Sunday, March 6, 2011

Finches Cages Help To Keep Your Bird Comfortable

By Paul Auge


The Finch is a very popular bird pet. The Finches cages provide their home and recreational opportunities and these homes must be roomy enough to meet their needs and yet easy to clean. The only exercise a bird of this species gets is flying and their home must have room enough for them to get their necessary exercise.

Finches come in a tremendous variety of colors, breeds and with various beak sizes however most are social creatures only with their own kind. The birds do not usually tolerate or seek human company. Cages of stainless steel or wrought iron are well suited as homes for these lovely birds.

The minimum recommended size for two healthy Finches is normally at least 30 inches/72.6cm in width to permit them flight room for exercise. The height of the cage is less important but 12 inches/30.5 cm width is usually minimum. Perches should be scattered around the cage at various heights and not all clustered together to allow even this social bird some solitary time.

These bird homes should include enough space for nests if breeding is a consideration. Zebra Finches also prefer to sleep in nests at night rather than roost and should be provided with nests even if the owner is not planning on breeding them. In order to maintain their psychological health these birds require at least one companion of their own kind. On the other hand, if a new bird is being introduced to an already established group, bullying behavior can emerge. When bring a new bird in, the owner should observe the interactions carefully and assure the bird integrates into the group properly.

Birds require a clean environment in order to remain healthy. However cleaning a cage should be done on a scheduled basis and if the schedule is predictable the birds are less likely to become panicked and stressed. Human intrusions that are unexpected can be upsetting to Finches.

Cage lining should be changed each day. Many owners prefer to use newspaper to line the bottom of the cage. Certain types of shavings can produce an odor when wet and cobs can become moldy which makes newspaper preferable. Like many bird types Finches love to take baths and water containers for bathing are considered a treat by the birds.

Finches don't really enjoy toys as much as other types of birds and their cage area should be kept relatively uncluttered in order to provide enough space for flight. However varying width and height of perches can help provide the birds with spaces to socialize and narrower perches can provide places for the bird to spend some alone time. A smooth branch on a slant can allow the birds to vary their grips on the roosts.

Where a cage is placed in the home should be thought out carefully with the needs of the birds in mind. Finches require full sunlight but also need a shaded area as temperature extremes are very unhealthy. These birds do not tolerate chilly rooms or cold draughty areas either and their cage should be in a gently warmed and sunny area whenever possible.




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