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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Finches From the Galapagos Island (Darwin's Finches)

Are you interested in taking care of extraordinary type of birds? One of the best options that you may look into is the Galapagos Island Finches. These birds are well-known for their phenomenal adaptations, which they have developed while they are being isolated in the islands far off the coast of Ecuador (1000km away).

Some studies concluded that because of their isolation, they are considered to be extinct. However, wind and sea currents bring in many seeds of plants, grasses and trees and even insects which have created its ecosystem. They also believe that the ancestors of the Galapagos Island finches were brought there by strong winds. Fortunately, these birds managed to survive through its rich ecosystem.

These finches are well-known for its extraordinary adaptations which they have developed as they were isolated in these islands. Many biologists who visited the islands for their study, including Charles Darwin, noticed that these Galapagos finches differ from one species to another. The Darwin's finches, as they are often called, consist of 13 Galapagos species and another from the Coco Island.

The notable features of the finches in Galapagos Island are the sizes and shapes of their beaks. It will take some time and effort in identifying this type of finches because of the variations of their beaks, thus making it important in the study of their evolution. According to studies done in the islands, the finches came from a single ancestor which is the blue-black grass quit finch (volatina jacarina), known to be common in the coast of Pacific Ocean in South America.

The unique beak sizes and shapes of the Galapagos finches, through time, have adapted to the available food sources in the island. Their beak also reflects their feeding specializations. The evolution of these Galapagos finches is somewhat amazing. Some finches have developed strong beaks which make it possible for them to crack hard seeds. Others have fine and long beaks for them to reach insect larvae in tiny holes. You may also find smart Galapagos finches like the woodpecker and mangrove finches which makes use of stick to poke larvae of insects out from dead tree branches and cactus plants. Each finch adaptation has given them advantage and this characteristic did spread throughout their population.

Most finches in Galapagos are brownish or black in color with short-rounded wings, and tails that sometimes appears cocked on one side. The matured male finches of Galapagos turns out to be solid black in color and the matured females have a drab grayish color (except for the vegetarian and tree finches). These tree and vegetarian matured male finches have black heads, necks and upper breasts. While warbler, woodpecker and mangrove finches have an olive color.

Among the thirteen species, six of them are called ground finches. These finches feed on different sizes of seeds and cactus flowers depending on the size and shape of their beaks. When Peter and Rosemary Grant did a study on the Galapagos Islands, they learned that ground finches mostly breed among themselves. They have concluded that the six species of ground finches could actually come from a certain kind, where they evolved to have larger and smaller beaks depending on the availability of seeds during the wet or dry seasons.

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Wild Bird Feeding Systems - What You Can Do To Help Wild Bird Populations

By placing a number of diverse varieties of feeders all the way through your lawn, you will draw in several unique sorts of birds.

Platform feeders can be positioned on the ground to program ground feeding birds, hung from trees or mounted on a post. They are a good spot for bigger birds like doves, towhees, sparrows, grosbeaks and blue jays.

Hopper feeders normally will hold a huge amount of seed that will be secured from the weather conditions. These kinds of feeders are commonly quite quick to fill and will accommodate just about any style of seed.

Tube feeders are inclined to entice the scaled-down birds like chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, goldfinches and residence finches. These feeders can have either large or compact ports. Select the size in accordance to the seed you want to offer. The tiny port is for smaller mixed seeds, Finch mixes or Nyjer. The more substantial ports perform best with sunflower seeds, peanuts, cracked corn or wild bird mixes.

Suet feeders are typically wire cages that maintain suet cakes or nuggets and are inclined to appeal to bluebirds, chickadees, nuthatches, mockingbirds, thrushes, vireos, warblers and woodpeckers.

Irrespective of the variety of feeder you pick out, normal care and cleansing will be demanded. A monthly cleaning with warm soapy water or one particular element bleach to 9 areas drinking water gets rid of bacteria, mildew or fungus.

Picking the foods

As with picking out the ideal sort of feeder, placing out the proper sort of foods will enable you entice the specific kinds of birds you want in your lawn. Some birds are opportunists and will eat a selection of foods many people are picky eaters.

Black Oil Sunflower is among the most sought after seeds for a huge array of birds, it's great body fat content material offers much essential electricity. Black Oil sunflower attracts chickadees, cardinals, nuthatches, goldfinches and juncos.

Striped sunflower is a superior oil material seed that is appealing to larger birds due to the fact of its size and tough shell. Striped sunflower attracts blue jays, woodpeckers, grosbeaks, titmice and cardinals.

Nyjer is deemed the excellent seed for attracting many varieties of finches and other small songbirds. This smaller seed is wealthy in oil and protein as very well as superior in nutrition so it attracts American Goldfinches, purple finches, Household finches and indigo buntings.

Safflower is a higher oil information seed that is very appealing to chickadees, thrashers nuthatches and grosbeaks.

Millet is generally the favored food of birds that favor smaller sized seeds and it is an Superb resource of starch, vitamins and minerals. Ordinarily, millet attracts Sparrows, juncos, towhees, mourning doves and chickadees.

Peanuts are a quite very good resource of fat and protein and can be supplied possibly complete or Shelled. Blue jays, titmice, woodpeckers, nuthatches and bluebirds delight in Eating peanuts.

Cracked corn is a good resource of oil and starch and is an in particular beneficial foods to feed while in the winter months. Cracked corn will draw in bluebirds, mourning doves, juncos, indigo buntings and woodpeckers.

Wild bird combine, generally featuring millet and sunflower, has the suitable range of substances to attract numerous distinct styles of birds. Cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, mourning doves and white crowned sparrows will be attracted to a wild bird mix.

Sunflower hearts or pieces have a substantial oil subject material presents a very nutritious foods that Leaves no seed hulls under the feeder.

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A Complete Guide on Setting Up Your Own Poultry Farm

Some people even those living in big cities are still very country at heart. They crave the morning crow of the rooster and the smell of freshly picked eggs from the farm. If you are one such person who loves poultry and the country life you can be very successful in poultry farming. But this is not less than any other business that anyone would start. This requires a lot of careful planning, a lot of investment in all the equipment that will be required and even some research on the methods, techniques, and market that you plan on serving with your business. On top of that there are legal regulations pertaining to starting poultry farming which mostly restrain you to the place where you can start it. Most laws will discourage you in starting farming in a residential area where your neighbors will be disturbed by the constant crowing of roosters and the mess that poultry makes.

Once you have cleared all legal regulations related to poultry farming you need to start by first getting knowledge regarding chickens, what they eat, how to keep them healthy, what kind of lifestyle to give them, their life spans, the shelter they will need, and most importantly information about their egg laying. All this information is crucial for the success of your venture and having this knowledge before hand is what is important to ensure you get on a good start with your business. You can find some great resources on the internet related to poultry farming that will give you some great advice on how to get started with it.

Another important thing you need to clarify before getting started with this is the aim of your business. Do you intend on raising chickens for their eggs or do you plan on raising chickens for their meat. This decision is important because the type of breed you will get for your poultry depends on whether you intend on selling their eggs or their meat. The more information you have regarding the different breeds of chickens and their needs the more equipped you will be in handling all problems related to managing this business.

Now if all that has been clarified you need to begin the search for an appropriate place for the set up. As mentioned earlier it is illegal to start poultry sheds in areas like residential zones therefore you will need to look for an appropriate place that is well outside the city so you can have your sheds there without worrying about any neighbors being disturbed. But then again that location might get too far from your own residence in the city. If possible you might want to consider relocating for the sake of your poultry.

Running it from far away will not be as efficient as running it if you are living on the farm yourself. Once you have found an adequate location for your poultry farming you need to decide how big or small you want it to be. The number of chicken you plan on raising will determine the size of your farm. You also have to keep in view any forecasting regarding the increase in chickens and expanding your business. Do leave adequate space for the future expansion of your business.

Now you have to get onto the last step of purchasing the chickens and rooster for your poultry farming. The breed you choose should be decided very carefully and only purchase from a well reputed supplier to ensure that you are not getting any second hand fake breed of chicken.

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How to Buy Finches That Are Healthy and Happy

If you are new to the world of raising finches, then you may want a little advice on how to buy finches that are healthy and happy. Birds can be very difficult to judge when they are sick. Nature has taught them to mask any signs of weakness in order to not alert predators. So for you to be able to tell if the finch you are looking at is a healthy bird you will have to be observant.

If at all possible go purchase your bird from a breeder rather going to a pet store. Pet stores are great places for getting supplies for your feathered friends but they do not always know any real information regarding the finches for sale in their shop. They will know the basics of what foods to give them, but they will more than likely have no clue about the behavior of the species you are looking at. When you want to buy finches try to find a reputable breeder in your area.

The breeder is going to be able to tell you all the characteristics of the types of birds they raise. They usually do not have a finch sale until the birds are ready to leave, and most breeders would never allow a finches sale when the bird appeared sick.

Spend a little time at the breeders looking at the birds. Notice their cages, are they cleaned, and neat looking? Do the birds have plenty of fresh water inside their cage? Is there a ready supply of food for the birds to eat? Does the cage look small or cramped for the number of birds that are in it?

Try if you can to see more than just the few birds that are up for sale. If you can see where they house their breeding stock you will get to see exactly how healthy acting their other birds are.

The birds should appear neat and clean, but do not fret too much if you notice some missing feathers, the loss of some feathers can be considered normal. Look at the birds beak to see if it is shaped correctly, and notice the nostrils at the top of the beak. If there is any sign of the nostrils having a runny appearance you do not want that bird.

If the bird is just sitting listlessly, pass that one up as well. These little creatures are very social with each other and they are very active.

Not all the species of finches are singers so you cannot really judge anything by whether or not they are singing. A good rule of thumb to remember is the more brightly colored the bird is, the less likely it is to sing. If you want a song bird you will want a plain Jane variety.

You can look in your local classifieds and find advertisements for finches for sale, some of these will be very reasonable dealers with healthy, happy specimens.

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   

Guidelines For Selecting Finch Cages

Finches are tiny birds, most being no larger than four inches long beak to tail. The great mistake many people make when choosing finch cages is to choose a cage that is just too small. A tiny bird, in the case of finches, does not translate into tiny cages. Finches, no matter how long they have been bred in captivity, have all the instincts of wild birds. They crave room to fly, to exercise, to explore their habitat. Failure to provide them with the room to move about is a sure fire way to shorten the life of your finches.

I recommend that before you go to the pet shop to purchase your finches, you purchase and set up their cage. Your birds will become disoriented as you transport them from the pet shop to your home, generally in a small cardboard box. Having a home ready for them goes a long way to minimize their adjustment to their new habitat.

Providing appropriate housing for your finches is neither complicated nor expensive. It is actually quite easy so long as you follow a few simple guidelines.

1. Choose a finches cage that is large enough to allow your birds room to fly about the enclosure. These 'wild' birds need to fly in order to remain happy and healthy. In order to see your finches exhibiting natural behavior, their enclosure must provide enough room to move about freely. For two to three finches the minimum length for a cage is 30 inches. The cage may be longer than it is tall but the taller the better.

2. Know the natural environment of the variety of finch you bring home and make their cage conform as closely as possible to that natural setting. If your finches live on dry savannas then providing some grass in the cage is a nice touch.

3. Consider an indoor or outdoor (depending on conditions) aviary to house your finches. The large aviary will allow for open flight for the birds and the ability for you to construct a habitat that closely resembles the finch's natural setting. If you cannot build an aviary either because of budget issues or climate then a large flight cage that can be moved outdoors in the warmer months is good. If you are caging your finches your best choice of birds are Zebra finches or Gouldian finches as they will breed successfully in flight cages.

If you keep these guidelines in mind when deciding how to house your finches your birds will be happy and healthy and so will you.

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Finches As Pets

I have loved birds all my life! When I was a child I enjoyed parrots for pets, good old Kicky and Micky. Kicky and Micky were my first pet birds and I've owned birds ever since. As I've gotten older, my attention turned to finches. I was at a friend's house and she had two Society Finches and the male was courting the female with a beautiful song. I thought they were the most adorable birds I'd ever seen. Since then I have been the proud owner of numerous finch birds.

Finches make wonderful pets because not only are they beautiful but they are very easy to care for. Most of the work comes from preparing your home for finches. But once you have their happy little home set up, the rest is a breeze.

Finches, like all other pets, need a clean stress free environment to live in. They also need proper nutrition, exercise and health care. You need to have all this in place before you bring your finches home. Finches are pretty strong little birds, but they are susceptible to stress. Things that may stress out your finches include being put in cages that are too small, being housed alone, too much noise or activity in their immediate area, and poor nutrition.

The change of environment from the seller to your home is a bit stressful in itself, so it is imperative that the bird's environment be as stress free as possible. Once you get your birds home, put them in their new cage, provide them with clean fresh food and water and give them a little alone time. If you plan to add your birds to an aviary that already has birds, put them in a cage at first to get them used to their new surroundings. Being around new birds too soon can be very stressful to your new finches.

As your birds become more accustomed to their new home, you will also want to provide toys for them. Depending on the size of their living area, you make want to supply one or two toys for your birds to play with. If birds are being kept in cages, be sure not to crowd the cage with toys. Remember, finches are very active birds and they need room to move around in.

Another important part of taking care of finches is having an avian vet that you can take your bird to. Birds need regular check-ups just like other pets. Regular check-ups will ensure that any unforeseen health issues that may arise can be caught early, and you will have professional guidance on how to care for your birds or any special needs your particular birds may have.

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Wonderful Finches As Pets

Why are pet finches becoming a more popular choice amongst people of all ages and experience levels? Because they are small yet hearty, always look pleasant no matter what the variety, are quiet yet make a pleasant sound when they do sing and are fun to look after.

They are also very entertaining as they play amongst themselves. They are very content in their own groups and don't need a lot of human contact.

For these reasons they are popular with a wide variety of people. From the single person living in an apartment in the city to the family living in suburbia the finch is a great pet to have.

Finches come in varieties such as the Society Finch, the Gouldian Finch and the Zebra Finch and also a wide variety of patterns and colours. They are generally very sociable and can be kept with other finches without a problem but with other species such as Lovebirds, Parakeets or other hook bills it would be best avoided; these birds tend to be more aggressive by nature.

One of the best things about having pet finches is their ability to play amongst themselves because as sociable as they are they don't need to contact with people to be happy, they won't behave like other animals might if you can't give them attention all the time.

This is also a reason why your finches may not be great at being finger tamed, although with time and patience it might be possible.

So what about when it comes time to do something like trimming your finches nails? It is actually very simple and safe for both the owner and the finch, lay your palm on its back and wrap your fingers around the finch with your thumb and forefinger gently on either side of its head. It won't usually bite but if it does it won't usually be harmful or dangerous.

It is important to keep in mind that like most bird species your pet finches need room to move within their cage or aviary so make sure their accessories are kept to a minimum; literally one mirror, toy or branch which can be changed around at various times to give them variety and allows them the freedom to fly from perch to perch.

In the wild the finch loves to roll in damp grasses to bathe themselves so as an alternative why not put some damp grasses or dandelion leaves at the bottom of the cage or aviary for a couple of hours as a treat for your pet finches.

The finch is a favourite amongst bird enthusiasts because while they have a cheerful bird song are also a lot quieter than most other bird species, and while they are hardy and have an entertaining and unique personality they are also a lot less costly in the long run than most other species, such as many parrots and soft billed birds.

Pet finches are enjoyed for their colour, busy nature, unique personality and cheerful bird song.

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The Secret To Owning A Happy Healthy Parrot

It may or may not be a surprise to you but parrots have very similar needs that we do as human beings. They like to be happy, they like to have stimulation, they like good food and good health, and when they do have these they can be the most enjoyable pet. Providing these needs for a parrot can easily become second nature once an owner knows what they are supposed to be doing and what their parrot likes.

When most people hear the world 'health' they tend to think of the physical well being of a person or animal. But the mental health of a parrot can be as important as the physical health. In other words you could be doing all the right things for the physical side of keeping a parrot happy and healthy, but if its mental state of mind is not right it will still be an unhappy bird and eventually suffer physically.

You know, parrots do not ask a lot of us, well, unless they become very demanding for company, but that can often be overcome with other birds or toys to keep them company.

What you will find your parrot does need is a lot of love and they will return a lot of affection to you as well if they are treated right. "What?!" you might say if you have a parrot that tends to bite a lot or even worse, won't let you near it. But if you make the effort to get friendly with your biting parrot you will form a good strong bond.

If a biting parrot is older when you get it, then I must admit you may have a problem here because like us humans, bad habits start young and will often stay during our life. But if you have a young parrot you can most likely change its attitude with some training.

Most parrots are 'flock birds' and they do like company and if you have a pet parrot then you are the 'flock' so it will want and need your company. There are some breeds that are quite happy to be on their own, such as the cockatoo and some of the larger parrots but most like to at least have a partner, such as the lorikeet and the pink galah.

If your parrot is not happy it may start plucking at its feathers and this can be a real problem because if you are not there to stop it, the bird may get really ill.

it really is worth making the effort to find out just what a parrot pet's needs are, what will make it happy and then enjoy the experience of owning one of the worlds delightful birds.

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Are You Interested In Breeding Zebra Finches?

Zebra Finches are easy to care for and that includes when they are breeding. The little birds are great pets due their quirky little personalities, and they are one of the easiest types of finches to breed. It has been said that they will even help to rear the young of other finches like rare types of Australian Grass Finches.

There are many ways the male and female are different. The males have a number of distinguishing features. Some are: orange cheek patches, stripes on the throat, a chestnut colored flank with white spots, and black bar on the breast. Females lack these features and are gray in those areas mentioned. There little beaks are generally a brighter red in males and an orange color in females. The younger male birds, Juveniles, look like females, but with a black beak. Once the Juveniles reach 90 days, the beak and adult colors are usually complete.

Spring is breeding season for the finches. They need a specific environment for successful breeding. Some will do very well as a single pair in a breeding box, while others need a large aviary with many other birds around. A compatible pair of Zebra Finches will nest in almost any environment. They are good parents and rarely have breeding related problems. Both the male and female share responsibility in raising the young. The male will weave the nest using nesting materials like grasses, feathers, or commercially prepared finch nesting material in the cage or aviary. As soon as the hen lays her eggs, it is your job to remove any excess nesting material from the cage. This prevents the male from covering up the eggs in his enthusiasm to make improvements.

The female will lay one egg every other day until the clutch is complete. The average clutch size is four to five eggs. After the eggs are laid the hen who will spend most of her time on the nest. The male will often relieve her for food and exercise breaks. Twelve to eighteen days later, the eggs will begin to hatch.

Parents will need an unlimited access to calcium, such as cuttlebone and high protein foods when chicks are in the nest.

In approximately 18 days, the chicks will feather out and start to leave the nest. By the time the chicks are about a month old they will be eating completely on their own and, thus, can be separated from their parents. The male Zebra Finch will finish feeding the chicks and can rejoin the female after the chicks are completely weaned.

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!   What Is a Chicken Run and Coop? Build Your Own If You Are Planning On Keeping Chickens at Home