Are Finches really fragile?

[poohbear]

Most finches grow long toenails at some time..clipping with nail clippers is very simple and shouldn't be a problem.Hold the bird to the light and clip off below where you see a blood vessel.Larger birds like parrots are best left to somebody experienced...but finches are easy to handle.

[kenny]

hi
welcome to the site,you can have finches that are more robust and larger than some species,but i wouldnt say one is more delicate than the other,as everyone has said accidents happen with all things and thats just the way it is .i would stick with your original choice otherwise you may be disapointed if you choose something you think is going to be more hardy than another.i can assure you even canaries have accidents and some parrots,and the only reason you see postings about accidents is because they do happen good luck with your final choice and show us some pics when you can

ken

[annague]

I have a pair of OC waxbills (I laughed when I saw you posted waxwing up there -- it's hard to get all the species names right at first! I also have Stars and Owl finches.

They are all fairly hardy finches once established. Meaning, you need to get past their quarantine and let them get used to their cage and the environment (and possible 'bugs' in the environment) and once you've had them for a bit they are pretty strong and hardy finches.

Everybody on this post gave you some good advice IMO. Canaries are also quite fun.

[kenny]

hi
its strange you mentioning waxwings we had an influx of those very birds at the start of the year...we have a bird sanctuary where the lifeboat station is and they all landed there....the bird watchers went there in thier droves because we do see them in this country but not usually in those amounts

ken

[Ursula]

I'm glad you'll stick with your original plan, Debbi!

I have 3 orange cheeks and they are lovely! I'm sure you'll like them very much! Mine are now over 4 years old and doing great...

[Debbi]

Thanks Poohbear & Kenny.

Annague, good catch - waxwings! lol.

Ursula - yep, star finches first, then waxbills when I expand the cage.

I got a cage - 30x18x18, 1/2" spacing.

I plan on getting a cement perch for their nail....I like the Hagen one, but should the size be small, rather than medium?

Also, opinions on removing the grate and just covering the tray with newspapers, or leaving the grate and covering it with papers? I keep reading conflicting info on that. I am leaning toward removing the grate, though. You guys are so helpful!

[L in Ontario]

What made me settle on finches is that I had to take my boxer/beagle mix into the vet for a recheck on his urine ph after a bladder infection. They had a society finch in a cage that they'd never had there before. It made the sweetest chirping noises the whole time I was there. I asked the receptionist where the finches came from (thinking they might be up for adoption). She said Petsmart had brought in one of them because it had a broken leg and they wouldn't sell it. So they fell in love with it and got another to keep it company. So that, added to all the rest is what really threw me.

Soooo... do tell: what kind of finches were in the vet's office?

[Debbi]

What made me settle on finches is that I had to take my boxer/beagle mix into the vet for a recheck on his urine ph after a bladder infection. They had a society finch in a cage that they'd never had there before. It made the sweetest chirping noises the whole time I was there. I asked the receptionist where the finches came from (thinking they might be up for adoption). She said Petsmart had brought in one of them because it had a broken leg and they wouldn't sell it. So they fell in love with it and got another to keep it company. So that, added to all the rest is what really threw me.

Soooo... do tell: what kind of finches were in the vet's office?

Societies. Cute little things!

[annague]

Debbi, I think there are several factors to consider: certain types of finches spend a lot of time on the bottom of the cage (fire finches come to mind along with Parrot Finches and probably several others I can't think of right now) so you want them to feel comfortable where they would normally hang out anyway. Another consideration is breeding -- grass or hay provides a nice soft cushion for eggs or babies that fall out of the nest; some people also use it because the birds like to forage in it and even eat some of the seeds or the stalks themselves, any type of litter or grass can also provide a little bit cleaner environment for the birds with less work (just remove soiled areas and replace with clean).

Grates are mainly to keep the birds from their own poops and in some cases they do look a bit neater than a litter or grass/hay and nothing falls out through the bars for you to sweep up that way, either.

Your choice!

[Debbi]

Hmmm. I'm really considering the grass or hay.....

Thanks Anna.

Oh, and Kenny - I had to look up the waxwings. Pretty birds!

[kenny]

hi
yes they are really pretty,i do know of some people who have these in captivity and are breeding with them.they are not illegal to keep in my country but you have to have a licence otherwise you can get a hefty fine for keeping what are normally wild birds....they have to be close rung so that thier is no mistake they have been cage or aviary bred...and you have to apply for the numbered rings to put on them,if you are caught with birds that are not rung they come down on you like a ton of bricks...and so they should do,while we are on the subject of native birds .we had a drive to a place in the uk which is not far from me called bempton cliffs it is a seabird sanctuary and they cliffs are covered in puffins, guillemots, shags,gannets all breeds of seagull it is a fantastic place.i will put a link on just incase you where curious

ken



www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/

[Debbi]

Ohhh that's a beautiful area! The Gannets (sp) are cool & I would love to see a puffin in person. But the one I liked best was the grasshopper warbler. Thank you for that link!

[kenny]

hi
yes it was a bit windy even with the sun out but to see the gulls gliding onto the cliffs its breath taking ,this weekend we are going to the spurn point sanctuary,its a small spit of land where the only permanantly manne life boat station in the uk is,there are waders there but mostly just wild birds!

ken

this is where the observatory is its a very narrow piece of land the north sea is on one side and the river humber on the other.if you look closely you can just make out the lifeboat jetty and the houses where the permanent life boat crew live with thier families it is a bit bleak out there but there are lots of different wild birds to see,they have hides all along the river bank so you dont disturb any of the birds

ken

[Debbi]

That looks like a really nice place to visit. I am nowhere near an ocean here in Colorado, USA, so we don't get anything like a puffin! Oddly enough though we do get herons, cranes, and even pelicans that pass through here.

[gina]

Hi debbi! Wecome to the forum! I'm going to backtrack topic-wise. You had mentioned cement nail trimming perches. Sandy or uniformly rough perches can actually be bad for feet and avian vets do not recommend them. There is a so called safety pumice perch that addresses the problem. It is smooth on the top and bottom and rough only on the sides where the tips of the toenails would touch. Its shape is varied also, which is better for the birds feet. Here is a link to Dr's Foster and Smith online for this perch. They also carry "Poop-Off" wipes - a real life saver! Especially if you go with the wire cage bottom. The poop inevitably falls on the bars - instead of through them! I personally prefer cage liner paper. I keep a stack inside the tray bottom and roll them up and toss them one at a time. They are even somewhat water resistant and there's always a clean one underneath. It's easy!
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/bird-supp ... /5059/5771
Good luck with your "fids" Looking forward to pictures