Finches
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Just like canaries, finches are great for people who enjoy watching birds rather than having a demanding pet that requires a lot of personal attention.
I hate to see them in small cages. Since these are birds that will ALWAYS be in a cage in most households, I would hope that people give them a roomy flight cage, preferably with some plants in it too for the finches to enjoy. Finches easily accept new foods -- very unlike parrots, who tend to approach new food items "very cautiously." Not so finches and canaries. They are curious, delightful little beings who love trying new food items.
They DO enjoy fresh fruits / veggies a lot, and parsley -- and Dandelions are VERY good for them. You can get a lot of free "green stuff" (safe plants please!) from your own garden to feed to them -- and your canaries will REALLY enjoy them! I know, many people might not want to bother with that -- but I hope that you do care for the happiness and well-being of these little creatures.
They should be able to fly. Make it a "project" to prepare an attractive flight cage for them, with lots of toys and natural branches, maybe some plants.
I would always at least get two finches -- there is nothing sorrier than one lone finch or canary in a cage. They are social beings -- and you will enjoy watching them interact.
If you haven't owned any finches yet, I would recommend starting with the Zebra Finch or Society Finches. They also get along fine in an aviary setting. They are truly easy to take care of, hardy and charming. They are also VERY inexpensive. I remember I bought several mutations for less than $10 each from local breeders for a zebra finch. Societies were a little more expensive. You might pay more in pet shops. But they are still very affordable.
Be careful though -- they do make babies ... and babies ... and babies. I remember that within a year I had a hundred of them! :-) ... This is why their price is so low. Breeders are always overstocked with them. If you don't want babies, I would recommend shaking* the eggs immediately after they were laid so that chicks won't develop. Don't remove eggs -- or else, the hen will continue laying eggs -- which will lead to mineral / calcium deficiency, egg-binding, soft-shelled eggs -- all of which can lead to death. Please note: NEVER shake an egg after it has been incubated, or else malformed chicks may hatch. When in doubt, replace the eggs with dummy eggs of the same shape and size.
Far more expensive are the Gouldian Finches and Parrot Finches.
My own experience with Gouldian Finches was that it was really hard to get healthy birds. They are not very hardy. If I were to get one again in the future, I would most certainly do my homework first. I would most certainly have every one of them vet-checked and make sure that they have the best set-up possible to ensure their continued good health. They require specialized care.
Parrot Finches are also more expensive (I paid about a hundred dollar for one -- that was several years ago) -- but they seemed easy enough to take care of. They were lovely aviary inhabitants. If I am going to get an aviary get in the future (which I very much would like to) -- they will be on top of my list.
Care and Feeding:
. Please refer to the following websites for information:
- Sources for Purchasing or Adopting your Companion or Aviary Birds
- Optimal nutrition to keep your bird healthy
- Housing your bird / Fun & Safe Toys
- Caring for your companion bird
Here are some great informational pages for you to look at: e-finch: Varieties ... Fringillidae Finches ... Listing of Finch Breeders ... Finches Photos ... Redpoll Photos ... Housing Finches (Finch World) ... About finches— The role of nutrition and environment in a successful breeding program by Fenton Mereness - E & F Birds ... Finches, Siskins, House Sparrows: Eggs, Incubation and Fledging Times ... Finches: Nature's Small Jewells by Katherine Booth(Winged Wisdom) ... Handicapped Finches (FinchWorld)
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