Tiny Birds such as Canaries, Java sparrows, diamond doves, Bengalese Finches & Gouldian Finches etc. are the most overlooked Birds of all. They too need things to thrive, they need enrichment, a name & deserve the best care, sadly they often need rescuing too. However, they never get the chance to thrive as people focus on the big Parrots, people don’t give the tiny Birds the credit they so truly deserve. Although this is 10 things Zebra Finches want you to know, it really goes for all the overlooked little guys, whatever breed.
- WE ARE NOT EASY TO CARE FOR – Although many people believe that Zebra Finches are low maintenance, cheap & easy to care for, this is not true of any Bird who is cared for properly. A Bird getting the attention, care & environment they best need to thrive is not a cheap Bird who is quick to attend to.
- WE NEED ENRICHMENT! – People are finally starting to realize how essential it is to provide enrichment for their Parrots, but Zebra Finches are forgotten, often being left out of the enrichment conversation altogether. Whilst their enrichment needs are different to those in the psittacine family, it should still be a big part of their lives. The provision of fresh seeding grasses & dandelion hung in the enclosure is a wonderful starting point, but the more you get used to providing a foraging experience the more you can experiment with new & beneficial ideas.
- WE NEED A VARIED DIET – Just like any other pet Bird, Zebra Finches deserve a varied diet free of junk food & rich in Bird safe Organic fresh foods. Seed mix only diets are not rich enough in nutrition for any Bird, enrich their diet with fresh Organic seed sprouts, occasional leafy greens & mealworm to name only a tiny number of safe foods that can be part of their diet. Seed mix with access to oyster shell & a cuttlebone just is not good enough, we can do so much better for our precious angels.
- WE NEED A SUITABLE ENVIRONMENT – Zebra Finches need a living environment that enriches & stimulates their active minds at the same time as keeping their tiny little feet & quick bodies safe & healthy. A wide variety of natural wood perches of different widths, Bird safe live plants, different safe substrates & a variety of unique nesting options (even if not breeding) should be available to them. The larger the enclosure the better providing bar spacing or wire size is not too large. Whilst it is fantastic to have a plentiful supply of enriching things in their enclosure, ensure that they still have plenty of room to fly & jump along the floor (please don’t use grills or mesh to prevent them accessing the floor!)
- WE NEED CONSPECIFICS! – Never keep them on their own, to avoid fighting ensure you are not overcrowding the enclosure & have a good balance of cocks to hens. These Birds live in huge flocks in the wild & even though captive ‘born’ they still need that kind of flock environment. Even if they are only pair housed, that is better than a life of social isolation.
- WE NEED TO BATHE! – Enough of the deprivation of bathing! Zebra Finches are one of the cleanest types of Bird I know, they love a huge splashy bath in fresh clean filtered water every morning & at least one more later in the day. In the UK Finches are commonly kept in wooden breeding cages with a wire front & just a water drinker poked through which they can only just get their beaks in enough to drink. It is time we recognized the importance of & their fundamental right to bathe whenever they feel like it. Just like humans have the right to.
- DON’T FORGET TO NAME ME TOO! – Not everybody names their Birds, which is fair enough & up to the individual, but if you name your Parrots don’t forget to name your Finches too. Contrary to popular belief, they are incredibly intelligent & get to know their names, hooting with excitement if you speak to them. Many of my Finches have come from homes where the psittacine were all named & treated like royalty, but the Finches were sat in the corner in a tiny cage with no names & no stimulation at all. You might not think they are smart enough to be impacted by that, but they really do understand if only you pay attention enough to see it.
- WE NEED VITAMIN D – Don’t forget that Zebra Finches need access to fresh air & sunshine too. I keep my Finches indoors because we get cold winters & they were not doing well outdoors, but I ensure they get access to fresh air & sunshine in a safe way. My preferred method is safe secure travel cages, but a flight with a safety door is also a fine option if you have the resources to have one.