Finches are popular pet birds that are relatively easy to care for. With proper housing, nutrition, and care, finches can live 5-10 years in captivity. Here is an overview of the basics of finch care and maintenance:
Housing
Finches should be kept in a cage large enough to allow them to fly short distances. A good rule of thumb is to provide at least 1.5 cubic feet of space per finch. The bar spacing on the cage should be less than 1/2 inch to prevent escapes. Place the cage in a warm, draft-free area away from direct sunlight and noisy appliances. Finches are social and do best housed in pairs or groups.
Ideal cage furnishings include:
- Perches of varying widths and textures
- Dishes for food and water
- Nesting box or nesting material if breeding
- Toys like ladders, bells, and mirrors
The cage bottom should be lined with bird-safe litter or paper to absorb droppings. Replace soiled litter frequently to prevent disease. Thoroughly wash the cage and accessories weekly with soap and water. Disinfect more frequently if disease is suspected.
Nutrition
A balanced finch diet consists of:
- High quality seed mix made for finches. Provide 1-2 tablespoons per finch daily.
- Pellets formulated for small songbirds. Gradually transition from seed to pellets for improved nutrition.
- Chopped dark leafy greens like spinach and kale provided daily.
- Fortified finch egg food 2-3 times per week for breeding birds.
- Treats like millet spray offered 2-3 times per week.
- Cuttlebone, mineral block, and grit should be available at all times.
- Fresh water changed daily.
Avoid feeding birds avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, or spoiled foods as these can cause serious health issues. Wash food and water containers daily to prevent harmful bacteria growth.
Grooming and Hygiene
Finches are meticulous groomers and will keep their plumage clean and neat. Provide a birdbath for occasional bathing opportunities. Trim overgrown toenails as needed, being careful not to clip the blood vein inside the nail. See an avian vet for safe nail trimming techniques. Check around the eyes, nares, and vent for any signs of discharge, swelling, or feather loss, which could indicate illness.
Social and Environmental Enrichment
In addition to a roomy cage, finches should be allowed out-of-cage time for exercise and interaction. Supervise their free flight in a closed, bird-proofed room. Rotate new toys into the cage weekly to prevent boredom. social finches enjoy companionship, so house them together or provide daily interaction with humans. Place the cage in a quiet, family-centered room. Avoid drafty areas, direct sunlight, kitchen fumes, and other hazards.
Provide nesting materials like grasses and cotton fibers to pair-housed finches when breeding is desired. Remove the nest once chicks have fledged. Allow the hen to rest between clutches, only breeding 2-3 times annually. Separate male and females when not breeding to prevent excessive egg laying, which depletes the hen’s calcium reserves.
Common Health Issues
Finches are hardy birds but are susceptible to the following conditions:
- Overgrown beaks and nails: Trim beaks and nails regularly to prevent issues.
- Obesity: Limit high fat seeds and treats and encourage exercise.
- Respiratory infections: Keep environment clean and reduce drafts and fumes.
- Parasites: Treat cage and bird with parasite-killing products.
- Diarrhea: Usually dietary related. Have vet test droppings.
- Egg binding: Provide calcium sources. See vet if hen strains to pass eggs.
- Conjunctivitis: Veterinary antibiotics usually clear eye infections.
Schedule annual check-ups to monitor for issues. Isolate and treat any sick birds promptly to prevent contagion. Quarantine new birds for 30-45 days before adding to the flock. Practice good hygiene when caring for multiple cages to avoid spreading illness.
Handling and Taming
Finches are active, flighty birds. Taming takes time and patience. Begin by handfeeding treats through cage bars. Once finches associate hands with rewards, start reaching into the cage to offer treats resting on your finger or palm. Gradually work up to light touching of finches while feeding.
With slow acclimation, some finches may eventually hop on a finger or shoulder. Always work at the bird’s comfort level and stop if they appear stressed. Limit handling to just a few minutes at a time. While most finches won’t become cuddly companion birds, they can become finger-tame with time.
Setting Up the Finch Cage
Preparing the right housing is key to finch health. Here are some finch cage tips:
Cage Size
Finches need room to move and fly short distances. Minimum dimensions should be:
- 18” long x 18” wide x 18” high for 2-4 birds
- Larger for multiple finches, up to 3-4 cubic feet of space
Bar Spacing
Narrow bar spacing keeps finches safely contained. Look for cages with less than 1/2″ spacing between bars. Avoid larger gaps that could permit escapes.
Placement
Situate the cage in a warm, draft-free, low traffic area of the home. Keep away from kitchens, windows, and noisy electronics.
Perches
Include 2-3 perches of varying widths, textures, and orientations to exercise feet. Look for natural branch types as well as plastic, cement, and wood dowel perches.
Feeders and Waterers
Use bowls or containers that attach securely to cage sides along with drip-proof water bottles. Multiple food and water stations reduce competition.
Nest Box/Breeding
Supply a nest box measuring 6” x 6” x 6” for breeding pairs. Line with soft nesting materials like dried grasses.
Toys
Finches love toys! Choose from ladders, mirrors, swings, treat balls, and more. Rotate new toys in weekly to prevent boredom.
Following these guidelines when setting up housing will keep captive finches active, secure, and healthy. Be sure to thoroughly clean the cage weekly too.
Finch Diet and Nutrition
Finches require a balanced diet to fuel their high metabolism. Here are some finch nutrition tips:
Seed Mix
A quality finch seed mix should make up 50-60% of diet. Look for mixes with millet, oats, canary grass seed, and a variety of other small seeds.
Pellets
Supplement with pellets formulated for small songbirds. Transition slowly from seed to pellets for nutrition benefits.
Greens
Chopped kale, spinach, lettuce, sprouts and other greens provide vitamins, minerals and fiber. Give fresh daily.
Egg Food
Provide fortified finch egg food 2-3 times weekly for conditioning, molting, and breeding birds.
Treats
Offer millet spray, greens, bits of egg food, leafy greens and veggies as treats a few times weekly.
Grit and Cuttlebone
These items aid digestion and provide minerals like calcium. Keep available at all times.
Water
Give filtered, fresh water daily. Change often and wash bowls to prevent bacteria.
Following these finch diet guidelines will help keep captive birds healthy and well-nourished. Monitor intakes and watch for signs of obesity or malnutrition.
Finch Behaviors and Activities
Observing finch behaviors and enriching their environment provides important mental stimulation. Here are some tips:
Chirping and Singing
Finches use vocalizations to communicate. Listen for changes to catch problems early.
Bathing
Finches love splashing in shallow birdbaths! Provide clean water for bathing several times weekly.
Foraging
Add toys that encourage natural foraging behaviors like shredding, pecking, tossing.
Flying
Supervise free flight time in a closed room for exercise several times per week.
Interacting
Engage finches through mirror toys, clicking sounds, gentle talking.
New Toys
Prevent boredom by rotating new cage accessories, perches, toys weekly.
Treat Challenge Toys
Hide treats in cardboard tubes, boxes, paper and let finches forage for rewards.
Encouraging natural behaviors through enrichment keeps finches active and engaged. React to any observed behavior changes which could indicate illness.
Common Finch Diseases
Even with proper care, finches can still become ill. Here are some frequent finch health issues:
Air Sac Mites
- Microscopic mites inhabiting air sacs
- Symptoms: difficulty breathing, lethargy
- Treat with bird-safe parasiticides
Aspiration Pneumonia
- Inflammation from food/water entering airways
- Symptoms: coughing, wheezing, lethargy
- Antibiotics, supportive care
Bacterial and Fungal Infections
- Opportunistic organisms
- Symptoms: variety depending on type
- Culture and sensitivity testing guides treatment
Diarrhea
- Dietary changes or internal bacterial/protozoal infections
- Symptoms: loose, watery droppings, staining around vent
- Treatment varies depending on underlying cause
Egg Binding
- Difficulty passing an egg
- Symptoms: restlessness, straining, loss of appetite
- May require calcium injections, surgery, or supportive care
Seek prompt veterinary diagnostics and treatment for any bird showing signs of illness. Proper nutrition, sanitation, and wellness visits reduce disease risk. Quarantine new arrivals before introducing them to a finch flock.
Breeding Finches
Breeding finches can be rewarding but requires preparation. Here are some tips:
Pair Selection
Choose healthy, energetic finches free of genetic issues. Avoid closely related birds like siblings. Select both breeds/species that are compatible.
Conditioning
Improve breeding success by feeding high protein foods and supplements 2-4 weeks before pairing up birds. Gradually increase daylight hours.
Nesting
Provide suitable nesting materials. The pair will construct a domed nest often within 2 weeks of pairing. The hen typically lays 4-6 eggs.
Incubation
The hen incubates the eggs for 12-16 days. The cock often feeds her during this time. Eggs should be handled carefully to avoid disturbing the embryos. Avoid rearranging the nest.
Hatching
Newly hatched finches have sparse down. Both parents will feed regurgitated “crop milk” to the demanding chicks. Nestlings fledge at 14-21 days old.
Fledging
Leave fledglings in the care of their parents if possible. Supplement feed parents high protein foods while rearing chicks. Once weaned, separate young from parents.
Breeding stimulates natural behaviors but requires close management. Allow the hen time to rest between clutches to maintain health. Remove nest box after young are weaned.
Taming and Training Finches
Finches are active, flighty birds but can become finger tame with time and training. Here are some tips:
Start Young
Begin handling and handfeeding chicks when just a few days old. This acclimates them to humans.
Positive Reinforcement
Use rewards like millet or bits of egg to encourage interaction and build trust.
Frequent Short Sessions
Work in 5-10 minute sessions multiple times daily to habituate finches without stressing them.
Target Training
Use a chopstick or stick with a bead on the end to train finches to land on cue. Reward each success.
Clipping Wings
Clipping flight feathers of one wing once finches are finger tame improves control. Caution: impairs flight.
Clicker Training
Some finches can learn simple tricks like turning or hopping on cue using clicker training.
Taming finches takes weeks to months of dedication, but creates enjoyable human-bird bonds. Always work at the bird’s comfort level.
Signs of a Healthy Finch
Recognizing signs of finch health allows early detection of problems. Here are tips:
Appearance
Healthy finches have:
- Smooth, well-groomed feathers
- Bright, clear eyes
- Dry nares and vent
Behavior
Healthy finches are:
- Active and alert
- Feeding and drinking normally
- Singing, chirping and responding to stimuli
Droppings
The droppings of healthy birds are:
- Firm
- Brown or green with white urates
- Normal quantity
Weight
Weigh finches weekly. Healthy birds maintain a stable weight over time.
Routine wellness exams, twice annual vet visits, and daily health checks help spot problems early. React quickly to any observed changes signaling illness.
Conclusion
Caring for finches requires proper housing, nutrition, sanitation, enrichment, and health monitoring. Do research before acquiring new birds to ensure you can meet their needs. Work slowly to tame shy finches. Quarantine newcomers. Watch closely for signs of illness and seek prompt veterinary treatment when required. With good care, finches can live 5 years or more and provide enjoyable Companionship. Following these finch care guidelines will help ensure a healthy, thriving finch flock.