Keeping Zebra Finches As Pets
Zebra Finches: Attractive, inquisitive, and
sociable birds that are easy to keep and look after.
They originate from Australia and can live up to 5
years. Zebra Finches like the company of their own
species so are best kept in pairs or larger groups.
If kept alone, they will require more of your time
and attention. If kept indoors they will need
regular exercise outside their cage and are at their
most active during the daytime, sleeping once it
gets dark.
Housing
Zebra Finches can be housed indoors in a large
wire cage with a plastic base or outdoors in a
purpose-built aviary. The cage should include some
horizontal bars set at different heights as they
love to hop from one perch to another – this makes
many round cages unsuitable. Bars should be no wider
than 12mm apart to prevent escape. Kept outdoors,
your aviary should allow room for the birds to fly
around properly. Zebra Finches kept indoors should
be let out of their cage daily to exercise once they
are familiar with the room – make sure you keep all
doors and windows closed when you do this. Covering
the cage with a cloth at night will encourage your
birds to settle down for sleep. The cage should be
located away from draughts and direct sunlight.
Types of Zebra Finch
Zebra Finches come in assorted colours and
markings. Common colours include fawn, grey, and
white. Typical markings include black breasted,
penguin, yellow beak, and crested.
Feeding
Zebra Finches in the wild eat a wide range of
seeds, grains, and vegetation. A
specially-formulated Finch mix makes a good basic
diet although supplements may also be required.
Small pieces of fresh fruit and vegetables may also
be given as treats and fresh drinking water should
always be available. Certain foods can be harmful to
your birds - avoid giving them lettuce, avocado,
lemon, potato, or any sweets or drinks designed for
human consumption. Cuttlefish can be given to
provide extra calcium.
Looking after your Zebra Finches
Exercise & Entertainment:
Zebra Finches naturally enjoy playing so it’s a good
idea to provide them with plenty of toys to keep
them mentally and physically stimulated. They like
to climb and should also be let out of their cage at
least once a day for exercise.
You should provide a bath for your Zebra Finches,
either fixed to the outside of the cage or a shallow
bowl placed inside the cage – although some birds
may prefer to be sprayed with tepid water instead.
Handling:
Although friendly, Zebra Finches will rarely become
tame enough to perch on your finger unless
hand-reared. They will usually respond when you talk
to them although unlike budgies, they will not mimic
your voice. To pick up a Zebra Finch, ensure your
palm covers its back and wings while your middle and
index finger surround the bird’s neck. Use your
other fingers to support its body and feet. Be
gentle – Zebra Finches will bite if they feel
stressed or threatened. If catching an aviary bird
use a padded rim net and never try to catch it in
mid flight - always wait until it is perched safely.
Breeding:
Zebra Finches can be mated from about 6 months old
and will produce a clutch of 4-6 eggs in about 12
days. As with all pets, breeding Zebra Finches
requires much commitment of time and effort. It is
recommended that you therefore seek expert advice
and do appropriate research before considering
keeping a breeding pair and only if you’re certain
you can find good homes for the babies.
Tips for a happy healthy Zebra Finch
Community:
Zebra Finches can be kept alone but prefer the
company of their own kind. They can be kept in pairs
(hens with cocks) although if just keeping a few
birds together, either sex should be fine. For
larger aviaries it’s usually best to keep more hens
than cocks – otherwise the cock birds may fight over
the hens. You can also mix pairs of Zebra
Finches with other soft-billed small birds such as
canaries although if kept in a breeding aviary you
shouldn’t mix more than 2 species.
Health:
As with all birds, if you are worried about any
aspect of your Zebra Finch’s health, seek advice
from an Avian veterinarian. For a healthy life, your
Zebra Finch needs the following:
- A good balanced diet with no sudden changes
- Plenty of toys to keep them amused
- Water bottle and feed bowls cleaned daily
- Use peaches that file nails avoiding
clipping by a vet or experienced person which is
stressful for your bird
- A daily bath – essential for their preening
activities
- Regular exercise outside their cage
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