What's Your Daily Finch Routine?

[Kathryn]

I'll post mine asap.

[Sally]

Of course, everyone's routine is going to be different. Time available--do you work or are you retired? How many birds, cages, flights, etc. But here is sort of mine--varies from day to day.

First thing is to check all the cages and flights and make sure there is no one missing, no one feet up on the floor, no tosslings, no one puffy and looking off.

Then it's time to make eggfood and veggies, and deliver them to the birdies. Check, change out waterers. Give bathtubs.

Clean some of the cages (there are too many now to clean in one day!). Dump seed hopper catch drawers, top off seed. Replenish mineral cups, herb salad cups as needed.

Before lights out, check every cage and flight and make sure all is well.

All these activities are spread throughout the day, whenever they fit into my schedule. From time to time during the day, I just sit and watch them, enjoying their songs and calls.

In the breeding room, I'm always on the lookout for someone sitting, or pairs that eat eggfood and then fly immediately to their nest, or I listen for the sounds of babies begging. In the mixed cages and flights, I watch for any signs of incompatibility--fussing, chasing, plucking.

I'm retired, so my schedule is very flexible. For those who work, they must be much more organized.

[franny]

My routine with only 4 birds is very easy. Since I rise at 4:30 and the cage light doesn't come on until 8:30 (it's in my living room), I don't do anything more than peek to see if all 4 are still sleeping on their perches.

In the evening when I get home from work I have a very set routine:

1. I give fresh water to the dog, cat and birds,
2. clean the cat box and bird cage (change the paper, whip poop off the perches).
3. Give fresh food and meds, or supplements of the day, to dog, cat and birds!
4. Walk the dog.

Not counting walking the dog, this routine usually only takes me about 15 minutes. Then I spend the rest of the evening enjoying listening to my beautiful male gouldian sing like a canary, while I cuddle with the cat on my lap. Live is good. Now the only thing that could make it better was if I was retired too, and could spend more time enjoying their company.

[Domenic]

Pretty much the same as Sally here, minus the millions of cages.

First thing every morning, I check for tosslings, stray eggs, missing birds, sick birds, anything else unusual.

Then I change everyone's food, water, and eggfood. If I'm out of eggfood I boil whatever button quail eggs I've collected and chop em up. (I collect button quail eggs about every four days)

Next I vacuum up any spilled seed from the floor from my 2 cages (no spilled seed in the aviary).

Then I just sit back and watch everyone feast. Alot of my routines are weekly, like cleaning the glass on the aviary, changing newspaper, raking up the bedding, and other more time consuming things.

[saffronfinch]

Since I work a full-time job, my routine varies from when I work and on my days off! When I work I get up about 8am and check up on all 32 birds (numerous flight cages) and make sure no one is dead or hurt. Then after I'm done getting ready for work I check up on everyone again and make sure no one has gone potty in their drinking water and give them sprouts. I get home about 8pm or so and by that time their light is off. Thats when I make the time to change the water again and give them fresh pellets and do some light cleaning. Since they wake up before me its essential that they have clean water and food ready in the morning.

On my days off. Thats when the "real fun" begins. The previous night they still get fresh water and food. When I finally get up, I check up on them as usual and then I do major cleaning, scrubbing out trays, changing out corncob litter, wiping down the cages/walls/tables and vacuuming. Of course meanwhile interacting with all the birds. Through out the day I check up on them at least 4 times an hour! Since i don't have much time when I work.