Fire Finch Fledgling question (escapees)

[a_gouldian]

I was looking for some experienced input on fire Finch Fledglings escaping from their cage. We have 3 fledglings that fledged about 2 months ago and were weaned about 2 weeks after fledging. We moved them to another cage next to the adults about two weeks ago and after a few days two of them escaped the cage.

After another week went by one escaped twice in one day and was on the top of the cage where the adults are, looking down at the adults. We moved the Fire Finch fledglings to another large double flight cage that has two lavenders in it and is set up (greenery and branches) similar to the cage they fledged in. All the cages have 1/2 inch bar spacing and they are getting out through the bars.

Is this common behavior for Fire Finch fledglings? Is this because they want to be with the parents or is it flock behavior? Do they usually out grow this? We wanted to keep one or two of them but would want them in a different cage from the parents because of breeding. Their parents never have escaped from their cage.

We are going to build a new cage for them with mesh wire so they can't get out, but are wondering what to expect long term with this escaping business if we put them back in a cage with 1/2 each bar spacing in the future.

[Sally]

If they are in one of those double flight cages by HQ or A&E, there are many places where the spacing is a bit more than 1/2", like in some of the corners or around doors, etc. Fire finches are so tiny, that they can squeeze through 1/2" bars. Since yours are weanlings, they still want to get back with their parents. They may outgrow this.

[ac12]

I would MAKE a cage out of 1/2 inch square wire mesh. Or smaller if you want to make certain they don't escape.

Or line the outside of the cage with 1/2 or 1/4 inch wire mesh. It has to be right up against the bars, so the chicks won't get stuck between the mesh and the bars.
Or put it on the inside, but that gets tricky to work around the perches.

Then just keep them there until they grow large enough to be contained in a regular cage.

[a_gouldian]

Thanks for the replies. We ended up making a good sized flight cage out of 1/4 inch wire mesh. We will move them in a few days or the first time one escapes again.