Top Five Ways for Breeding Finches

Anyone that has finches for pets will eventually consider breeding their birds. The delight you get from your pets makes you want to see your birds have little ones, and watch them grow.

To begin breeding finches you need to get your birds a nest. Some people provide store-bought nests for their pets, some people construct the nests for them, and some people will provide the animals with the materials to build their own nests. Do not be upset if your birds do not like the first nest you give them, this is absolutely normal. Just remove the one they did not like and try another one. Continue to replace them until the birds accept one, and after that you will always know which nest to provide for your breeding finch.

Zebra finch breeders often provide their birds with wicker basket nests that are full of material to encourage their breeders. When these animals breed in the wild they will look for a place where they can hide completely, and this makes them feel safe. If you give them the ability to feel safe this will encourage breeding.

If your pets are not breeding you can try buying a heater from the pet supply, like they place in reptile cages; the heater will make the animals feel better and be healthier. Healthy birds are more likely to breed than sick ones.

You can try providing your animals with plenty of material to put in their nest. Sisal fiber is an excellent choice in materials as the finches breeders who do this on a regular basis will tell you.

One of the best things you can do for your pets is to make their environment as close to the natural environment they would have been in. They need to feel safe and secure, and they need to have what they consider a good food supply. This is not hard to accomplish, you can keep the feeder full for the animals, and plants make them feel like they have places to hide from danger. Buy fake plants for this purpose, or you can try providing them with cover by placing a blanket on the sides of their cage.

If you have children in your home, do not let them bump the cage a lot, or poke their fingers or other objects through the bars. If the birds are frequently disrupted by their cage being jarred around, then they will not feel safe and secure.

When you notice the male fussing with the nest, and then doing their mating song and dance, you should notice an egg in the nest in the next couple of days. The female may not begin to sit on the egg until she has laid 8 eggs. This is called a clutch of eggs, and she can only lay one per day. After they begin to sit on the eggs you will have hatching in 10 to 18 days. The parents will give the young all the care they need.

How to Give Your Pet Aviary Birds the Right Start for the Breeding Season   Grey African Parrots - Why Are They the Most Liked Among All Parrots   Parrot Sounds a La Einstein   Many Types of Finches Make Good Pets   

The Many Kinds of Finches

There are many kinds of finches to choose from for the first time bird owner. They are easy to keep and do not cost a lot of money as the larger birds do. Because of their size they also make great pets for the older person who loves birds and would like some companionship.

There are many varieties of finches and one particular family is known as the Lawrence Goldfinch. This is a very hardy type of finch is abundant where there is food or seed and water available. The Lawrence Goldfinch spends its summers in California and spends its winters in the Southwest. This bird does not have the bright yellow that its cousin the American Goldfinch has. Like many other kinds of finches, the Lawrence Goldfinch lives mainly in fields searching for seeds.

The Brown-Capped Rosy Finch makes the mountains of Colorado their home as well as parts of Mexico. This little bird is a brown color all over with the exception of a black section on the forehead and a pink color on the belly and wings. This hardy bird does not leave during the cold weather and can live in temperatures that are below zero. The cold weather can make it near impossible to find food. When food becomes scarce the birds will go lower in the mountains and forage for food. They are quite good at finding seed and parts of plants even in the snow.

The Red Crossbill is a medium size finch. This bird lives almost everywhere in the United States as well as Canada. This type of finch also breeds in the winter, which is considered unusual and not all finch varieties do this. They live on conifer seeds and actually have odd shaped beaks that allow them to open the seeds and get the food.

As you can see various kinds of finches live in different parts of the world and not are all house birds. In addition, there are many breeds that make excellent pets such as the Zebra Finch. These little birds make excellent pets for the bird owner who is new to loving birds. These types of finches also add a great liveliness to a house that needs to add some activity to it. These types of finches are also excellent for those bird lovers who do not have much experience in bird care.

As all kinds of finches are lively it is advisable for the new bird owner to invest in a bird net. If you are not going to have your pet finch out regularly it is best to be ready for the time when one does get lose. They are just as tricky with their flying outside of the cage as they are on the inside. The amazing thing is they can make their owner look pretty funny running in circles.

For the kinds of finches there are bird lovers who will have their favorite kind. Finches are just as varied as the people who love to be entertained by them.

How to Give Your Pet Aviary Birds the Right Start for the Breeding Season   Room for Flight Equals a Happy Finch   Gouldian Finches Are Spectacular!   What Is a Chicken Run and Coop? Build Your Own If You Are Planning On Keeping Chickens at Home   

How Well Do You Know Your Gouldian Bird Finches?

Gouldian finches are considered to be endangered species in the wild of Northern region of Australia. They are actually one of the most beautiful kind of birds in the world because of their vivid colors and just like many other finches, gouldians also have that pleasant and soft chirp.

Gouldian finches are not for those who are first timers when it comes to taking care of birds. They are more difficult to care of and to breed. They may not like it when you pet them or hold them as well.

The three varieties of Gouldian Finches are the black-headed ones (Poephila gouldiae), the red-headed ones (Poephila mirabilis) and the yellow-headed ones (Poephila armitiana); they all have natural vivid colors that almost seem unnatural.

The male gouldian finch has a brighter and darker purple color on its chest, while the yellow shade on their belly are darker when compared to the females. The green color on their back and the light blue color on their face are also a little bit darker. More often the face masks of the male gouldian finches are larger and clearer. The male ones also sing beautifully while hopping from one perch to the other. Singing usually begins long before they have completed their molt into adult colors.

The female gouldian finch has a more subdued color on its chest, belly and at the back of its beak, which will turn from a pearly white color to a black color when she is ready for breeding.

Because Gouldian finches came from a tropical climate, they can acclimatize themselves to cooler climates which make them readily available for breeding.

Gouldian finches need special treatment if they are in colder places like Europe and Canada.

Gouldian finches don't have a "down" that other Australian finches have at the bottom of their feathers, which actually what keeps them warm. Cold winds are one of the worst enemies of gouldians; they cannot stand the cold winds for very long.

Gouldian finches prefer large white millets. They are also timid in trying on new food, but would likely have egg food, greens and soaked or sprouted millets. To satisfy their need for calcium, grit, a crushed egg-shell or an oyster shell together with cuttlebone must always be available for them. They also need enough iodine in their diet. Lack of iodine often results to balding around their heads that it is better to give them vitamin and mineral supplements with iodine or you can supplement in their water. You can buy potassium iodine in several health food stores.

Gouldian finches like any other finches, need a huge flying space. It is recommended that a minimum of 20 inches flying space must be available. Brass cage is not recommended because it may have some toxic materials present that may be quite dangerous for the finches. Take note that gouldians easily get stressed with the frequent movement of their cage that can weaken their resistance to diseases.

Gouldians should also be kept at a temperature of about 70 degrees or more Fahrenheit and with a humidity level of 50 percent or above. Actually some experts recommend using humidifier or perhaps moisture which is being released by large potted plants to help keep the humidity level.

Natural sunlight and shade is also needed by gouldians. But if natural light is not possible, you can at least give a full color spectrum artificial lighting that comes with a timer.

How to Give Your Pet Aviary Birds the Right Start for the Breeding Season   Room for Flight Equals a Happy Finch   Feeding Your Finches   Various Methods of Poultry Farming and Their Advantages   Parrot Facts for the Young   

Breeding Finches - An Art You Can Learn To Master

Introduction

Breeding finches is an art that anyone can learn to master over time. Breeding finches will require the proper environment to be successful. You should know that breeding season for most finch species begins in early spring. Some species prefer a cage-placed breeding box, while others enjoy the wider spaces of an indoor or outdoor aviary.

The Basics

The best time to start breeding your finches is when they are about 8 months old. Particular finch species employ nesting arrangements unique to them. Therefore, it's critical to acquire breeding knowledge specific to the species you plan to breed.

Use the information you gather on finch reproduction to optimize your set-up. For instance, unlike other varieties, breeding Zebra Finches is somewhat less involving because they are casual breeders. Their nesting requirements will be more relaxed than that of Gouldian finches.

Before you take money out of your pocket to buy a breeding pair, examine the birds. First, check out the condition of the feathers. You'll want to start out with finches that have vibrant plumage with a healthy sheen. Always purchase breeding finches from a reputable aviary or dealer. A successful breeding program always starts with healthy birds.

Finch breeding is a hands-off endeavor. The temptation is to anxiously hover near the breeding cage. But this will make the expectant couple nervous. Worse yet, the pair might toss fledglings out of the nest because the parents feel unsafe. Give your breeding finches their space to hatch and raise their babies.

The Process

Wild finches inhabit dry regions. Breeding activity in the wild is often curtailed due to a limited food supply. Pet finches have the advantage of consuming wholesome and abundant food, a prerequisite for raising a healthy brood of fledglings.

Encourage your pet finches to breed by keeping your birds warm and well nourished. This will create optimum conditions for eliciting breeding behavior.

Offer your pets a mixed blend of grass, millet, and canary seeds. Supply daily fresh water. Place food such as spinach, chickweed, and lettuce in a separate feeding bowl.

Optimum cage conditions will encourage your finches to breed throughout the year. All finches molt in the summer. This is a good time to give your pets a break from breeding by removing nesting boxes.

When breeding finches, you'll want to maintain two cages. Set up one for regular housing and a second as a breeding cage with a nesting box. And only one pair per breeding cage please! Multiple couples will most likely squabble. It's also vital that the breeding cage is large enough to comfortably maintain a pair.

Breeding finches' dietary habits are different from that of non-breeding finches. Provide breeding pairs with live food such as insects or meal worms. Make sure there is a good supply of fresh seeds on-hand. Natural foods seem to encourage better breeding results. And then there is the dietary requirements of the youngsters, which ideally should be 100% live food.

Supplying the proper nesting material is critical for breeding success. After the clutch is complete, mom will tend the nest. Dad will pull nest sitting duty to provide her with breaks for food and exercise. Eggs hatch between 12 to 18 days after laying.

Helpful Tips

It's important to remember that when finches are molting they are under stress. This is not a good time to make changes, such as introducing a new mate.

Aggressive finch breeds relish taking over the nests of less aggressive species. Society and Zebra finches are notorious nest thieves. Keep mating pairs in segregated cages to avoid altercations. In larger aviaries, separate aggressive finches from their more timid cousins.

Nesting pairs will abandon chicks if they sense the nest location is exposed to danger. Examples of disruptive conditions include noise and unfavorable temperatures. Insure that your pets have an undisturbed environment.

Conclusion

Finch breeding is relatively easy to do. Just take the time to learn the basics, paying special attention to researching the breeding differences between species.

A common sense best method to maximize a successful outcome is to try and copy mother- nature. Provide your birds with the resources they would have in the wild and let instinct take over.

How to Give Your Pet Aviary Birds the Right Start for the Breeding Season   Room for Flight Equals a Happy Finch   Guidelines for Housing Your Spice Finches   Flight Cages For Finches   

An Introduction to Society Finches

Society finches as they are known in the United States, otherwise known as Bengalese finches in most of the rest of the world, are medium sized birds measuring nearly five inches beak to tail. Society finches are the domesticated form of the White-backed Munia. Most experts agree that Society finches were first bred in China and then were imported to Japan where selective breeding developed many color variations of this finch. The version of Society finch most available today was selectively bred in the 1930's.

Three basic colorations dominate; the brown, yellow and white mottled varieties where mottled refers to blotches of white coloration. Within basic coloration, the shades and intensity of color varies widely. Mostly they have dark eyes but some are true albinos with pink eyes. The albinos are subject to developing eye problems which is preventable by feeding supplements that are high in carotene like green leafy vegetables.

Society finches are domesticated birds with no natural habitat. They are happy in cages or aviaries and, unlike most breeds of finches, will breed in a cage. This may be because during the breeding season they are even more sociable than usual and like crowded spaces. All females will lay their eggs in the same nest which tends to interfere with incubation. It is, therefore, advised that breeding pairs be kept in separate cages.

Because, true to their name, Society finches are most social, they should never be kept alone. But, except for mating, they should be segregated into gender groups to prevent unplanned breeding.

They are not picky eaters. They will be most happy with seed blends supplemented with vitamin and mineral pellets. In addition, you may supplement their diet with millet, greens, and crumbled hard-boiled eggs. A cuttlebone and egg shells help provided calcium.

When breeding Society Finches, they should be transferred to a brooding cage as a mating pair. They will build their nests using coconut fiber and dried grasses if available in enclosed or semi-open besting boxes. Society finches will return to their eggs immediately after a nest check. You will see hatchlings after sixteen days of incubation. The young require a diet supplemented with chickweed, green seeds and eggs.

Young birds must be separated from their parents as soon as they begin feeding on their own. If you don't separate them they will continue to sleep in their old nests which, in turn, disrupts the next brood.

Society finches are not easily identified by gender. Males and females look identical. The one main distinguishing factor is behavior. Males engage in a hopping ritual which appears to be a mating ritual dance while females do not do this. Careful observation is needed to decide which is which if the birds are not housed separately by gender.

How to Give Your Pet Aviary Birds the Right Start for the Breeding Season   Room for Flight Equals a Happy Finch   What Is a Chicken Run and Coop? Build Your Own If You Are Planning On Keeping Chickens at Home   Grey African Parrots - Why Are They the Most Liked Among All Parrots   Parrot Sounds a La Einstein   Many Types of Finches Make Good Pets   

Finches Are Wonderful Pets

Why do people love having finches as pets? What makes them unique? A few of the reasons could be how beautiful they are to look at and how entertaining they are to watch. They are also very easy to keep and look after, which is a great benefit. It is however important to know how.

Nowadays many of us have busy lives, we generally don't want a pet that takes up hours of our time; time we may not have. That's why these happy energetic little birds are perfect because as long as they have enough food and water they will be happy and content to fly around their cage entertaining themselves.

For those who don't have a busy life and have the time having finches as pets is also great because of their energy and personality traits. Some breeds of finches are quieter than others but when they do sing it's always pleasant to listen to.

Finches are generally independent and don't always bond with people, although it is possible with some species overtime. The benefit of this is that they won't feel lonely if left for certain periods of time. This is one of the reasons for their popularity, especially amongst people who want to own a pet that will be fine without them always being there.

The main thing about having finches as pets is maintaining their living environment, whether it is a cage or aviary. Changing their water and leaving enough food for them, changing any accessories to different places in the cage to give them variety, and cleaning out the bottom of the cage to keep their home healthy and keep them happy.

As long as you remember the main things; food, water, cage cleaning, and also trimming your finches nails, you shouldn't have too any problems. Other things can be learned along the way, there are resources in the form of ebooks, web searches and pet stores.

Although finches are independent pets they are very sociable within their own groups so it would be a good idea to get two or more. A male and female will probably breed more frequently so it is recommended that you keep only females. Some experts on finches recommend groups of six or more.

Finches come in a wide variety; such as the Zebra Finch, the Gouldian Finch and the Society, or Bengalese, Finch. They are all beautiful to look at and energetic with their own personalities, yet some species share certain common behaviour traits.

For example, some finches are more aggressive while others are more timid, some are louder while others are quieter. In the end it is up to you to find a species of finch that suits your personality and will make you happy.

Owning finches as pets will be one of the most rewarding experiences you ever have. They are fun, energetic, hardy, independent, and beautiful to look at. They come in a wide range of colours and patterns, and are a wonderful addition to any bird lover's household.

How to Give Your Pet Aviary Birds the Right Start for the Breeding Season   Room for Flight Equals a Happy Finch   Parrot Facts for the Young   Gouldian Finches Are Spectacular!