UVA and UVB is necessary to prevent calcium and vitamin D3 deficiencies which can cause a tremendous amount of health problems. As well, depriving your finches of UV light will make them colour blind. It has also been suggested that UVA light is beneficial in reducing or eliminating abnormal behaviour, such as feather damaging disorders, phobias and aggression among just a few.
For more information, ask a pet counsellor for a copy of the Ultraviolet Lighting for Birds and Reptiles tip sheet. Perches — Your finches must have a variety of perch sizes to allow their feet proper exercise. Sandpaper perch covers should be used on only one out of three perches. These covers will help to keep nails trim and are fun to pick at. They will need not only the perching that comes with your cage, but also branches which will provide them with an uneven surface.
These may be purchased in plastic, manzanite wood or you may collect the following branches from outdoors, provided they have not been sprayed: fruit trees, willow, poplar, elderberry and maple.
If you do use natural branches, they will need to be replaced frequently. Situate two of the perches at the same height as the seed and water dishes, not directly over them, where fecal matter could spoil the food.
It is unreasonable to expect any living thing to remain healthy when fed only one or two types of food. You must give your finches a balanced diet if they are to live long and happy lives! Staple Diet — Fresh finch seed mix should always be available. Blow them off into the garbage, stir, and top up as needed. Protein Supplement — All finches need some animal protein to supplement their diet. Egg food or boiled egg that is rubbed through a sieve must be neither mushy nor chunky may be offered in a small cup daily.
Mealworms may also be offered a few times a week. The worms should be chopped not whole and offered in a small dish. Daily Salad — A healthy mix of vegetables, shredded into pick-up-and-fly pieces should be offered daily and removed within an hour or two. Fruits should be considered a treat and offered minimally.
To make sure your finches are getting the vitamins their bodies require, we recommend the addition of a high-quality powdered vitamin. This may be administered on top of their daily salad or sprinkled on their millet. A liquid vitamin may be used instead of the powdered if your finches snub the vitaminized foods you are offering.
The liquid vitamin is added to fresh water daily. Watch your finches to make sure they are accepting the vitaminized water since you do not want your birds to go without drinking for any length of time. Cuttlebone — Cuttlebone is a convenient way to supply your finches with calcium, phosphorus and other minerals necessary to keep them in optimum health.
Hang it in their cage, out of the way from droppings, which could soil it. Change it every two months, as they are very porous and absorb smells and tastes in the environment, such as smoke and cooking fumes.
If your finch does not show any interest in his cuttlebone, grind it up into powder and mix with his salad or favourite treat. Iodine Block — Provides Iodine, copper, and many other minerals in small quantities that are insufficient in a seed staple diet.
The iodine block is fun to chew, tasty too. Spray Millet — Millet is the only food available for birds that they would typically find in the wild. Some zebra finches can live as old as 12, with the oldest on record age of a zebra finch in captivity reaching nearly Below we dig a little deeper into the longevity you can expect from your zebra finches, how their lifecycle stacks up against other finches, and what you can do to help them lead happier and healthier lives as well.
Before we start… Are you looking for a cage for you Zebra Finches? Zebra finches living in the wild can get as old as five years of age and very rarely any older than that, usually because they are so easily spotted by their natural predators due to their unique coloration. A bunch of different factors come together to influence how old your zebra finch is going to get, though. The amount of space they have to themselves compared to the rest of the flock, the food that they eat on a regular basis the exercise that they get daily, and a number of other factors including genetic issues contribute significantly to how long a life your finch will live.
As a general rule, though, expect your zebra finches to make it to at least their fifth birthday — and often a lot longer than that! House finches, for example, have an average lifespan of about 12 years. Gouldian finches are generally going to make it to six years of age in captivity so will Laysan finches with Nihoa finches making it to the ripe old age of 11 years more often than not.
One of the most important things you need to do to keep your zebra finches happy and healthy is to protect them from a scaly face issue that can be caused by mites. Nelson is a Veterinarian who specializes in Companion and Large Animal Medicine in Minnesota, where she has over 18 years of experience as a veterinarian in a rural clinic.
This article has been viewed 19, times. Finches are a popular variety of pet bird. As with any pet, there are financial costs associated with keeping a finch, and they may not suit the preferences of some prospective bird owners.
However, finches will not take up much of your time, and make for pleasant and pretty pets. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Explore this Article parts. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Part 1. Prepare to own more than one finch. Finches are highly social animals, and will not do well if kept alone.
You can keep finches of the same sex together, or you can mix up the genders. Be aware, however, that if you get both male and female finches, they may breed.
Have a plan in place in case they produce babies. Plan for their lifespan. Generally speaking, most breeds of finch will live from 4 to 7 years. While finches do not live nearly as long as some larger breeds of birds, they still have a decent lifespan.
Anticipate some veterinary care. Although finches are generally healthy birds, you will likely need to take them to a veterinarian from time to time. This will incur a financial cost, although the cost can vary widely based on the nature of the illness. Signs of illness among finches include: remaining motionless with closed eyes, heavy breathing, nasal discharge, or puffed and ruffled feathers. Part 2.
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