Zebra Finches are great birds for a beginner or any bird enthusiast! These attractive little creatures are hardy, inexpensive, active, and one of the easiest birds to keep and breed. They are long-lived, with a life span in captivity of about 12 years.
Chuck - 2011-07-10 I volunteer in the local nursing home as patient advocate and just general companion. Yesterday one patient showed me the Zebra Finch in the fairly large aviary in the activity room. I have been birdwatcher for years but know nothing about exotics nor pets, but this one was so meticulously marked and social, I did some research and found what it was, that it is most likely a male of in determinant age, probably donated by someone who died, and is in a cage with two other exotics (cocka-somethings) one of which does communal grooming with the Zebra. The Zebra and I had quite a conversation and the patients who watched were amazed.
My question is: Should I leave this whole situation alone, or would the Zebra be so ecstatically more happy with a mate that I should take on the extra duty of getting one, taking the proper measures which seem to be lacking for their (and at present his) care, and maybe learn a whole bunch more about Zebra Finches, and give at least some of the more aware patients something more to do than sit around and wait which is what most of them are doing now.
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Jasmine Brough Hinesley - 2011-07-10 It sounds like the zebra finch, Poephila guttata castanotis, is happy to me! They are definitely social birds, and if the one you describe seems to be doing well with the other birds in there and enjoys their company (they may be cockatiels?), then it is probably fine to leave him alone. If you wish to move him however, you would probably want to consider getting him a companion because as I said, they are social birds and do best with company so that they do not get lonely. If you think he is getting adequate care (food, cleanliness, etc.) it is really up to you whether you think you should move him or not.a
Elly 'sharkey' Bourne - 2012-03-08 I have two zebra finches who get on very well together, but there seems to be a problem with the male. At first I thought he wasnt well, puffy feathers ect. But later on he seemed to be alot better, but he's not moving around much. He's still eating lots and happy enough. After looking closer at him I've realised one of his claws has twisted upwards. I was questioning the lack of movement would obviously be because of this. But I'm unaware if the claw will heal naturally. My finches are not easy to hold and we have only had a short while any advice or will it be a vet job?
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Charlie Roche - 2012-03-08 Probably the lack of movement is because he hurt hiis toe. ou can hold him easily enough using a towel and take a good look to see what has happened. He may have twisted the toe and it should heel on it's own - but when you llook if there is ingrown claw, swollen, sore, gash - you should take him to the vet.
reem - 2012-02-07 Can you tame them by hand feeding a baby finch.
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Charlie Roche - 2012-02-07 Yep. Finches tame very easily - not sure about all kinds but most. I have these actually wild golden finches that are out in bunches in early spring through the summer. They come in the house and I have picked them right up. I have picked them up, pet them and then just let them sit on my hand. They are tame. I mean - they are wild but they seem to like human pet.
Vanna - 2012-02-05 Hello all finch and bird owners, I found one of my female gouldian finches with an injured leg: I have placed the finch into a seperate cage from the aviary, soothed and bathed her leg and she is able to feed and drink water herself and is showing lots of signs of been an active finch. Is there a natural treatment that I could apply to her leg to help with the healing process? I would like to hear your comments on my request? Vanna
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Charlie Roche - 2012-02-06 You have done pretty much anything you can do. It is probably splayed leg and she probably fell or twisted it. Can you tell if she moves it at all - cuz if moving - then not broken. It might take a couple of weeks but should heal back to normal. If broken - still not much you can do - unless you want to try avian vet - but I doubt a vet can really do anything. If broken it will mend on its own but maybe with a little crook in it. Probably just aplayed though. Keep her warm - maybe put a light on so it shines on half the cage or a heating pad on the bottom (on the outside) under half the cage.
Star Cruz - 2012-02-01 how can you tame (train)or gain its trust a zebra finch so they don't fly away from you?
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Charlie Roche - 2012-02-02 I don't know that you can but you can help him want to stay by you longer. Have him on you - or very close to you when you are eating your meals and give him tidbits or let him eat off your plate. He can have a little piece of sandwich or a little piece of chicken etc. When you aren't eating meals then have a few cheerios in your pocket. They are curious little birds and like to look around. They do like pet - on the top of the head and sides of the face and seemed to like curling up in my sweater sleeve or laying on my chest. I'd start with mealtimes.
Star Cruz - 2012-01-27 my female finch is laying on the nest all afternoon me and my sister do not know if she die if still alive
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Star Cruz - 2012-01-27 ok and my sister keep poked her back!
Charlie Roche - 2012-01-27 Watch to see if she is breathing or gentky touch her chest to see if breathing. Sometimes they barely move while incubating.
Star Cruz - 2012-01-27 hi it is her sister the male goes in the nest with the female is that a bad thing.
Charlie Roche - 2012-01-27 Male finches also help with incubating the eggs and feeding so it is normal for the male to go in the nest. They do not care if the third finch is the sister they believe they are protecting the nest. You can put a few cheerios or pellets or little millet in the nest if you are still concerned if the female is alive. If she has died she would feel col to your touch by now. I hope she is justsitting tight and fine but if she has died you will have to remove her and hopefully the male will take over all parenting responsibilities
Star Cruz - 2012-01-20 now i have another one: How do u grow more feathers, is it a food thing or something? And how many day does the egg hatch?
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Clarice Brough - 2012-01-20 It's a fairly common problem, these finches will sometimes pluck each other. The best solution is to separate them until the feathers grow back, which they generally will. On hatching eggs, there is information about gestation and hatch times in the article above.
Star Cruz - 2012-01-18 Me and my sister have two finches, one male and one female, but when I got to see them again the females back almost had no feathers! I don't know if the male is doing it or she's going to die? Please tell me.
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Charlie Roche - 2012-01-18 I would guess the male is doing it. Many times the male will get a little over amourous in his intentions and pluck or pull the feathers on the females neck and back wanting to breed. She just isn't ready yet. If her behavior is good and she is eating and pooping normally, I'd say you have an overly amorous male right now.
Star Cruz - 2012-01-19 Thank you so much and today when i got home their was an egg in their nest!
nv - 2012-01-07 Hi. I have a pair of finches and i just want to know that how much food they required daily. I mean can we explain it in weight?
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Charlie Roche - 2012-01-07 I don't believe there is really any way to figure out or know the answer to that question. Fruit provides nutrition but so much of it is water but the weight is there. A piece of chicken will weigh very little but quite filling. There is the food they will eat, the food they will drop and the food they will just throw or get in a food fight with. I never have my birds bowls empty.
Shereen - 2011-12-13 I have 2 pairs of zebra finch in one cage. the 2 males used to fight a lot. till the stronger of them takes the leadership of the cage. Just 2 days ago the weak male start losing feather at the area of neck, I thought this was due to the fight with the other male. yesterday at night, the weak male have lost a lot of his feather around the neck and up till the ears, and down till the chest and belly. the all birds male and females start picking him so much that he bleeds. I have separated him in another cage. I want to know why does he lose feather, Is he ill?? or this is a normal in a bird's life time, that it might change its feather?? if he is ill is is some unknown disease? should I feed him with special diet?? I have asked at the birdshop they said, he just needs calcium.. I have been feeding him well boiled eggs shell since 2 weeks!!! Kindly, advice.
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Alex - 2011-12-16 Hi I'm going to reply on your question, My name is Alex. I'm 12 and I have bred zebra and gouldian finches over 30 times , when this happens the group of finches are rejecting him because he has lost leadership , when this happens you must buy a new cage and put him in there. If you keep him with the other finches in a period of time the male will kill him. If you have any questions or concerns email me at Alex651999@aol.com Thanks
Shereen - 2011-12-17 Thanks alot Alex. I have already moved him to another cage. and he is getting well, I believe he will gain new feathers with time.I really appreciate your reply.
Jenny - 2012-01-02 Yes, I agree with the above comment. When there are two males in the same cage, they are more likely to fight. The dominant one bites and chases the weaker male and if the owner does not separate them, the weaker male may eventually die. I personally witnessed this when the older parents breeded one female and male offspring. Once the offspring grew up, the male fought with the father. Pretty quickly, the intensity increased a lot and the father lost a lot of feathers -- most likely they were bitten off by the son. Unfortunately, by the time I realized this and attempted to separate the males, it was too late and the older male died. Even when you only have one pair consisting of one male and one female, you should be careful. Although zebra finches are social, they may still fight a lot. From my observations, the male tends to be more dominant but sometimes the female can do some damage to the male. If fighting is bad, I would recommend separating the female from the male too for some time.
Zebra Finches are great birds for a beginner or any bird enthusiast! These attractive little creatures are hardy, inexpensive, active, and one of the easiest birds to keep and breed. They are long-lived, with a life span in captivity of about 12 years.
I volunteer in the local nursing home as patient advocate and just general companion. Yesterday one patient showed me the Zebra Finch in the fairly large aviary in the activity room. I have been birdwatcher for years but know nothing about exotics nor pets, but this one was so meticulously marked and social, I did some research and found what it was, that it is most likely a male of in determinant age, probably donated by someone who died, and is in a cage with two other exotics (cocka-somethings) one of which does communal grooming with the Zebra. The Zebra and I had quite a conversation and the patients who watched were amazed.
My question is: Should I leave this whole situation alone, or would the Zebra be so ecstatically more happy with a mate that I should take on the extra duty of getting one, taking the proper measures which seem to be lacking for their (and at present his) care, and maybe learn a whole bunch more about Zebra Finches, and give at least some of the more aware patients something more to do than sit around and wait which is what most of them are doing now.
It sounds like the zebra finch, Poephila guttata castanotis, is happy to me! They are definitely social birds, and if the one you describe seems to be doing well with the other birds in there and enjoys their company (they may be cockatiels?), then it is probably fine to leave him alone. If you wish to move him however, you would probably want to consider getting him a companion because as I said, they are social birds and do best with company so that they do not get lonely. If you think he is getting adequate care (food, cleanliness, etc.) it is really up to you whether you think you should move him or not.a
I have two zebra finches who get on very well together, but there seems to be a problem with the male. At first I thought he wasnt well, puffy feathers ect. But later on he seemed to be alot better, but he's not moving around much. He's still eating lots and happy enough. After looking closer at him I've realised one of his claws has twisted upwards. I was questioning the lack of movement would obviously be because of this. But I'm unaware if the claw will heal naturally. My finches are not easy to hold and we have only had a short while any advice or will it be a vet job?
Probably the lack of movement is because he hurt hiis toe. ou can hold him easily enough using a towel and take a good look to see what has happened. He may have twisted the toe and it should heel on it's own - but when you llook if there is ingrown claw, swollen, sore, gash - you should take him to the vet.
Can you tame them by hand feeding a baby finch.
Yep. Finches tame very easily - not sure about all kinds but most. I have these actually wild golden finches that are out in bunches in early spring through the summer. They come in the house and I have picked them right up. I have picked them up, pet them and then just let them sit on my hand. They are tame. I mean - they are wild but they seem to like human pet.
Hello all finch and bird owners,
I found one of my female gouldian finches with an injured leg: I have placed the finch into a seperate cage from the aviary, soothed and bathed her leg and she is able to feed and drink water herself and is showing lots of signs of been an active finch.
Is there a natural treatment that I could apply to her leg to help with the healing process? I would like to hear your comments on my request?
Vanna
You have done pretty much anything you can do. It is probably splayed leg and she probably fell or twisted it. Can you tell if she moves it at all - cuz if moving - then not broken. It might take a couple of weeks but should heal back to normal. If broken - still not much you can do - unless you want to try avian vet - but I doubt a vet can really do anything. If broken it will mend on its own but maybe with a little crook in it. Probably just aplayed though. Keep her warm - maybe put a light on so it shines on half the cage or a heating pad on the bottom (on the outside) under half the cage.
how can you tame (train)or gain its trust a zebra finch so they don't fly away from you?
I don't know that you can but you can help him want to stay by you longer. Have him on you - or very close to you when you are eating your meals and give him tidbits or let him eat off your plate. He can have a little piece of sandwich or a little piece of chicken etc. When you aren't eating meals then have a few cheerios in your pocket. They are curious little birds and like to look around. They do like pet - on the top of the head and sides of the face and seemed to like curling up in my sweater sleeve or laying on my chest. I'd start with mealtimes.
my female finch is laying on the nest all afternoon me and my sister do not know if she die if still alive
ok and my sister keep poked her back!
Watch to see if she is breathing or gentky touch her chest to see if breathing. Sometimes they barely move while incubating.
hi it is her sister the male goes in the nest with the female is that a bad thing.
Male finches also help with incubating the eggs and feeding so it is normal for the male to go in the nest. They do not care if the third finch is the sister they believe they are protecting the nest. You can put a few cheerios or pellets or little millet in the nest if you are still concerned if the female is alive. If she has died she would feel col to your touch by now. I hope she is justsitting tight and fine but if she has died you will have to remove her and hopefully the male will take over all parenting responsibilities
now i have another one: How do u grow more feathers, is it a food thing or something? And how many day does the egg hatch?
It's a fairly common problem, these finches will sometimes pluck each other. The best solution is to separate them until the feathers grow back, which they generally will. On hatching eggs, there is information about gestation and hatch times in the article above.
Me and my sister have two finches, one male and one female, but when I got to see them again the females back almost had no feathers! I don't know if the male is doing it or she's going to die? Please tell me.
I would guess the male is doing it. Many times the male will get a little over amourous in his intentions and pluck or pull the feathers on the females neck and back wanting to breed. She just isn't ready yet. If her behavior is good and she is eating and pooping normally, I'd say you have an overly amorous male right now.
Thank you so much and today when i got home their was an egg in their nest!
Hi. I have a pair of finches and i just want to know that how much food they required daily. I mean can we explain it in weight?
I don't believe there is really any way to figure out or know the answer to that question. Fruit provides nutrition but so much of it is water but the weight is there. A piece of chicken will weigh very little but quite filling. There is the food they will eat, the food they will drop and the food they will just throw or get in a food fight with. I never have my birds bowls empty.
I have 2 pairs of zebra finch in one cage. the 2 males used to fight a lot. till the stronger of them takes the leadership of the cage. Just 2 days ago the weak male start losing feather at the area of neck, I thought this was due to the fight with the other male. yesterday at night, the weak male have lost a lot of his feather around the neck and up till the ears, and down till the chest and belly. the all birds male and females start picking him so much that he bleeds. I have separated him in another cage. I want to know why does he lose feather, Is he ill?? or this is a normal in a bird's life time, that it might change its feather?? if he is ill is is some unknown disease? should I feed him with special diet??
I have asked at the birdshop they said, he just needs calcium.. I have been feeding him well boiled eggs shell since 2 weeks!!!
Kindly, advice.
Hi I'm going to reply on your question, My name is Alex. I'm 12 and I have bred zebra and gouldian finches over 30 times , when this happens the group of finches are rejecting him because he has lost leadership , when this happens you must buy a new cage and put him in there. If you keep him with the other finches in a period of time the male will kill him. If you have any questions or concerns email me at Alex651999@aol.com Thanks
Thanks alot Alex. I have already moved him to another cage. and he is getting well, I believe he will gain new feathers with time.I really appreciate your reply.
Yes, I agree with the above comment. When there are two males in the same cage, they are more likely to fight. The dominant one bites and chases the weaker male and if the owner does not separate them, the weaker male may eventually die. I personally witnessed this when the older parents breeded one female and male offspring. Once the offspring grew up, the male fought with the father. Pretty quickly, the intensity increased a lot and the father lost a lot of feathers -- most likely they were bitten off by the son. Unfortunately, by the time I realized this and attempted to separate the males, it was too late and the older male died. Even when you only have one pair consisting of one male and one female, you should be careful. Although zebra finches are social, they may still fight a lot. From my observations, the male tends to be more dominant but sometimes the female can do some damage to the male. If fighting is bad, I would recommend separating the female from the male too for some time.