The Care and Training of Finches

With countless species and color morphs to choose from, finches are a popular pet bird. Their active, curious natures and ability to get along with other birds make them perfect for small aviaries. They are prolific breeders, and are generally easy to care for. Unlike a parrot or cockatiel which can be trained to speak, step-up, or perform tricks, finches are less hands-on birds, though they can be tamed to tolerate humans.

  1. Housing

    • Finches prefer a long cage rather than a tall one, and they are happiest living as a single pair for a cage or a small group in an aviary. For two finches, a length of 30 inches is the minimum cage-size. Bars of the cage should be no more than a half-inch apart. For multiple finches, consider a walk-in aviary. Finches establish a hierarchy, so they need their own space to avoid bullies. Birdguys.com recommends perches of non-toxic hardwood branches of varying widths which need to be replaced once they become covered in droppings. Perches on separate ends of the cage will encourage flight. If there is not much natural light in the room, the birds' light requirements can be met with a full-spectrum light with a timer.

    Toys

    • Beads, mirrors and other shiny objects may attract finches. Many finches enjoy climbing ladders or swinging on swings. They may also enjoy a shallow water dish for bathing. Finchworld recommends a "bird pacifier," (a bead with strings) which the bird can pluck for nest material or simply to take out his aggressions.

    Feeding

    • A finch's diet should consist of seed, some insects (such as mealworms and crickets) and some fresh foods. Alternatively, a finch pellet can be fed instead of seed. Recommended fresh foods include boiled egg (shell included), bean sprouts, spinach, carrot, broccoli, orange, banana, mango, papaya, and pineapple. Duane Johnson, zebra finch breeder and webmaster of the website Zbirds, recommends providing grit and cuttlebone to finches.

    Breeding

    • Most species of finches reach sexual maturity at about 6 months old. A spacious, clean living environment with plentiful food and fresh water is all that is required to encourage finches to breed. An owner who wishes to breed finches need simply place appropriate nesting material (cotton, dried grass, or twigs) in the birds' enclosure, or hang a basket or nesting box. When a nest is to her liking, the female will lay an egg a day. The birds will not sit on the eggs right away, until the female has laid a "clutch" of three to eight eggs. Then, they will begin sitting and the embryo will start to develop. The incubation period is about fourteen days.

    Taming

    • Generally, finches do not become "tame" and prefer not to be handled. However, if gently handled from a young age, some may learn to eat from a human hand, and may even perch on a finger for a short amount of time.