Anything else I need???

[CommaHolly]

So, currently, I have 2 male zebra finches,,,,,,,,,,and I want to make sure I have everything I need,,,,,,

they are currently in a rather small cage (I'm a bit peeved that the pet store recommended this one, but live and learn), so I'm buying a MUCH larger "flight cage" this weekend,,,,,,

besides a larger cage, I have:

cuttle bone
hay ball with Timothy hay
2 standard perches
1 "real tree" branch (Not from the outside, bought in a pet store)
1 bamboo type nest
millet spray
food and water cups
swing (they seem to enjoy it LOL)
nesting material (kind of like fluffy stuff,,,,I've also given them cut up paper towels that they use)


do I need anything to prevent mites? I noticed some mite things to hang on the cage at the pet store,,,,,,,

anything I SHOULD NOT have?? I did have some stringy nesting material, but then I read not to use that, so I took it out,,,,,,,someone told me NO sand paper perch liners , so I didn't get any,,,is that right? Or should I get some???

also, something I read on here totally surprised me,,,,,,,,,,zebra finches can be aggressive? Mine aren't in the least,,,,,,,they seem to be totally lovey dovey to each other,,,,,

should I count myself lucky and decide never to add any more to the mix???

[finchmix22]

Zebra finches are aggressive and will pluck and pick on each other, especially if you have more than two per cage. If you have a male/female pair, they will likely get along well, but males can sometimes harrass the hens. Once they have babies, you'll need to watch that the parents don't start to pick on or pluck the fledges. They tend to do this when they are ready to go back to nesting and/or there are fledges of the same sex as the aggressor.

[CommaHolly]

hum, two per cage, max LOL,,,I think I shall keep them alone and buy another cage if I decide to get more thank you!

[Sally]

Don't get one of those hang-on mite protectors, they emit chemical fumes and can actually be harmful to your birds. There are much better products out there. I personally love Avian Insect Liquidator, but you have to order it online.

Rather than the standard dowel perches that come with cages, I like to cut small branches from trees/shrubs in my yard. I've used crape myrtle, rose of sharon, red tip photinia, fruit trees, etc. The uneven thickness of a natural branch is better exercise for their feet. And don't use those sandpaper perch covers, they are too abrasive.

[Sally]

This section of the FIC will give you tips on housing, what to get to decorate the cage, etc. Yes, a swing is the one toy that most all finches love.

http://www.finchinfo.com/housing/index.php

[CommaHolly]

Don't get one of those hang-on mite protectors, they emit chemical fumes and can actually be harmful to your birds. There are much better products out there. I personally love Avian Insect Liquidator, but you have to order it online.

Rather than the standard dowel perches that come with cages, I like to cut small branches from trees/shrubs in my yard. I've used crape myrtle, rose of sharon, red tip photinia, fruit trees, etc. The uneven thickness of a natural branch is better exercise for their feet. And don't use those sandpaper perch covers, they are too abrasive.

great info, thanks!

I heard you have to boil or microwave the branches if you get them outside, though,,,,,is that true??

I have some orange trees in my back yard, I could snatch a few branches from there,,,,,,,

[Sally]

Some people clean them with dilute bleach solution, others treat them in case of bugs. I just cut them off the shrub/tree and place them right in the cage like that (I am lazy!). I don't use chemical sprays, you wouldn't want to use anything you have sprayed with a pesticide.

[CommaHolly]

thank you

I have lived here 12 years, and have never sprayed my orange trees with anything,,,I can't vouch for before that though,,,,,,,,I rather doubt it, however,,,,,,they hadn't even been TRIMMED for years when we moved in LOL

[CommaHolly]

I also have a Kumquat tree that I KNOW hasn't ever been sprayed, and it appears to be on a "safe" list for birds, so I'll probably use those thanks again!

[dutch]

CommaHolly.....I have 120+ zebra finches.....every single bird has perfect feathers....not a single bird in my flock is agressive.....zebras are most social bird I have ever bred.....

I even have gouldians raising chicks in the same avairy as all those zebs.....

Zebs are the perfect bird......brilliant breeders and awesome cage mates

[wildbird]

Don't forget some oyster shell & mineral mix.

[CommaHolly]

Don't forget some oyster shell & mineral mix.

I thought that's what the cuttle bone was for??? thanks for the info!! I was afraid I'd forget something like that

Dutch,,,,,so the actual answer to "are they aggressive?" is,,,,,,,IT DEPENDS?

[debbie276]

Articles from The Finch Information Center:

Nutrients & Their Sources
http://www.finchinfo.com/diet/nutrients_and_sources.php

Safe, Toxic, & Unsafe Foods
http://www.finchinfo.com/diet/safe_toxi ... _foods.php

[Mands]

CommaHolly

Start out small and simple. Learn as much as you can, everyone on here are awesome with help and knowledge. Just the one pair will teach you heaps. When you are ready, let them breed and you will have a great time watching the eggs then babies raised by mum and dad. Once that happens, I betcha you will be back for more

[Sally]

Dutch,,,,,so the actual answer to "are they aggressive?" is,,,,,,,IT DEPENDS?

Yes, it depends-- on whether you are talking about keeping birds in cages or keeping birds in aviaries. That is like comparing apples and oranges. In cages, Zebra finches will almost always be aggressive to other birds. There are exceptions to every rule, of course, but why ask for problems from the beginning?