FINCHforum

Went and cut some branches from the crabapple tree in my front yard. And was wondering, are they okay to just put into the cages? Or do you have to wash them first.

The branches are still sorta living (inside is greenish) but I already took off all the leaves.

Another thing, can I use those fake plants (for reptiles) for finches? If so, which kind would be the best choice?

I use silk ferns and silk orchids and plants. the branches should be soaked in bleach and water for 30 minutes, scrub and then put them in a clean water no bleach soak for 30 minutes, repeat with clean water for another 30 minutes to leach the bleach out, then sun dry for a day or two and you should be good to go. The soakig in bleach will kill ay germs left behid by outdoor birds, kill any mites, molds.