Society Finches

[Red_Panda]

Hi all

My first post.

I have been the proud owner of two Society Finches for about a week now. I am writing to ask how can I get them to go and search the bottom of the cage as they seem to avoid the bottom like the plague. I have some newspaper lining the bottom of the cage. Am I doing something wrong? The cage I have has the seed and water feeders at the bottom and because they Finches won't go down there I have had to purchase new feeders for them.

I would love to feed them and egg and greens but they seem fearful of the cages bottom.

Thanks for your help in advance.

Christine

[ranchnanny]

Hi and Welcome.... Is there a grate on the bottom of the cage? My Spice Finches did the same thing they would not go to the bottom to eat or drink. My Green Singer is the same way he stays up in the corner flies to one perch then back to the corner. I say give them time to get used to their surroundings. You can hang fresh greens and millet sprays on the side of the cage to encourge them like I did and each time move the treats farther down. When they get hungry and thirsty they'll come down. Good Luck

[finchmix22]

They just need some time to adjust. A new home is stressful. Just keep giving them the fresh veggies, seed and water. They probably come down when no one is around because they're scared of their new home. They'll warm up in a week or two. Congrats on the new finches.

[6finchfriends]

Welcome to the FF! I agree that your new Societies are just nervous. Give them a little time to get over being timid. My Societies are very curious and will eat just about anything. I hope you'll post pictures and tell us their names and what kind of cage they are in.

[kenny66]

Cover the floor grate with natural braches and leaves initially. The dimensional view of finches from a perch to the floor bottom can often make the floor seem like a bottomless hole. Once they are used to this it should not be a problem and you can revert to your paper again.

[RigorMortisKitten]

My societies did this when they were new too!

What i did was to put perches all the way down to the bottom, so that the lowest perch was very near the floor and it wouldn't be to scary to actually go down to the floor. I also put a little ladder (you know those wooden birdtoys) from the cage wall to the floor.
This helped my societies to dare to be on the floor nowadays they love to hop around on the bottom of the cage and eat oystershell. (this is another helpful thing btw - put sand with oystershell on the bottom plate of the cage, this will encourage them to go down there and pick att the oystershell pieces)

[kenny66]

My societies did this when they were new too!

What i did was to put perches all the way down to the bottom, so that the lowest perch was very near the floor and it wouldn't be to scary to actually go down to the floor. I also put a little ladder (you know those wooden birdtoys) from the cage wall to the floor.
This helped my societies to dare to be on the floor nowadays they love to hop around on the bottom of the cage and eat oystershell. (this is another helpful thing btw - put sand with oystershell on the bottom plate of the cage, this will encourage them to go down there and pick att the oystershell pieces)

good advice
BTW I spent may years Judging dogs in Sweden, Norway and Finland. One of my fondest memories was judging Saluki, Borzoi, Afghan Hounds in that beautiful city of Gottenberg.

[Red_Panda]

Hi,

Thank for the replies They are very helpful.

The cage my two Finches are in is a Vision M02.

The names of my Societies are: Chocolate and Caramel

This link is to my blog with pictures of them both http://redpanda08.wordpress.com/2012/02 ... troducing/

I have also noticed that they won't go into the two nest boxes I have up for them and also they keep having a bath in their water instead of the tray we have on (again) the bottom of the floor.

We are also wondering whether it would be possible to have a male and female Gouldian in the same cage as the Societies, or would this cause problems as we think the Societies are two males? We have noticed in pet shops that there are more males in a cage than females and they seem ok!

Thanks for the welcome

[poohbear]

Probably ex aviary birds...in the wild safety is in the trees and bushes,not on the ground.It's rare to walk in a room and the birds remain on the floor...Instinct tells them to go high and prepare for flight.

[ac12]

They will find the nests, just give them time to adjust.
I think mine took a week or two before they accepted the nest box. They were probably used to a different kind of nest. Stick some nesting material into the nest so it hangs out from the opening, and put a perch near the nest, then put some nesting material in the cage. Soon them will pick up the nesting material and start to look for a place to build their nest.

Many birds will use their drinking water dish as a bath. That is why I use a water tube for their drinking water. And a separate enclosed bath for their bath. This controls the splashing so I don't have water splashed all over the room when they bath.

[debbie276]

We are also wondering whether it would be possible to have a male and female Gouldian in the same cage as the Societies, or would this cause problems as we think the Societies are two males? We have noticed in pet shops that there are more males in a cage than females and they seem ok!

It would be possible and they should get along.
Now here's the but ...
First I would make sure the society's don't have the diseases that will kill gouldians (Campylobacter and Cochlosoma ) before I put them in the cage together. Second, if you are planning on breeding the goulds the society's will most likely take over their nest.
Best of luck

[Red_Panda]

Thank you so much for all your advice and tips. They are very much appreciated

I am so glad I have found this forum, seems like a nice place

[Hendelg]

I would love to have a breeding pair of society finches but don't have a clue how to figure out which is a male and/or female. Do I need to just get a few and watch their behavior?

[ac12]

Gloria
The male is easy. Stand by the cage in the store and watch. Sooner or later the male will sing.
The female is much harder (for me). Even if they do not sing in the store cage, it could be a male that is dominated by the other males and won't sing. I try to buy with the understanding from the store that if it turns out to be a M, I can return him for a F.

Search the forum. There are others that have a visual method of identifying M from F. I have not tried their methods...yet.