A male Society Finch. New home for him. New realm for me

Marcos · Post by **Marcos** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 10:02 pm

Allow me to introduce myself for the second time. I already did so in the new member section but many don't read those sections so I will do it again. My name is Mark and I live in Chicago. I have 25 years of experience with parrots and I volunteer at a bird rescue for parrots. I had a conure for 23 years before it passed, and I now have a Quaker who is a year and a half old.

OK......on to the important stuff. About a month ago, someone asked me to take a pair of Java finches because of a personal problem. She said she needed to rehome them NOW. So that night, without really have an interest in doing so, or having much knowledge about finches, I took them and got a 5 minute lecture about feeding and care. Subsequent to my accepting them, I have been visiting web sites that discuss finches in one way or another and since that day, I have acquited consider knowledge but by no means would I consider myself sufficiently informed. However, in my research, that is how I came upon this website.

Back to the Javas.............they lasted less than 2 weeks as their constant loud chirping was irritating my Quarker (Maxie). Maxie did try to communicate with them......something parrots just do......and when he did so it sounded like he was choking. Then sometimes he would kind of yell at them. I thought......enough is enough, they have to go. So I posted an ad on Craigslist, and using the knowledge I had about screening candidates for the rehoming, I screened them and several days later came up with a suitable home. In the meantime, I had a cage, and little finch/like bell/preening toys, so I figured why leave the cage empty. I went to Petsmart and got two Orange Cheeked Waxbills. They were quiet in comparison to the Javas. Unfortunately, I took them home and even though most books say that a maximum bar width of 1/2 inch was OK, I put them in a cage of 1/2 inch bar width, and they flew right through them like houdini.....as if the cage wall was never there. Back to Petsmart. I saw once pretty Society finch that had a pretty song....even though it was rather short. I assumed it was a male because I read that females only chirp. So, I decided to buy it and take it home.

Most of the research seemed to indicate that finches, all of them for that matter were best kept in groups/flocks......or at least paris. On the other hand, in my research, I also found people that said that they can do fine on their own, albeit they may be a bit more loney. However, I also read that one finch, like a parrot, over time may develop a bond with a human if the human approaches it properly and continues to care for it. My finch seems to do his song with regularity, but he seems to be settling in more and more, although he has yet to enter the bird bath attached to the cage.

I have to think that a single finch can do just fine. Canaries do and they are finch related. When we hear the canary sing his beautiful song, while we may be amused, the canary is not. He is crying out for a mate and we don't seem to have a problem in letting the canary "go it" alone, so why should the Society finch be any different?

At this point, I think I have gone long enough to invite input. What do you all think? Can my finch live alone with my daily talking to him? Might it be possible for me to ever let him out and fly in a 'bird safe" enviornment and allow him to return to his cage at will? Lastly, might I even be able to tame him....at least somewhat? Responses to any or all are welcome.

BTW, I would have posted a pic, but I have not figured out how to do so. If it is possible, I will post a couple of pics of him. Thanks

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 1:38 am

My advice would be to at least get one more society finch. They aren't that expensive, and finches really do get lonely if kept alone. They don't really like human contact and society finches in particular are very social and want another finch to cuddle with.

Where do you live?

I have 5 society finches that are all weaned and very healthy that need new homes.

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 6:25 am

hi mark
nice story i would take emily up on her offer as the whole reason why they are called society finches is ..they like company!

ken

Marcos · Post by **Marcos** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 12:08 pm

kenny wrote:hi mark
nice story i would take emily up on her offer as the whole reason why they are called society finches is ..they like company!

ken

Hi Emily....that is a nice offer indeed, but I live in Chicago. The freight would not make it very practical for you to do so. Also, I am not a big fan of shipping animals....of any type. Here in the Windy City, Society finches are almost as readily available as Zebras. They sell for between 10 and 20 everywhere. The parrot rescue that I volunteer at does not even want to accept them when they are offered because quite literally, she cannot even give them away.

This little guy is sure vocal without company. His calling out is relentless !!

rottielover · Post by **rottielover** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 12:50 pm

This little guy is sure vocal without company. His calling out is relentless !!

My guess would be he's lonely and trying to contact others...

I recently had to move my society finch pair to a new cage, located just across the room easily within sight and earshot of the original cage.

I was caught up with a few more phone calls, and in the space of about 5 minutes the male was singing and doing what I would term a "contact call". The female was also in a "tizzy" by this point, and also chirping loudly and buzzing around the flight cage.

It was so bad after 15 min. I had to end my phone call and go catch the female to put her in with her "husband" due to the noise. As soon as they were in the cage together, they quieted back down and were back to the "normal" level of noise.

Just my 2 cents...

Marcos · Post by **Marcos** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 12:42 am

Just to let you all know, my little lonely society finch has a cage mate. I heeded to the guidance of many, and adopted a new .....(girl) I hope. Wow, did my lonely finch go nuts when I put the new one in the cage......He gave up two long squeals!!! The new guy just looked at him like he was nuts. It took about three nights for the newbie to go in the nest and sleep with Mr Lonely, but now, it is so cute to watch them snuggle up in there. They both seem to be real happy to see me talking to them......But things change quickly when I open the cage door, to service the cage. They are clearly uneasy about that............Thanks again.

tursiopschic · Post by **tursiopschic** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 12:53 am

Good luck to them both! I'm sure they will bring each other (and you) much joy

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 6:21 am

hi marcos
i am glad to here you got your society a mate and they are getting used to each other..they will soon get used to you cleaning them out etc! also

ken

Marcos · Post by **Marcos** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 9:59 pm

Yea, I really am seeing that they are happy together. As to me getting used to them servicing their cage......hmmmmm. They sure get nuts when my hand goes int there to wipe the perches and stuff. I really do not want them flying out because that would be a disaster.......a potentially deadly one for them, and a huge pain in the you know what for me. I already went through chasing the one around the apt with a net.

If they do get used to me, I just wish that one day I would be able to handle one, or that one would fly to me or on me or something. But, they're not parrots so I gather that is not likely to happen.....

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 6:53 am

hi marcos
the usual problem with these birds is most of them come from a place where they have been kept in a large cage or aviary so they are not used to being in such a confined space so when you put your hand in they cannot fly far enough away to not feel threatened next time you put your hand in just leave it there for a while and see if they settle down more you can cover the cage door with your other hand or hang a cloth round it but if you keep your hand still ..even if they just settle on the perches will be progress....this all takes time just think of all the show birds that have had to be trained to sit in those tiny cages whilst people come up and poke thier faces into the caghes ..they stay stock still because they have had months of training to make them ..what is called in show bird speak "rock steady" you will get there but it takes time..when i first got my quail i went in the aviary and they shot up in the air to get away from me ,now i can stroke them whilst i am feeding them greens or mealworms it took me some time but they are very tame now

ken

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:00 am

None of my finches are ever really "tame", but the longer you own them, they do settle down more when you have to do cage stuff.

I trimmed one of my gouldian's beaks today and he bit me twice! I didn't hurt to bad, but it did a little. That is the first time I've been bitten by a finch! I was really suprised...

Marcos · Post by **Marcos** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 12:10 am

Thanks Ken......I see that I am already making progress. They clearly are not nearly as excited these days as they were a week ago or so ago. Now I can open the cage and wipe the perches. They just fly off on top of their nest, and they stay there. No more wild flying. In fact, I left the door open while I went to wipe the bottom of the cage and they did not even attempt to fly out.

There is also some bonding going on. My male has already done the dance routine and ....."got on top" of the female (I think) for a few seconds. I provide various types of nesting material that the male diligently keeps bringing to the nest. The female loves to bathe. The male just stands near her and catches the water while she splashes, but he does not particularly care for the bath himself. It's all kind of cool to see this.

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 3:39 pm

hi marcos
societies are very inquisitive and its unusual that they didnt both jump in the bath as most times when there is fresh food or something new put in the cage they are the first to have a nosey around

ken