Finches as Pets

[finchick]

Several discussions have emerged about taming finches. I'm not sure how many people actually go through the effort of taming their birds with the intention of having them as companions. Finches as companions, I would guess, are those that have a special bond with their owner that is emotional; it is more than simply breeding for colors or type.

So my question is do you primarily keep finches as pets, livestock, or both? If pets, then you do have a special emotional bond with each bird that is special and unique (my definition...); if livestock, then your relationship with them is as an amorphous group, in which they pretty much all are of equal specialness; if both, then every once in awhile, a special bird arises that gets special attention and an effort is made to create a unique bond with that bird.

Which are you?

Note: There is a separate poll on whether you name your birds.

[Sheather]

My birds aren't extremely tame but all have unique personalities and attachments, they're all pets to me, and special as individuals.

[thegatorgal]

I definitely don't consider my finches as livestock, even though none of them are particularly tame. I don't have a large amount, only 4 at this point. Though I am hoping my numbers grow!

I would definitely consider them pets. Even back when I bred and showed purebred rabbits and would sometimes have around 20, I considered them pets and knew their personalities as individuals. The babies I tried not to get too attached to as I sold most of them. But all my show and breeder rabbits had names, personalities and I knew their likes and dislikes. I can see myself being the same with my finches.

[lovezebs]

finchick
I'm a little puzzled by these polls... what is the purpose behind them?

My birds, as all the other non-human creatures that share my life, are my companion/pets. Everyone of them is precious in their own right.

My birds are not livestock! In fact I never planned on breeding (birds had other ideas) and the fact that I have a few chubby babies in a nest doesn't mean that I don't love them all as individual living beings. In fact, this makes me love them all the more. They've made me a Grandma.

How are you answering your own polls, finchick?

[afinch]

Finches can be pets? I keep finches to satisfy those sudden finch soup cravings I get late at night. And when there's also eggs to throw in the mix? Oh so delish.

[lovezebs]

afinch

There have been a couple of Zebbies, that have been threatened with the soup pot now and again....
And it would appear that there are a few eggs in the nest that are not about to hatch.... Wanna come over for an omelet???

[finchick]

To lovezebs: I think some of my birds fall into the breeding stock category and some into the pet category. For the most part, the breeding stock came from other breeders and I didn't really select them for personality. I was looking for a particular color, structure, or size. The breeding stock birds are also easy to send off to another breeder once I get what I need out of that bird. One or two litters will usually give me the diversity and gene pool I was hoping for.

The babies, on the other hand, are the ones that I examined and bonded with before they little eye slits opened. When their claws started going prehensile, I wanted my finger to be what they grabbed onto and balanced on. That would be their first visit out of the cage ~ on my finger, with no intention of flying off. These all became pets and never leave the home.

Suppose I'm a "both" type of person, since I do believe in passing breeding stock on to the next breeder once I get what I need and, hopefully, they'll reciprocate with birds that will enrich my stock.

The difference between breeding stock and pets is never care if my pets ever breed. They simply need to be there healthy, entertaining, and interact with me.

Sound familiar?

[lovezebs]

finchick
Sorry, doesn't sound familiar to me, but then again I would not call myself a breeder. My birds chose to breed, it was not planned. Will the babies stay at home, I don't know yet. Some may stay, some might have to find new homes. However, if I ever start looking at them as just a money making opportunity, then I'll throw in the towel, and probably never have birds in my life again.

Now don't get me wrong, I am not being judgmental of breeders, not at all. In fact, I have the outmost respect and gratitude for them. If it were not for breeders, I would probably
not have my birds. It's just not me.

Kind regards.

[MiaCarter]

Sheather said it well.

I value them all as individuals.
I bred my birds because I love them so much and I wanted more just like them!
It didn't work out that way. I still don't have clone of my beloved Molly Sue. But I have Squeepers who's cool beyond description and fabulous in his own way.

Pippin and Piper are cutie pies, despite their nastyness to others. I have them together in their own cage now and they're much more likable now! LOL I can actually engage them without them getting distracted by another bird and snipping at them!

I bred Clara and Avery, my Gouldians, because of their intelligence, beauty and presence. I have no doubt that their babies will be equally beautiful and fabulous! (Actually, I didn't breed them. They bred themselves, a bit before I was expecting it! But hey, sometimes you just gotta go with it!)

I've thought about breeding and I just don't think I can do it. I bond with them too much. And I'm a bit of a snob, I guess? I genuinely believe they'll have a better life with me than they would with another person. I feel like I'll feed them better. I'll care for them better when they're sick or injured. They'll enjoy ample cage space and free fly time in the bird room.

To feel comfortable giving one away, I'd need to see their accommodations. I'd want to ensure they had appropriate medications on hand and a willingness to take them to the vet if necessary. I'd want to ensure they would be safe from other pets. I'd want the owner to be generally knowledgeable in bird care. But really, nobody wants an interrogation and home inspection for a finch! (Heck, people are hesitant to allow an interview and home inspection when adopting a dog, cat or parrot from a rescue that requires this!)

Though if I were to adopt out a bird, it would be to someone here on the forum. There are some people here whom I'd trust with my babies.

[Sheather]

MiaCarter makes a lot of good points I too can relate to.

I do encourage my birds to breed (but never force or expect them to), and I do sell some of the resulting offspring, but only to the very best homes. True, I don't do home inspections, but a bird does never leave my care without my seeing pictures, at least, of their future accommodations and ensuring their new owners are only going to provide the best of care, because even the offspring I rehome have all normally been named and loved.

I also only breed because I know in the event I couldn't find homes for the young, I'd have the space to accommodate them if necessary. I never sell to pet shops, and wouldn't allow any new lives into this world if I wasn't able to provide for them, whether they're unsaleable, imperfect, or otherwise undesirable in some ways or not.

Most generally, I try and give my pets the best, most enjoyable, and most natural lives possible given their unchangeable circumstances as domestic animals, and if they are happy enough to reproduce, that means I am doing my job well.

[lovezebs]

Sheather

[finchmix22]

finchick
Sorry, doesn't sound familiar to me, but then again I would not call myself a breeder. My birds chose to breed, it was not planned. Will the babies stay at home, I don't know yet. Some may stay, some might have to find new homes. However, if I ever start looking at them as just a money making opportunity, then I'll throw in the towel, and probably never have birds in my life again.

Now don't get me wrong, I am not being judgmental of breeders, not at all. In fact, I have the outmost respect and gratitude for them. If it were not for breeders, I would probably
not have my birds. It's just not me.

Kind regards.

@lovezebs
I just thought I'd post a reminder that you were not originally wanting babies! LOL. Now, you have them coming out of everywhere!! How things can change within a few months, huh?