social

Caring for Zebra Finches


Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 205 Posts
August 25, 2011

pair of finchesIn my opinion, zebra finches are the most enjoyable birds there are! Now that I no longer have a cat, I hope to get some more! They are very easy to take care of. Best of all, the sounds they make are so soothing to listen to.

Advertisement

The only thing is, like rabbits, if you're not careful you will be over-run with birds before you know it! I started out with a pair, and within just a few months I had 7. Their first clutch hatched 5 healthy babies. I learned to separate the males from the females, and never had that problem again.

As far as caring for them, they do need a large cage. I believe that all birds need a large cage. The larger the better. However, when shopping for one, you need to make sure the wires are close enough together that the birds can't squeeze out between them. A parakeet cage usually works well, as long as the wires are no more than 3/8 inch apart.

The cage needs to be large enough to allow the birds to fly. There should also be a wire grate at the bottom with a tray underneath to put the paper in. This paper should be changed at least weekly or more often as needed. I do not believe in clipping a bird's wings, any bird. If you aren't going to allow them to fly, why have a bird? That's what they were created to do.

Advertisement

Once or twice a week, I would release my birds into a bedroom, and allow them to really fly and stretch their wings. All the windows and any mirrors would be covered to prevent them from trying to fly through them and hurting themselves. I would put their cages in this room with the cage doors open, with food and treats inside. Eventually the birds would all go back into the cages on their own. This usually took several hours, but the birds really enjoyed their time out.

They need to have fresh clean water at all times. It should be in a bottle with a small cup at the bottom. It needs to be small enough so the birds can't sit it in, because they will try to take a bath in it. I bought a bird bath that attached to the front of the cage and let them take baths twice a day.

Advertisement

As for diet, specialized pelleted foods are the best, and should consist of 60-70% of their diet. Fortified seeds can be used but only in moderation as they are higher in fat. Daily, you should give them fresh dark greens, slices of raw apples and oranges, grated carrots and sweet potato. Remove any of these that have not been eaten after 24 hours. DO NOT FEED them avocados, fruit seeds, chocolate, alcohol, or caffeine, as they can create major medical problems for the birds. My birds' favorite treat was spray millet. They loved them! They also need a dish of grit to help with digestion. Also, do not place food or water dishes under the perches, as their droppings will land in them.

Perches of various dimensions should be provided. I went outside to my trees, and cut different size branches off, and used those for perches. Using these natural branches also helped to keep their nails trimmed, too. The variety of branch sizes helps to exercise their feet.

Advertisement

Once a month, the entire cage should be thoroughly washed and dried. A good time to do this is while they are flying around the bedroom.

Do not place the cage directly in front of a window that gets a lot of hot sun, or anywhere that might have a draft. This includes from a fan. Birds are highly susceptible to cold and heat. The cage should not be placed on the floor, but in an area that is well lit. I have kept my cages across the room from north facing windows, so they got lots of light, but not too much. An east or north facing window would be fine, as long as the amount of sun is monitored. If it gets to be too much, pull a curtain closed. Or if it's just a bit too much, a sheer curtain would be enough.

Use a cage cover in winter, it will help to keep the warmth inside the cage. I never used it during the warm months though.

When I first got my birds I bought a book about the care of finches. But there is tons of information online that you can get for free, and print it out and create your own book.

Advertisement

Source: My own 7 zebra finches.

By Cricket from Parkton, NC

Read More Comments

40 Questions

Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.

November 3, 2019

I'm always finding things on the internet telling me to separate my baby zebra finches from their parents when they're old enough. I can't find why, and if I really should do this.

All of my zebra finches right now (25 or so) are family, and haven't ever been separated. They are all in one aviary.

Answers


Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts
November 4, 20190 found this helpful
Best Answer

For breeding purposes one couple should be in a cage. They do better in non-crowded conditions.

 

Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts
November 4, 20191 found this helpful
Best Answer

If you want to start raising Zebra Finches it is necessary to have several cages set up in your home or yard. Once the babies have grown up it is necessary to move them to a new cage.

Advertisement

The rule of thumb is one set of finches per cage so that they can breed. If the cages are too crowded the male and female will not breed.

 
Answer this Question

November 10, 2018

How often will zebra finches lay eggs in captivity without a male? I need them to have eggs for my baby egg-eater snake. How can I encourage egg laying?


Answers


Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts
November 10, 20181 found this helpful
Best Answer

They can lay eggs weekly

 

Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks
November 10, 20183 found this helpful
Best Answer

The best way to encourage regular eggs is to have a mate present, but like with human reproduction, nothing is a given with or without a partner.

Best arrange alternative food sources for your scaly child. There are a lot of snake food websites that sell small quail eggs and other appropriate foods. www.finchinfo.com/.../eggs.php

 
Answer this Question

August 17, 2015

I am new to finch ownership. I bought a large cage which has a deep base with pull out trays and two feeders in the bars and one water feeder in the bars (the ones with a clear cap). I have one female Zebra finch and one male and one female Bengalese finch. Finches in cage

 

The pet shop told me they love to bathe, but I have tried a clip on large bird bath (with clear lid), small terracotta, small stainless steel, and plastic round trays all on the floor to no effect. I even tried putting it onto an upturned small plant pot to raise the height to no avail. All have been filled (2 cm) with warm fresh tap water.

They don't mind being sprayed with warm water from a spray bottle, but as the pet shop said they loved to bathe I was wondering where I am going wrong. Other than that they have settled in really well, and are happy and healthy.

Answers

August 17, 20150 found this helpful

I don't know. Generally they do love to bathe.

All I can think of is that they prefer a shallow, not deep, bath. Try a shallow dish or plate with no more than 1" of water.

 
Read More Answers

October 30, 2017

I wanted to know what time do these birds sleep during the day.


Answers


Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts
October 30, 20171 found this helpful
Best Answer

They sleep when it is dark. If you want them to sleep during the day, draw the shades and cover their cage with a sheet.

 
Answer this Question

December 3, 2019

I have introduced a young female in with my male after my male lost his female friend (they were only friends). My male and the new female seem to get along, but when the go to bed he sleeps on the nest and she sleeps on the ground.

She was an aviary bird, but has taken to cage life just fine as she is young. My question is why does he sleep on the nest and she sleeps on the ground?

Answers


Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts
December 3, 20190 found this helpful
Best Answer

The female was in an aviary for some time and they are use to sleeping on the ground of the cage. This habit will end soon and there is nothing to worry about. Once the two birds start to mate things will change.

 
Answer this Question

October 15, 2018

My male white finch is quiet and fluffy since yesterday. He was fine yesterday morning making noises, but by evening he was quiet and this morning he was fluffy, quiet, and sleepy. He ate boiled egg shell and the white yesterday.

Please advice me what to do.:(

Read More Answers

October 17, 2014

My finch was left for seven days while we were on vacation. We provided enough food and water for her. Now she just sits in her food and poops and doesn't like to sit at the top of her cage anymore. What's wrong with her?

By Marilyn K.

Answers

May 5, 20150 found this helpful

Don't worry about the poop on the food. Birds kinda poop where they want so it's okay. But the "Doesn't want to sit on top of the cage" part - think she/he might be sick or something. This is my theory.

 
May 5, 20150 found this helpful

Sounds like she may be sick.

You don't mean you left her alone for seven days, I hope? It's best to put her in a small cage and let someone take care of her, even if they just give her fresh water every day, fresh food about every other day, and change the paper at least once.

You also need the temperature to be relatively high for finches, as they are natives of places like New Zealand. Did you turn the heat down when you left? Did any of the nights get cold?

Bacteria from poop in the water can grow over a matter of days, causing illness. Wipe the slimy stuff out of the water container every time you change it. When the food is about half shells, not whole seeds, change it.

In case you don't already know, finches need grit to eat as well as food. On warm sunny days give them a bowl of water to bathe in.

 
Answer this Question

January 23, 2019

My finch's one eye is always closed. What is the reason and how can I cure it? Will it automatically cure itself? Please suggest some remedy to me or whether I want to go to a vet clinic.

Read More Answers
<< First< PreviousNext >
Categories
Pets Birds FinchesAugust 22, 2011
Pages
More
👒
Mother's Day Ideas!
🐰
Easter Ideas!
🌻
Gardening
Facebook
Pinterest
YouTube
Instagram
Categories
Better LivingBudget & FinanceBusiness and LegalComputersConsumer AdviceCoronavirusCraftsEducationEntertainmentFood and RecipesHealth & BeautyHolidays and PartiesHome and GardenMake Your OwnOrganizingParentingPetsPhotosTravel and RecreationWeddings
Published by ThriftyFun.
Desktop Page | View Mobile
Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Contact Us
Generated 2024-03-29 04:49:40 in 7 secs. ⛅️️
© 1997-2024 by Cumuli, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
https://www.thriftyfun.com/tf/Pets/Birds/Caring-for-Zebra-Finches.html