Finch Birds
A Guide to Finch Birds
There are an incredible number of species of finch birds in the world. They come in all kinds of colors and can range in size anywhere from a tiny three inches to a larger eight inches. Finches generally live somewhere between five and ten years. Today, many finches are being kept as pets and many of these are being bred.
Finches are not fussy eaters. They like to eat seeds, which you can get as finch food at the local pet store or you can go to a farm store, buy seed in quantity, and mix your own finch food. One finch only eats around a teaspoon of seed every day so they are known as pretty easy keepers.
You can give your finches supplements if you are worried they might not be getting just the right mixture of seed. They like sprouted seeds for variety along with egg, meal worms, fruit flies and other insects. You might want to give extra food and protein at times when finch birds are breeding, or when they are molting. They molt twice a year.
For variety, try giving your finch or finches a little lettuce, spinach, dandelion greens, and other vegetables and fruits.
Many different birds need grit for digestion and finch birds are no exception. You can get grit at the pet store and keep just a tiny cover filled with grit in your finch’s cage. You will need to give your finch a bath around once a week and more often if molting or during hot weather. Just place a dish of water on the bottom of the cage and your finch will know what to do.
Birds need exercise just like humans so make sure your cage is big enough. It is recommended that a pair have a cage that is no smaller than a foot by a foot and a half. Place the cage at eye level and keep the temperature in the room a consistent 60 to 70 degrees. All birds need perches so your cage should have two or three of these. Make sure your finch birds have plenty of food and water and that you clean their cage often.
Most finches are quite friendly and they like to be social with you, other members of your family and even with other pets. It is not good, however, to keep other birds and finches in the same cage. Many different breeds of birds can be aggressive with them and make your finches miserable. You also don’t want any of the birds getting hurt.
The most important thing with finches is to let them get used to you and their home environment. Some finches can be handled and some cannot. They all will get used to regular cage maintenance. Just remember to always take the extra time to enjoy your finch birds.