Rescued a zebra finch!

[finchmix22]

What size is the cage in the pic? He may be nervous in a new environment. He should be in a cage at least 2 feet wide.

[Ginene]

I like your cage...its a great size for your pair! Congrats and welcome to the forum

[Corkysgirl]

antz318 I just saw what you said about him flying from perch to perch. And looking at the picture of him...his expression and looking at the window, my first thought was he's thinking of his freedom he once had. It must be an adjustment to be able to fly free and then to be confined. I'm sure it will take a little bit of time but he should adjust. I was thinking if you get some greenery it will feel more like the outdoors. That might help somewhat.

[antz318]

finchmix22, it's 2 feet 9 inches wide, but I still find it small... which is why I might build my own aviary.

Corkysgirl, I guess he did get a little taste of true wild life, who knows how long he was out there on his own...

Thanks everyone for all the warm welcomes and information!

[MiaCarter]

antz318 -- The flying back and forth --- I call it pacing --- can be a sign of stress. But I wouldn't worry. It can take a few weeks for them to adjust --- new home, new environment, new sounds, new birdie friend.

You don't have any cats or dogs who could be stressing him? That would take adjustment too.

That cage is just about perfect for a pair of zebras, but it may seem small to him right now if he was flying free for a long period of time.

Plus, he's singing so that tells me that the stress isn't constant. They won't sing if they're stressed to the moon.

The cage did seem rather out in the open, especially with the window. There are no real places to hide or feel enclosed. So I might add in some fake foliage for him. That gives them something to hide in. And as Corkysgirl said, it will seem more like what he's accustomed to.

As a general rule, small birds and birds that are preyed upon don't like to be out in the open. They have a hard time feeling confident without a "safe spot." The predators don't mind as much.

I put the foliage beside the cage for a few days. Then I'll put it on top or on the floor inside. So they get used to it. And then I'll hang it up so it's a more gradual process.

[antz318]

Great advice MiaCarter I'll add something that will serve as a hiding spot.

Are plastic plants safe for them?

[Sally]

Plastic plants are fine to use in the cage. You can also attach a few like vines to the outside of the cage, so they get some privacy without restricting flying room. It is normal for caged birds to look out the window, if they are in front of one. This little guy would not have survived a Montreal winter, so he is lucky that he is being fed and protected now.

[delray]

Welcome to the forum! How lucky is he to have come along an animal lovers house! This forum is amazing and there are so many people ready to help! Enjoy your zebras!

[monotwine]

Welcome to the forum Tony. These are two lucky little birds. We'd all love to give our birds as much space as possible to live in. Its natural for us to want bigger all the time.
I've had hand reared wild birds that still want back in the cage even after a year after release. Its not the flying space alone that lures them, food shelter and safety is what they want most. That and some feathery buddies to smuggle up to on cold evenings.

Im sure your rescue will settle in and appreciate that shortly.

[wildbird]

I agree with Corkysgirl. Try to make his environment as close to the outdoors as possible. You could put some timothy hay on the floor in a corner for him. This can be bought at a pet store or Target. Bird safe plants could be placed near the cage like Spider plants & Boston ferns. Real tree branches are nice too. If you have a screened porch, when the weather is nice, he would love to be out there for a few hours.

[antz318]

Thanks for the helpful advice everyone!

Can't wait to make the cage look really nice!