About Keeping a Finch

Enclosure

• The first step in keeping finches is choosing the right size of aviary. Finches live their entire lives inside their aviary or cage, so it needs to be large enough for them to fly and work their wing muscles. Also, if you choose a cage, the bars need to be close enough together to keep the bird from getting its head stuck between them. Medium-sized enclosures work well for Zebra, Orange Cheek, Cordon Bleu, Gouldian and Society finches. Larger Java Rice, Spice and Tri-Color Nun finches need a larger space. Waxbills, Weavers and Whydahs must have a large aviary. Putting too many toys and perches in the living area is also a problem, as this severely limits the amount of space the birds have to fly.

Foods

• The primary food for finches is seeds, but seeds are not sufficient to keep a finch healthy. The base of the diet is a good seed mix, but they also need protein. Bugs are a common source of protein, and they do not have to be live. However, live maggots or mealworms are a good option. You can also feed them hard-boiled eggs. Plant foods, like vegetables and fruits, are a great choice, too. Avoid too many dark green foods, because this can steal calcium from the birds. According to Finch Niche, you should not feed your birds onions, rhubarb, spinach, corn, eggplant or asparagus.

Feeding

• Start your birds' day with a good breakfast of fruits, vegetables and protein. Then, once they have started eating, give them their daily amount of seed. You can leave this food in the aviary all day. However, if you are feeding your birds eggs, remove any uneaten eggs after a few hours so that they do not spoil. At the end of the day, remove any uneaten fresh food from the cage. The birds also need continual access to fresh water, both in water bottles to drink from and bowls to bathe in. This water needs to be changed daily.

Setup

• Finches need light in their enclosure. Birds who are not kept in a lit enclosure tend to be cantankerous. Natural or full spectrum light is important, because the UV light it contains is used by the birds to produce vitamin D3. If you cannot find full spectrum lighting, you will need to provide your birds with a supplement containing vitamin D3. The enclosure also needs some sort of substrate to collect bird droppings. Newspaper or craft paper works well and makes cleanup easy. Add a few branches or perches throughout the enclosure so the birds have something to sit on as they explore their new home. Manzanita perches are the easiest to clean and are made from natural wood.

Cleaning

• A sanitary living space is essential to keeping your birds healthy. You need to clean the bottom of the aviary every day. If you are using paper, take off the top layer and dispose of it and the droppings it collected. If you use bedding, rake it each day so the droppings get buried. Clean water bottles and bird baths every day. Each week, clean toys, perches and nesting boxes with soap and water. Rinse carefully before returning them to the enclosure. Clean any glass with a solution of vinegar and water. Remove all substrate and replace it once a week as well.

Signs of Illness

• Illness among finches spreads quickly. You need to recognize signs of illness and treat any sick birds quickly. Fluffed feathers or a "puffy" looking bird is sick. Birds that have a wet underside are also likely ill. Heavy breathing is a sign of respiratory sickness, and this sign is often accompanied by tail bobbing. Finches are active birds, so if a bird becomes suddenly lethargic or abnormally sleepy, it is probably ill. Birds who do not sing or eat should be seen by a vet. Finally, any changes in a bird's droppings can be a sign of illness. If you find an ill bird, isolate it in a small cage, and then get help from an avian vet.