New Finch Owner as of Today

[bfterrizzi]

Today I purchased my first two Society Finches.
Getting them into their cage they both managed to get out and I had to chase them. I got the first one in great, the second was a bit more of an ordeal. Since then the one that I had the struggle with was active and eating seemed to be adjusting to the new environment, but over the last hour has perched and has both eyes closed. There is no ooze or awkward breathing, but I am nervous that she may be sick! I am only a couple hours into this and am curious if she is fatigued from flying away from me or if I should take her to the vet... any feedback is appreciated.

[Domenic]

From your description it sounds like it's just sleeping to me. Most birds will sleep periodically throughout the day and all through the night. Usually they only sleep a few minutes and then continue on with their activities. Since you chased your bird around the house it's probably going to be really tired for the rest of the day. Depending on where you got it from it may not have had this much excercise for the entirety of it's life. Another possibility could be that it isn't used to your schedule yet. As far as you know it could be bedtime for him. But I definitely wouldn't worry about it.

[bfterrizzi]

Ok then. This is the first pet I have had let alone a finch so I may just be over concerned. I don't know any other bird owners so I look forward to learning from you guys here. Cheers.

[B CAMP]

Welcome to the forum
They can get stressed with trying to catch and the fact there in a new environment can cause stress ,Have you seen them drink and eat ?
I think I would make sure they have some millet on the floor might give them a light close to the cage a little extra heat helps when they don't feel just up to par
Check this link http://www.finchinfo.com/birds/finches/ ... _finch.php
Good luck with them

[Animal Quackers]

Welcome!

I agree with Domenic - the little one is probably tired from all the flying! That, in addition to the stress of being moved to a new home is exhausting for sure!

[lovemyfinch]

I am going to agree with everyone else here, he is prprobably just taking a nap. Booth the move and the chase probably have him tuckered out.

Welcome to the forum, and enjoy your new finches, they are wonderful little characters.

[FinchDegg]

Welcome, congrats on new birds, if you want to learn this is the place to be .... not sure if this is just coincidence but on cleanout nights (every 2 days) i can guarentee if any of the birds try and make a break for it its my societies ... over last month ive found them everywhere once they get out (my fault but dnt mind them spreading their wings), found them in xmas tree, on top of pics on wall, on top of curtain rail, list is endless ... obvious to say once aviary is complete there will be a safe guard so they cant get out when i go in lol

welcome again

[bfterrizzi]

Thank You for the responses,
I woke up this morning and uncovered the cage and they both seem happy.
I am only afraid now that they will breed.
The male is doing a lot of displaying and trying to jump on the back of what I thought was another male but is apparently a female....
Just as I type I think he was just successful. Uh oh.

[FinchDegg]

if there is a nest in the cage as with most birds breeding is inevitable, if you dont want to breed them you can simply remove eggs once laid although this not a longterm solution as continuous egg laying can have adverse effects on hens health ... if you do wish to breed them then please check diet and nutrition to make sure your birds get correct diet ..

[bfterrizzi]

Are there any simple ways to prevent breeding? I bought both of these thinking that they were both males. Since it is a male-female couple if there is no nest then will that prevent breeding? I was going to go and buy them a nest today because I thought that would make them happier. I would like to prevent breeding as long as possible at least until I get more comfortable caring for just these two...

[FinchDegg]

no nest doesnt necessarily mean no eggs, but if you buy a nest then it stands a good chance you will get eggs.

jus a quick question .... telling societies apart can be quite difficult (normally based on singing) .. are you sure they are definately male/female and its not just a show of dominance, to be honest whoever sold you them as definate male/male must know their birds to say this

[Sally]

I'm with FinchDegg on this one. Once a Society sings, you know for sure you have a male, but just because one is not singing does not mean it is for sure a female. Males will mount other males, and sometimes the subservient male will not sing. The only way for sure for me to tell if I have a female is if it lays eggs. I wouldn't give up on the fact that you might have a m/m pair.

Also, welcome to the forum! If you put your location in your profile, it makes it easier for us to answer questions. Also, if you are new to finches, the best thing you can do for your new pets is to read everything in the Finch Information Center, linked at left.

[bfterrizzi]

The seller was not sure. I identified the first male because he sings and displays constantly. I suppose based on your description the other one may be male. I am making my way through the info and a couple books as well. Its nice after yesterdays events that they seem to be getting on and enjoying their new home. They are both much more vocal than I thought they would be. They have not stopped all day as a matter of fact.

[mrshorn]

Welcome to the board and the wonderfully addictive world of finch ownership. My hubby and I bought three "male" societies back in May, and we now have a grand total of 17. Keep in mind, we only ever bought the three. They love to make babies, so if you don't want any yet, do not give them a nest. Even then, it may not stop them. They might lay eggs in the food dish, corner if the cage, etc. I do have to say though, we only had ours a couple weeks before the first clutch was laid, but it has been a real joy!! Having finch babies is lots of fun, and if you have any questions, the people on this board are SUPER helpful! They got us through it! Have fun with your new birdies!

[Domenic]

Yes, I agree ↑. Much of my joy in keeping finches comes from seeing eggs in the nest. The only downfall is the difficulty in finding the chicks new homes. A lot of people, like mrshorn, just keep the chicks. Others trade their birds to local pet stores for seed or other supplies. Many people shy away from breeding their birds because they are intimidated by what they read on websites—trust me, breeding is definitely not as difficult as it seems. If you have other reasons for not wanting to breed I fully respect that. Usually not providing a nest is the perfect remedy for this and only the REALLY persistent ones will try to raise a clutch in a food bowl. However, if you decided to get some more expensive birds like Gouldians, Cordon Bleus, Owls, etc., I can assure you that they won't do anything without a nest. Most of us have very difficult times getting them to do anything with the nest.

We'd love to see pics of your societies if you ever get around to it!