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The Finch FAQ

Source - The data found in this FAQ was collected from discussions posted at Finchworld's Finch Forum. This advice was shared by participants of the forum, who have varying degrees and ranges of experience and knowledge. The information shared within was provided with the best intentions, but should not be taken as the "gospel" of finch-keeping. Instead, it is well-intentioned advice and suggestions for dealing with common issues faced by finch-keepers everywhere, based on individuals' research and experiences.

The questions selected are those that have been asked repeatedly over time and those whose answers are fairly straightforward and not very controversial. Emphasis was placed on questions of a general nature or those geared toward beginner finch keepers.

All questions and answers have been compiled, summarized, and paraphrased byFinchAviary.com.


General
I am new to finches. Where can I find some good general information?
How can I tell if my birds are male or female?
Can you hand tame a finch?
What do all the finch abbreviations stand for?

Health/Illness
My Bird Is Fluffed Up (Sick). What Should I Do?
I think my hen is egg bound. What should I do?
Help! My bird cannot seem to hold its head up straight/is having difficult balancing (dizziness)/is spinning around on the floor! What is wrong and what can I do?

Behavior
My bird is plucking feathers from his mate? Why? What can I do about it?
One of my finches chases one or more other finches around the flight. What should I do?

Breeding
At what age is it okay to start breeding my finches?
What foods should I provide for my birds when they are breeding?
What type of nesting material should I offer my birds?
How long does it take for my finch eggs to hatch?
How can I tell if the eggs my finch laid are fertile?
There are infertile eggs among fertile eggs or hatchlings. Should I remove the infertile eggs?
My zebras have buried their eggs beneath more nesting material! What should I do?
My finch died suddenly, leaving his/her mate sitting on eggs. Will the surviving parent be able to raise the chicks alone or should I provide him/her with a new mate?
My Zebra chicks just hatched but I haven't seen the parents feeding them yet? Is there a problem?
When can I separate fledglings from the parents?
How many clutches should I allow my birds to raise each year?
My pair of finches are not breeding? Why not?
I want to get finches but I don't want them to breed. What can I do?
I have a zebra finch and a society finch housed together (opposite sex). They are building a nest. Is it possible that they will try to breed?
I have two finches and they are sitting on eggs. Does that mean I have a true pair?
I have two female finches with no mates who lay infertile eggs all the time. Should I remove the eggs?
I need to remove a closed band - how can I do it?

Nutrition
What is the proper diet for my finch?
What medium should I keep mealworms in?
How do I serve mealworms to my finches?
What is eggfood?
For how long should I hard-boil eggs that will be served to my birds?
What is wrong with feeding Iceberg Lettuce and Spinach to my birds?

Housing
Is it okay to let my birds free fly in the house?
What size cage is suitable for my finches?
Where can I find good cages that are suitable for keeping finches? All the cages pet stores carry are too small or have too wide of bar spacing.
I want to provide my birds with an acrylic cage or aviary. Do I have to worry about the birds flying into the walls?
What can I use on the bottom of my cage/aviary?
My birds are subject to night frights - startling in the middle of the night and not being able to find their way back to their sleeping perch. What should I do?

Care
How do I offer my birds a bath?
How do I keep my bird's nails trim?
My bird appears to have an overgrown beak. What can I do?

Acquisition
What is the best finch for a beginner to start with?
I would like to get a finch that sings? What are your recommendations?
How long should I quarantine new birds for before introducing them to my flock?

 

General
I am new to finches. Where can I find some good general information?

Some general finch sites:
www.finchworld.com
www.efinch.com
www.finchinfo.com
www.seffera.net/birds/
www.feathered.flyer.co.uk

Some species-specific sites:
www.ladygouldianfinch.com
www.zebrafinch.com
www.javafinch.co.uk
www.africanwaxbills.flyer.co.uk

www.exoticfinches.com

How can I tell if my birds are male or female?
Zebras - some mutations are difficult, but in general, males have orange cheek patches and barring on their breasts, females do not. Males also tend to have a redder beak and females a more orange beak.

Societies - visually you cannot sex them. Generally, you can tell a female if she lays an egg. A male will sing (both sexes emit single-note chirps like crickets, however) and puff his stomach down low while doing a little dance (although some have reported rare cases of singing females).

Gouldians - male colors are more vibrant, particularly the purple of the breast and the yellow belly.

Can you hand tame a finch?
Most likely, no. People who keep finches usually enjoy watching their birds interact with each other and their environment rather than with people. They are naturally very skittish around humans. There have been cases of hand-tame finches, but that usually involves handfeeding at a very early age. Handfeeding a finch is a very demanding and difficult task and frequently ends badly, particularly when performed at such an early age. It should not be attempted for the purposes of obtaining a hand-tame pet, but only as a last resort when the parents will not or cannot care for the chick. If you really want a hand-tame pet, another type of bird such as a parakeet or a cockatiel will be more appropriate.

What do all the finch abbreviations stand for?
General Genetics:

SF - single factor (carrying one gene)
DF - double factor (carrying two genes)
/ - split (eg, for Gouldians, RH/BH means the bird has one red head gene and one black head gene)

Gouldian Finch:
Head Color:

RH - red head
BH - black head
YH (also OH) - yellow/orange head
YTB - yellow tipped beak (BH bird carrying 2 YH genes)
SH - straw head

Breast Color

PB - purple breast
WB - white breast
LB - lilac breast

Body Color (also called Back Color)

NB - normal body (green) (same as GB)
GB - green body (same as NB)
BB - blue body
YB - yellow body
SB - silver body

Zebra Finch:

CFW: Chestnut Flanked White
CCFW: Continental Chestnut Flanked White
FF: Florida Fancy
BF: Black Faced
BB: Black Breasted
OB: Orange Breasted
FC: Fawn Cheek
BC: Black Cheek
GC: Gray Cheek
LB: Lightback
DS: Dominant Silver

Other Birds

BQ: Button Quail
OC: Orange Cheek Waxbill
CB: Cordon Bleu

Health/Illness
My Bird Is Fluffed Up (Sick). What Should I Do?
Note: All birds become fluffed up at times. If this is a rare, one time event, it is probably not a problem. If, however, the bird is fluffed up more than usual, is inactive, and/or is sleeping while other birds are active, it probably signifies a problem.

First, separate the bird from any other birds to try to contain the spread of illness. Place him in a hospital cage or a spare cage with a heat source (ceramic heat lamp, light bulb [60W], heating pad), and cover it with a towel. If you don't have an extra cage, an empty box will do. Provide the bird with easily digestible foods (millet on a spray and eggfood, for example) and water. Put the bird in a quiet location where he/she won't be as stressed. Added humidity may also help.

Increasing electrolytes may help the bird to recover. There are some commercial electrolyte supplements made just for birds (Survive, Marvel-Aid, Guardian Angel), but Pedialyte or Gatorade added to the water can be used for this purpose instead.

If possible, contact an avian vet. Antibiotics should not be administered unless the cause is shown to be bacterial in nature. The antibiotic treatment should then be continued for the full course of treatment, even if symptoms improve or disappear sooner.

Note that trying to obtain assistance over the Internet beyond the steps described herein can be very difficult as it is difficult to diagnose a problem without proper tests, much less without being able to observe the bird in person.

I think my hen is egg bound. What should I do?
Egg binding occurs when a hen has difficulty passing an egg. This condition can be fatal if she is unable to expel the egg. In general, supplying additional heat and humidity will help. Provide extra sources of calcium. Calcivet or Calciboost applied directly to the mouth may help as well (although it cannot strengthen the shell at this point, it can improve the muscle's ability to contract and expel the egg). Some recommend a small amount of mineral/olive oil on the vent, but others have reported problems with the oil getting on the feathers and causing more problems.
Help! My bird cannot seem to hold its head up straight/is having difficult balancing (dizziness)/is spinning around on the floor! What is wrong and what can I do?
The symptoms described above are frequently referred to as twirling. Twirling is a symptom that has been linked with several causes. Ear infections are a possible culprit. In this case, the prognosis is good. An avian vet can prescribe an antibiotic to treat the infection and over time, the bird will probably recover. Nystatin is one antibiotic frequently mentioned for treating the ear infection. In other cases, Twirling has been attributed to some type of virus. Because little is known about the virus/viruses causing Twirling, the prognosis is not good. Paramyxovirus has been proposed as a possible cause that may lead to this condition. Another cause of this symptom could be some type of head injury.
Behavior
My bird is plucking feathers from his mate? Why? What can I do about it?
He is most likely trying to encourage his mate to nest or may be using the feathers to line a nest. If you want them to breed and they don't have a nest, provide a nest as well as nesting material and something soft like molted feathers or goose down to line the nest with. If the problem persists, you may need to separate the pair. But before you do, make sure he's the one doing the plucking. If you have not actually seen the male plucking her, she may be plucking them herself for a nest lining. Another possible reason for this behavior could be a nutritional deficiency. Adding a good source of protein (eggfood) and a vitamin/mineral supplement may help in this case.
One of my finches chases one or more other finches around the flight. What should I do?
If the chasing was instigated by introduction of a new bird(s), give it a little time to see if things settle down. Make sure, however, that no one's health is in jeopardy and that all birds have access to food/water. Adding extra feeding stations may help. Also, rearranging perches and such may help as everyone will need to reestablish their "territories" at the same time.

In other cases, or if the fighting is too rough or does not settle down with time, remove the aggressor. After a few days, the aggressor can be reintroduced. If the behavior persists, the birds may need to be separated permanently.

Breeding
At what age is it okay to start breeding my finches?
Generally, it is recommended that they be close to 1 year old. At minimum, 9 months.
What foods should I provide for my birds when they are breeding?
Offer a good eggfood (either commercial or homemade from hard-boiled eggs), extra calcium sources (egg shells, cuttlebone, oyster shells), in addition to water and seed. Note that it is a good idea to get the birds on this diet before they start breeding. Providing millet spray for fledglings will help encourage them to eat on their own, as millet on the spray is softer than that found in seed mixes.

What type of nesting material should I offer my birds?
The following have been recommended as nesting material - goose down feathers, timothy grass, hay, 2" burlap fibers (obtained by unraveling 2" squares of burlap cloth), coconut fibers.

The following should not be used: pet hair, string type nesting material sold in pet stores (becomes tangled on birds' feet).

How long does it take for my finch eggs to hatch?
This varies somewhat depending on the type of finch. Usually around 14 days of incubation, but a general range can span 12-18 days. Note that incubation does not begin until the parents start sitting, which frequently will not happen until the 3rd or 4th egg is laid, or sometimes the entire clutch.
How can I tell if the eggs my finch laid are fertile?
At first, fertile and infertile eggs will look the same. After about 4-7 days from the last egg being laid, you can candle an egg (using an egg candler or a small flashlight) to tell whether or not it is fertile. A fertile egg will have a network of vessels running through it. Infertile eggs are clear with a little yellow spot where the yolk is. As time passes, fertile eggs will take on a blue/grey color (as the embryo grows inside).
There are infertile eggs among fertile eggs or hatchlings. Should I remove the infertile eggs?
If you are afraid that the parents will abandon the nest because of your interference, leave the infertile eggs. If your birds handle human intervention well, you can probably remove the eggs without a problem (to avoid them breaking in the nest). Some species, such as zebras and societies are more tolerant to human intervention and nest checks than others. Many waxbill species can be very intolerant, and with these birds it is probably better to leave the infertile eggs where they are.
My zebras have buried their eggs beneath more nesting material! What should I do?
This is not uncommon behavior for zebra finches. First wash your hands (bacteria can be spread when you touch the eggs). Then gently remove the excess nesting material to uncover the eggs. Chances are pretty good that the birds will resume incubation duties, particularly if they are used to you messing with their nest. Remove additional nesting material so they are not tempted to bury the eggs again. To prevent this behavior in the future, remove extra nesting material once the nest has reached the height of the nestbox entryway.
My finch died suddenly, leaving his/her mate sitting on eggs. Will the surviving parent be able to raise the chicks alone or should I provide him/her with a new mate?
Single finches are capable of successfully raising a clutch of chicks on their own, although it is a much more demanding ordeal. Introducing a new bird at this stage will most likely only disrupt things and may cause the remaining parent to abandon the nest. Best advice is to leave the situation alone and see what happens. There is a better chance of success if the surviving bird is an experienced parent. After the clutch is weaned, a new mate can be introduced.
My Zebra chicks just hatched but I haven't seen the parents feeding them yet? Is there a problem?
Zebras usually do not start feeding until the yolk sac is absorbed by the chick (12-24 hours later). When they do start feeding them, at first, you may not notice because such a small amount is fed. So, most likely, there is not a problem at this stage.
When can I separate fledglings from the parents?
When you see that the youngsters are eating on their own, they can be separated. Some recommend 1 week after you stop hearing them beg, but if they are eating on their own, they can be separated earlier (this may be called for if one or both parents start to harass the babies - probably in anticipation of starting a new family). If one parent is a problem (chasing or pecking at a youngster) and the babies are not yet eating on their own, you can try removing the offending parent and leaving the other to feed the youngsters.
How many clutches should I allow my birds to raise each year?
Around 3 clutches a year is generally thought to be safe.

My pair of finches are not breeding? Why not?
Possible reasons include they are not old enough, they are too old, they are not a true pair (different sexes), they are not receiving a proper diet, their cage is too small, they don't have enough privacy, or they just do not like each other.
I want to get finches but I don't want them to breed. What can I do?
Two males or two females of most species will generally get along okay (although there can be exceptions). Alternatively, you can remove nestboxes and nesting material from their cage, but determined individuals can still lay in seed dishes. You can remove the eggs as they are laid, but this may stimulate more laying, which may deplete calcium from the hen. Replacing real eggs with fake eggs may encourage mom to sit and thus inhibit excessive egg-laying.
I have a zebra finch and a society finch housed together (opposite sex). They are building a nest. Is it possible that they will try to breed?
Yes, they may try to breed, resulting in a hybrid. Hybrids are frequently infertile, although this is not always the case. Hybrids are undesirable because they have no market value and they contaminate the bloodlines of birds in captivity. This phenomenon is not limited to zebras and societies. Many types of finch can and will hybridize if no other suitable mates are available.
I have two finches and they are sitting on eggs. Does that mean I have a true pair?
No. Females will lay eggs without the presence of a male. The eggs, of course, will be infertile.
I have two female finches with no mates who lay infertile eggs all the time. Should I remove the eggs?
You can remove them, but that may just stimulate more egg-laying. Excessive egg-laying can deplete calcium from the hen and lead to health problems. Allowing them to sit on the infertile eggs will give them a break from laying. After a couple of weeks, you can remove the eggs, clean the nestbox, and allow the cycle to repeat. Sometimes, the females will toss the eggs on their own when they realize they are infertile. At this point, you can remove any untossed eggs and clean out the nest box. Removing the nestbox altogether may put a stop to egg-laying. However, some birds (such as zebras and societies) may just find another, less desirable, place to lay, such as the seed dish.
I need to remove a closed band - how can I do it?
There are special band-cutters that you can buy to remove close bands from a bird's foot. If the bird is still a nestling, you may be able to slip the band off by applying a small amount of Vaseline to the foot.
Nutrition
What is the proper diet for my finch?
General recommendations include a good finch mix (Herman Brothers Seed and Abbaseed are frequently recommended as good choices), a good source of protein (eggfood and/or live food such as mealworms), a few good sources of calcium (cuttlebone, egg shells, oyster shell, calcium supplement such as Caliboost or Calcivet), and greens/vegetables. Some recommend skipping the greens because they are lacking in protein, in favor of using a vitamin/mineral supplement. Water should be available at all times. If you like, you can add vitamins to the water or to the eggfood. Vitamins should not be used in place of a balanced diet, but instead as a supplement to a balanced diet. Millet on the spray is a favorite treat of finches, but should not be fed to excess. Some people like to add soaked or sprouted seed; others refrain from it because soaked seed is susceptible to bacteria growth.

What medium should I keep mealworms in?
Bran is commonly used but not recommended because it depletes calcium and is not high in protein. Game bird starter is a commonly recommended choice. Dry eggfood/nestling food has also been recommended. Be sure to add slices of fruit/vegetables for moisture such as potatoes, carrots, apples, broccoli, squash, cabbage, kiwi, banana, papaya ...
How do I serve mealworms to my finches?
Serve them in a deep ceramic bowl so that the mealworms cannot crawl out. Mini is the preferred mealworm size among finches. Two recommended sources are Grubco and Rainbow Mealworms. It is the general opinion of the members of the forum that it is not necessary to cut the heads off the mealworms or to scald them in boiling water before serving. Although it has been said that the mealworms could eat through a birds inside if swallowed whole, no one on the forum has verified this ever happening to them or anyone they know.
What is eggfood?
Eggfood is food that consists mainly of egg. It adds protein to the birds diet, a nutritient that many caged birds lack in their diet. Eggfood can be purchased in a commercially formulated diet, but more often it is homemade. The simplest form is hard-boiled eggs, mashed with a fork or in a food processor. Crushed eggshell is often added, or served separately. Sometimes bread crumbs, baby cereal, or handfeeding formula are added to make the eggfood drier and more appealing to the finches. Baby cereal and handfeeding formula are more nutritious additions than bread crumbs. Other creative ingredients can be added, including chopped or diced vegetables, soy powder, crushed dry dog or cat food, and vitamins.
For how long should I hard-boil eggs that will be served to my birds?
Typical answer: about 10 minutes. Alternative answer is about 20 minutes. Those favoring the 10 minute cook time say that boiling longer causes loss of nutrients. Those who favor 20 minutes say they want to ensure that salmonella has been eliminated.
What is wrong with feeding Iceberg Lettuce and Spinach to my birds?
Iceberg lettuce is mostly just water and adds very little nutrition to their diet. Romaine lettuce is a better choice. However, Iceberg lettuce is not "harmful" in and of itself. Spinach contains a high amount of oxalic acid, which depletes calcium in a birds system. However, it also contains many nutrients. Some people recommend avoiding spinach altogether. Others feed it, but only in moderation. It is only when it is eaten to excess that it causes problems. Some other healthy greens: dandelions, chickweed, kale, mustard greens, collard greens, turnip greens, etc.
Housing
Is it okay to let my birds free fly in the house?
Some people would answer no because there are too many potential hazards when an untamed bird like a finch is allowed to fly free. Others answer yes because it gives them the benefit of flight in a large space. If you do let your birds free fly, the following precautions should be taken: Make sure all windows and doors are closed or screened in, turn off ceiling fans, make sure sinks and tubs do not contain water, close the lid on toilets (better yet, shut bathroom doors altogether), and keep other pets out of the vicinity.
What size cage is suitable for my finches?
Although species vary, it is generally recommended that you allow 3 square feet of floor space per pair of breeding birds. Height does not matter as much as length, since finches fly primarily across, and not up and down. For this reason cages that are long are better than cages that are tall.
Where can I find good cages that are suitable for keeping finches? All the cages pet stores carry are too small or have too wide of bar spacing.

The following sites have been recommended by persons on the Finch Forum:
www.qualitycage.com
www.presidentpet.com
www.californiacageworks.com
www.birdandcage.com
www.jccage.com
www.birdfurniture.com

The following sites have been recommended for aviaries:
www.backyardaviary.com
www.designsbysammy.com
www.birdcagedesign.com

I want to provide my birds with an acrylic cage or aviary. Do I have to worry about the birds flying into the walls?
At first, they might fly into the walls occasionally until they learn their boundaries. They usually adapt very quickly. To prevent collisions with acrylic walls, you can drape semi-transparent cloth (eg, lace or sheer fabric) over the windows until they become familiar with their environment. You can also place strips of masking tape across the windows to mark them and remove them gradually as the birds adjust.
What can I use on the bottom of my cage/aviary?
Bedding choices: Although corncob is popular, it is conducive to mold growth and not recommended. Sand can be used safely (but it's messy for an indoor setup). Timothy hay has been recommended, which can also be used as nesting material. Aspen shavings are a popular choice because aspen does not produce an aroma when wet like pine or cedar do (these aromas may cause respiratory problems in finches).

Paper choices: Newspaper, unprinted newsprint, and Kraft paper have all been recommended. Paper has the advantage of allowing easy inspection of droppings.

My birds are subject to night frights - startling in the middle of the night and not being able to find their way back to their sleeping perch. What should I do?
Night frights are a fairly common phenomenon. Provide the birds with a nightlight so that they are less likely to become startled and so that they can find their way back to the perches if it should happen. Some options for nightlights are a low-watt red light bulb (which provides light by which the birds can see but not so bright as to keep them awake, standard night lights or low-watt bulbs, or GE Limelight night light.
Care
How do I offer my birds a bath?
Baths can be offered as a commercial bird bath that attaches to an opening in the cage or as a dish (such as a terra cotta plant saucer) placed on the bottom of the cage. Some people add Saniclens to keep the water from becoming too polluted since the birds will drink from their bath water. Some people only make the bath available for a limited period of time to limit the amount of pollution it will collect and to limit the amount of bath water they drink.
How do I keep my bird's nails trim?
Long nails can endanger a finch's life. They can become caught on nestboxes, nesting material, rope fibers, etc, and if the bird cannot extricate itself, it could die. The nails of a finch can be cut with a regular nail clipper. If the bird has light colored nails, hold the nails up to a light source so you can see the quick (vessel supplying blood to the nail). Cut the nail close to the quick without cutting the quick itself. If the bird has dark colored nails, you might not be able to see the quick, so you will have to guess. Usually, anything beyond 4mm can be cut off without damaging the quick. If you are unsure, err on the side of caution. You can always trim a little more away later.

If you do cut the quick, have a styptic pencil or blood stop powder on hand to help form a clot before too much blood is lost. The nail can also be cauterized with a match (light the match, then snuff it out and hold the warm tip of the match to the wound).

Using natural branch perches with rough surfaces may help keep a finch's nails short without the need for trimming.

The following link has proven helpful: http://www.javafinch.co.uk/nail/nailndx.html

My bird appears to have an overgrown beak. What can I do?
Adding a cuttlebone may help your birds keep their beaks trim. If this doesn't do the trick, the beak can be trimmed with a nail clipper, cuticle scissors, or bird claw scissors. If you trim, trim a little off at a time - better to take too little off than too much.
Acquisition
What is the best finch for a beginner to start with?
Zebra finches and Society finches are highly recommended for beginners. They both tend to be easy to care for and easy to breed (although individuals will vary). Zebras and societies come in many interesting mutations that can introduce one to finch genetics. Zebras tend to be more aggressive than Societies. Both are inexpensive and readily available. Zebras are easier to sex than societies, so it may be easier to get a true pair if you wish to breed.
I would like to get a finch that sings? What are your recommendations?
Frequent recommendations include Strawberry Finches, Cordon Bleus, Canaries, Star Finch, Melba Finch.
How long should I quarantine new birds for before introducing them to my flock?
The answer to this question varies greatly, but the general response seems to be about 1 month.

Questions and Answers in this FAQ were compiled by FinchAviary.com.

 

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