Finches are small songbirds that are popular as pets and enjoyed for their beautiful plumage and charming chirps. While finches are often thought of as peaceful flock birds, they can and do get into fights, especially during the breeding season.
Reasons Finches Fight
There are several main reasons finches may fight with each other:
- Establishing dominance – Finches have social hierarchies, usually with a dominant male at the top. Fighting helps establish pecking order and roles within the flock.
- Competition for mates – Male finches often fight over females during mating season. This fighting determines who gets to mate with desired females.
- Defending territory and nests – Finches are highly territorial, especially when it comes to nesting areas. Fighting breaks out when defending nesting sites.
- Access to resources – Finches will fight over things like food, water, and nesting material when these resources are limited.
- Introducing new finches – Existing flocks may fight with new finches being introduced until the pecking order is re-established.
In the wild, this type of finch fighting helps maintain natural social structures. In captivity, it is often a result of things like overcrowding, mating issues, or adding new birds improperly.
Normal vs. Excessive Fighting
It is perfectly normal for finches to engage in minor fighting from time to time. Things like chasing, pecking, and bickering over mates and nests are expected finch behaviors.
However, frequent or sustained vicious fighting is not normal. Bloody injuries, ripped out feathers, and bullying indicate serious aggression issues. Excessive fighting can be caused by:
- Stress
- Illness/disease
- Overcrowding
- Poor diet
- Inadequate housing
- Introducing new finches incorrectly
If your finches start seriously fighting, it’s important to figure out and address the underlying cause to protect their health and well-being.
Preventing Finch Fighting
You can discourage finch fighting by providing proper care, including:
- Adequate cage/aviary size
- Proper perch placement
- Multiple food and water stations
- Sufficient nesting sites/materials
- A variety of toys
- A nutritious diet
- Regular cleaning
- Slow introductions of new finches
A roomy, enriched habitat with abundant resources helps minimize conflict and promote flock harmony. Separating overly aggressive finches may also be necessary.
Stopping a Finch Fight Safely
If finches do start seriously fighting, you need to intervene right away. Here’s how to stop a finch fight safely:
- Make loud noise – Clap hands, bang pots, etc. to startle and distract them.
- Gently spray with water – A light mist of water often stops bird fights.
- Use a hand towel – Gently toss a small towel over squabbling finches to separate them.
- Block their vision – Cover cage with dark cloth for several minutes so they calm down.
- Remove aggressor – Put overly aggressive finch in “time out” in separate cage until it settles.
Avoid reaching directly into the cage during a fight, as finches may bite. Never grab finches by body, as this can injure them. Handle only as last resort using nets/gloves.
Signs of Injury After a Fight
Check both finches carefully after a serious fight for these signs of injury:
- Feather loss/damage
- Beak or feet injuries
- Bleeding from wounds
- Limping/trouble perching
- Disinterest in food/water
- Sitting fluffed up
- Isolation from flock
Separate and monitor injured finches. Call an avian vet if wounds are severe or finch stops eating, drinking, or seems in pain.
Preventing Future Fights
After breaking up a fight, take steps to prevent future fighting, such as:
- Examining habitat for issues promoting aggression
- Reducing flock density if overcrowded
- Resetting cage to provide multiple resources
- Slowly re-introducing finches that fought
- Continuing close monitoring of flock
- Separating extremely aggressive finches if needed
Stopping normal finch squabbles is usually just a matter of distraction. But recurring, excessive fighting requires identifying and addressing the underlying cause.
When to Seek Help for Finch Fighting
Consult an avian veterinarian or animal behaviorist if finch fighting involves:
- Constant attacks or chasing
- Vicious pecking/clawing/wing-beating
- Serious injuries like deep wounds
- Ongoing disrupted flock harmony
- A lone aggressor disrupting whole flock
- No improvement despite habitat changes
Professional guidance can help identify factors causing severe finch aggression issues. Medication or housing changes may be needed in extreme cases.
Conclusion
Minor bickering and jostling for position is perfectly natural finch behavior. But frequent, intense fighting that leads to injuries is abnormal and may indicate issues with the finch habitat, flock structure, or overall health. Address underlying problems to restore flock peace. Seek help from an expert if aggression persists despite your best efforts at improvement.