but have been bred on vegetarian diets.

While Finches may be small in size, some species are territorial in aviary situations and others have well developed pecking orders.  Self-mutilation, poor body conditions and increased susceptibility to disease may be indirect results of aggression in birds that are psychologically stressed because of their low social position.

There is a tendency to provide housing for finches that is narrow and tall in design, but this restricts the birds’ horizontal flying patterns.  The finches tend to gather at the same level in the enclosure leading to overcrowded conditions and secondary aggression among the birds.

Are Finches Tame?

Finches prefer the company of other finches.  They are considered “skittish” and will usually fly away when approached.  Some can be finger-trained individually.  If capture of a finch is necessary, one useful approach is to remove all perches and turn off the lights before reaching into the enclosure.

How to keep your Finch healthy, happy and safe!

·      Allow full flight in a well protected enclosure

·      Include vegetation or visual barriers in the enclosure to provide less dominant birds with an escape area and privacy

·      Avoid introducing new birds into established collections

·      Clip the wings or remove particularly aggressive individuals

·      Feed a fresh, high quality, toxin-free diet formulated specifically for finches

·      Do not over-supplement the diet with vitamins and minerals

·      Provide clean, fresh, uncontaminated water daily

·      Provide ultra-violet (UV) light in indoor enclosures

Housing for your Finch should:

·      Be as large (wide) as possible

·      Be clean, secure, safe and easy to service

·      Be constructed of durable, non-toxic materials

·      Be constructed of fine gauge wire in an outdoor aviary to prevent access by snakes

·      Contain multiple perches made of clean, non-toxic, pesticide-free tree branches

·      Provide multiple feeding locations and nesting sites

·      Avoid having perches located directly over food containers

·      Contain small squares of burlap or coconut fiber as safe nesting materials

·      Exclude accessibility of free ranging birds to aviaries

It is important to prevent access to:

·      Sandpaper-covered perches

·      Tobacco and cigarette smoke

·      Chocolate, avocado, salt, alcohol

·      Toxic plants

·      Pesticides

·      Toxic fumes

·      Dogs, cats, and young children

·      Cedar, redwood and pressure-treated wood cage substrates

·      Sources of lead or zinc

·      Fine thread in nest boxes

·      Ceiling fans

·      Hot cooking oil

·      Overheated nonstick-coated items