FINCH

Choosing and buying your finch

A healthy finch should be: Bright and alert

Have no signs of discharge from the eyes or nostrils

Have a clean vent area

Feathers should be flush to the body and not be fluffed up

Should have no signs of breathing problems

Movement should be fluent with no signs of lethargy

Housing

Bengalese and Zebra finches can be housed in a cage or in an aviary.

A roomy cage is advisable and should be large enough for your finches to

stretch their wings and fly from perch to perch.

You should avoid putting the cage in draughts, direct sunlight or in damp or

humid conditions.

Sand sheets or cage bird sand should be placed in the bottom of the cage

and replaced regularly.

The cage should be furnished with perches of different diameter and one or

two toys, but do not overcrowd the cage. Try and buy a selection of toys and

rotate them to avoid boredom.

Remove droppings daily. The cage and furnishings should be thoroughly

cleaned and disinfected with a pet-safe disinfectant weekly. A removable

tray will make cleaning easier.

Care should be taken not to disturb your finch at night. Night fright can

cause the birds to fly into the cage wire, so be sure to cover the cage at

night.

Bengalese and Zebra finches are keen bathers and shallow dishes should

be provided.

Outside aviaries must have a sheltered section to provide protection from

wind, rain and strong sunlight. This is where you should position the

roosting site (the highest perch or nest box) and the food containers.

Aviaries should be suitably furnished with branches of different widths.

Do not place perches directly above food and water pots.

Introducing your finch to his new home

Before introducing your finches to their new home fill the food and water

pots and sprinkle a little extra onto the floor to ensure that they have enough

to eat until they find the seed pots.

Make sure all windows and doors are closed and fires are guarded.

Gently open one end of the carry box and let your finches walk into their

new home.

If they appear anxious or do not settle, drape a cloth over three sides of the

cage until they settle. This can be gradually removed as they settle down.

Leave them to adjust quietly.

Feeding and Water

A good quality finch mixture should be available from your pet shop.

Check the seed dishes daily and remove any empty husks. Refill

as necessary. Thoroughly washed, fresh green food may be given,

such as lettuce, chick-weed and dandelion and sweet apple. Be

careful not to overfeed.

Cuttlefish is a source of calcium and helps to keep the beak worn down. A

mineral block will provide essential minerals and trace elements.

Grit helps with the digestion and should always be provided. Food and water

pots should be washed regularly.

Fresh water should always be available.