2 Finch Cage - Thoughts?

[Gabethenewbie]

Hey I just want some opinions/thoughts on how my cage setup is

I'm a new finch owner (Zebra) and don't know what they like/don't like even though they are very happy it seems with what they have. In the first picture, as you can see, they love building there nest up and building there bedding up. They are 2 males and I know that males like to do this and mine would do it constantly if I kept giving them supplies

I give them some small cut up lint like strings (bought at local pet shop) and balls of cotton (which I tear up into much smaller pieces, and I also bought this at my local pet shop). And I also give them timothy hay as they like this too for nesting. They love when I give them these 3 thing's for building, but is it too much or is it OK to give them these supplies? They almost build there bedding too BIG because I can tell the way it looks in there housing.
- Also another thing I was wondering, I know they like to use their skeleton stick of there spray millet for bedding too, but for some reason mine eat about half of it and then put it in the bedding? I just don't understand this because when I first purchased them they ate the millet right up and never did this. When they put full or half small buds of spray millet in there houses it uses up a lot of space and sometimes covers most of the entrance too it. So I end up moving it or taking it out because they can barely fit in it and looks very uncomfortable.

Another thing is, is that sometimes randomly when I give them company by watching them or standing in from of the cage they seem to take some pieces from there housing (it's always the cotton strings and cotton balls) and just hop around with it in there mouth. It's almost like they are trying to communicate with me that they want MORE!!! I'm not sure about this one but I don't give them building materials A LOT but maybe 3-4 times a week.

- Also another thing I was wondering is about cage sizes. I want my finches to be the happiest they can be and if they would be happier with a BIGGER cage size I would be completely for it to go bigger....I'm just wondering if they would not like changing cages or if they are at there full happiness in a I'd say Small-Medium cage.



As you can see in my cage, they yellow tray is there treat tray ( I put there spray millet in there, candy coated millets [only like once a week!], grain and oats with dried fruit [at pet store it says finch treats..!?], and millet with some dried green herbs of some sort...I believe spinach or parsley ). Next to that (to the right) is there main food dish where I use Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Finch Food for food. Also any recommendations for better food or anything like that would be helpful! I am not afraid of price or anything of the sort! Then to the left of the yellow treat dish is there water, which I don't use faucet water (city water), I use bottled water.



For the bottom of the cage, to the left (white dish), I use that for there bath. The first few days/weeks I had them, they used this a lot more than they do now. I don't know if this is normal but I make sure that it is clean and do not leave it in there for them to poop in it then drink out of it. They often use it also for nesting (they like to get the timothy hay wet or sometimes the cotton, and then use it in there housing because I think it makes it more flexible to put down and lay).
- Next on the bottom of the cage I have a tupperware top (something like that!) that I use to set there building materials on to. I also clean this whenever I give them building materials as I do not want them to pick up pieces with poop on it.

- Also on the bottom perch you can see a tan sandpaper like thing wrapping around about half of it...I bought these because they are constantly swiping there beaks on things and thought maybe they would like to use it for that and it also sharpens their nails (bought at local pet store specifically meant for exactly this)

Lastly, I bought a swing for them thinking it would be something for them to do other than just jump from house to house, perch to perch, and they LOVE it! There not constantly using it but sometimes they like to jump on it and swing on it for a few seconds and then jump off it again, then do it again and again and again. I'm not sure if this is a good thing to have in there though because of my cage size and am wondering if I should take it out for maximum vertical cage space? They like it but just wondering if the more room, the better.

Another question I have, is it necessary to get new woven houses often, or do people just clean them out themselves? I have cleaned them out a couple of times and some of the poop is VERY hard to clean out of it!!

Oh and one more thing! (sorry for the essay, just have lots of questions and hoping you guys can be of help!!) It's about the behavior of them, is them fluttering there wings for 5/10 minutes straight a normal thing to do? It makes this fluttering noise and they do it while they are stationary and spread there wings out every once in a while too. I'm just not sure on some behavior things if there not getting enough of what there supposed to be getting and if there are any behavioral signs I need to pay special attention too.

I just want them to be the happiest they can be and have the opportunity to live the best and longest life they can! Any help would be great and I would greatly appreciate it as I am no expert on my little guys and would like to and could use some helpful tips!

Thanks guys, I would really appreciate all the help and look forward to letting these Zebra Finches the best life they can

[Ursula]

Welcome to the forum!

It looks like you really love your finches and try to give them the best life you can.

I think you're doing a lot of things right already. Just a few things, and this is just my personal opinion/experience:

To the cage: I would consider yours a small cage, even if petstores will tell you otherwise. Finches like to fly and the bigger the space, the better. So get the biggest you can afford/you have room for, or build your own flight cage/aviary. As for perches: It's beneficial if you use natural branches vs. perches that have the same thickness overall. It's good for their feet to have to grasp wide and small perches. When the cage/aviary is big enough they would also like places to hide in, and fake ivy and other fake plants are perfect for that and you can wash them when they get dirty.

To the food: You should also feed them fresh (organic!) greens like romaine, and shreeded carrots, corn, etc. Since they are males and won't breed you don't need to feed eggfood, but as a treat it couldn't hurt. Finches need more than just seed. (Although I am not experienced with Zebras, so I let other chime in what's best for them.)

I can't answer about the woven houses, I don't use them. But I would just throw them out after a while when they get too dirty.

Have fun with your guys!

[Sally]

Welcome to the forum, Gabe. It is obvious that you want the very best for your finches. Unfortunately, pet shops aren't always the best place to learn how to care for them. Many of the cages they carry will be more appropriate for parakeets. Even cage manufacturers don't give the best advice, as they will label all small cages as perfect for finches. Just because finches are tiny, many people think they will be fine in a small cage, and the truth is that these little birds need a bigger cage than you would think. Horizontal width is more important than height. I consider 24x16x16 to be the smallest cage I would use, and I much prefer a minimum of 30x18x18. The width of 24" or 30" gives them room to fly a little and exercise their wings.

I would only put one nest in the cage, the extra one just takes up space. For nesting material, those little boxes of string they sell at pet shops are not really the best thing to use, as the string can wrap around their legs or toes and cut off circulation. The timothy hay is great, and another thing you can use is burlap fabric. Take a small square and unravel it--you will wind up with a pile of burlap strings the birds will love. One thing to remember, if you put a nest in a cage, it is there not only for sleeping, but birds see it for breeding. Since you have two males, you don't have to worry about eggs or babies, but just keep an eye on your two males that they don't start bickering. The hopping up and down with a string in their beak is normal breeding behavior--it is how the males court females (and vice versa in many species). Even though you have two males, they will still exhibit this behavior, especially when provided a nest and nesting material.

Ursula aready advised you about the perches. One natural perch at each end of a 24 or 30 long cage, with a swing in the middle, and you are set. Those sandpaper covers for perches are unnecessary, just another thing the manufacturers have come up with to sell. A better option would be the cement pedi-perches made by Living World, but even that is not absolutely necessary.

As far as food, Ursula again has given you excellent advice. A varied diet is important, not only for their physical health, but I think for their mental health as well. One other thing I would add to their diet is a mineral mix. It can be as simple as oystershell grit, which you can find in any petshop. Just make sure it is oystershell grit, not gravel.

On the wing fluttering, this is absolutely normal, it is part of their preening/grooming routine. You will see it especially just after they have had a bath. Also, in a small cage, it could be a way they are trying to exercise their wings, since they really don't have enough room to fly.

I recommend that you go to the Finch Information Center, linked at left, and read the Zebra-specific information listed under Species. Also, there are lots of articles on housing, diet, and care. Also, if you put your location in your profile, it makes it easier to give specific answers sometimes. Enjoy your new Zebbies!

[DanteD716]

Welcome, you seemnto be trying very hard!! first, those lint strings, stop supplying them, the fiber get caught around the birds feet. Second, I have the exact same cage as you, I have a pair of zebras in it, but I have the two perch going in different directions. A 30"x18" cage is enough for the two males. You can get a couple different natural oerches of different diameter ajd texture. One onbeach end at different heights. Once they build a nest remove material, they build it up so high the eggs will fall out! ( not that they have eggs)

[DanteD716]

As for food, sprouted or soaked seeds are good. Lettuce, cooked whole grain pasta (no seasoning, sauce, etc) and crushed up hard boil egg shell and all check the diet and nutrition section and at the top it says recipes. You seem to be doing a great job! If I missed a question let me knoe but I'm sure the other memnlbers got them! Feel free to ask as there is always somebody around to answer!