Finches

True finches belong to the family Fringillidae and are passerine birds. These songbirds can be found in the Northern Hemisphere. Some of the more common finches are the estrildid finches, waxbills, bunting, and American sparrow.

Finches do not require excessive care and maintenance and do not mind being left alone. In fact, when they are handled they become stressed. They are the perfect pets for people who prefer to watch them and listen to them sing.

Some facts about finches:

•Finches have a lifespan of 4-7 years. It is ideal to buy a very young finch.

•Although finches do not like being handled, they do not like to live alone so you might want to buy a pair. If you do not want them to propagate, you can get a pair of the same sex.

•Finches are territorial and if you keep more than a pair, they have a tendency to pick on weaker birds. Whenever you introduce a new finch to the flock, watch closely on how they interact with the new addition. Make sure none of the finches are being bullied. You can consider transferring the birds into a bigger space so that there will be fewer instances of territorial aggression.

•Do a bit of research before finalizing your decision with buying a finch. There are several species of finches and their appearance and song patterns are varied. Before making your purchase, see to it that your chosen bird is healthy and does not show any signs of illnesses.

•Some symptoms of health concerns to look out for are listlessness, if their feathers are fluffed out, they have abnormal growths in their beak or feet, or if they have swollen or dull eyes. Always buy from reputable bird breeders whenever possible.

Tips on Finch Care

The cage of the finches should be spacious enough for them to fly around in and stretch their wings. Finches get their daily dose of exercise from flying. The length and height of the cage should accommodate the number of finches you own.

Finches do not need toys but they do need perches. Avoid dowel perches because these cause feet problems. Also, do not use sandpaper covered perches. Hardwood branches are the best type of perches for your finches.

Finches are seed eaters but you can feed them insects or sprouts once in a while to give them a more balanced diet. If they are only fed bird seeds, they may become malnourished in the long run so it is best to give them a variety of food.

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