FINCHforum

I have 2 finches in a pretty good size cage. I put in a nest, 2 hanging toys, 3 perches, 1 swings and they seem to do fine with that. I also have of course a seed cup and water cup. I have a clip for when I get millet and greens.

I know nests are not required unless you are planning on breeding. But my 2 seem to feel safer with it there. So I left it for them. I have 2 male zebra finches.

They seem to like toys with strings and bells.

Would really depend on the species, but in general perches placed where they can get the most flight space.
I use a piece of dead wood and a coat hanger for a long swing and they seem to like it, especially the more active ones like Zebras and Java. Some will use it and some won't. Definitely a seperate bird bath or their drinking water will become their bath too. One of the hanging, tubular water dispensers for vitamins, and another for treats like Kool-Aid, Honey water or just some sugar once in while.
As much greens as you can offer them, Celery tops are liked by many birds, shredded carrots and the like---your scraps. Millet on that stick is a real treat, all this seed cups etc was covered above and they eat a lot for their size. Cleanliness is of the utmost importance for healthy birds.
If you can confine them in one closed room, I suggest after a couple weeks to let them fly freely and you'll have happy birds.
Nests are nice to give them a place to call their own and lay their heads. If they're small birds, one of those little cup nests will do it. A window is a must, they adore looking outside in the sunlight.
Enjoy them....what species do you have.

Mine love swings and toys that they can explore/preen. Like rope type toys...

Mine definantly love the rope toys,I have 2 rather big ones hanging in thier cage.

I don't have that particular toy... but I have toys like it, where the finches can preen and play with the strings on the rope... and you don't have to worry about them falling apart



I cleaned out my aviary yesterday (like a really good clean) like the clean I do every six months or so, and I was scrubbing their manz perches and all this brown crap was coming off... has anyone else experienced that? It was strange. It made me kind of cautious as to whether I should be using those perches.

What do you guys think? It was almost like the perches were painted.

My perches do that too, especially when they are newer. I don't think it's harmful if it's the manzanita perch...it may just be the coloring of the bark. If it were a perch that had been stained, then I would be more worried.

You can soak them in bleach water and then rinse rinse rinse and that may help, if you are worried.