Rescued a zebra finch!

antz318 · Post by **antz318** » Tue Jul 22, 2014 11:42 pm

Hello everyone!

Here is my little story (sorry if it's lengthy)

I recently rescued a male zebra finch. I noticed it on my window ledge so I opened the window and as luck would have it, it flew into the house. I was able to catch it within a few minutes and put it in a bird cage that I had in the garage.

My wife and I absolutely love animals so obviously we adopted the little guy! After some quick research online we determined that it was a male and that they typically do better in pairs. So we went out to buy a female a brand new cage and the rest is history!

The cage is a decent size but I kind of wish I could have something bigger as finches need to fly much more than budgies or other parakeets. But cages are so expensive!! So I'm thinking of building my own indoor aviary. (if anyone can point me in the right direction for some helpful info on building your own aviary please do so!)

Anyways just wanted to introduce myself and tell my little story. I will most likely post some pictures soon.

See you all out there!!

Tony

Post by **Sally** » Tue Jul 22, 2014 11:55 pm

That is one lucky little Zebra! He picked the right window ledge to land on. As far as cage size, pet shops often don't carry the best cages for finches. I have acquired many of mine from craigslist. Here is a link to an article about building aviaries, though there is specific information only on the panel-form aviary at this time. That is an aviary using prefab screen doors, and if you do a search, several members in the past have made this aviary.

http://www.finchinfo.com/housing/build_your_own.php

Welcome to the forum! There's lots of good reading at the Finch Information Center, where you will find more articles on housing, diet, and especially the Zebra finch. If you put your general location in your profile, it helps when answering locale-specific questions later on.

Corkysgirl · Post by **Corkysgirl** » Tue Jul 22, 2014 11:58 pm

Welcome Tony! What part of the world do you come from? I actually had a finch escape my house and so did another member on this forum recently. Wish I could remember who it was. I would be so happy if I knew you found him...and he had a happy home! I'm sure you can Google directions online to build aviaries. Many people are buying furniture pieces, like old wardrobes, cabinets, etc. and remaking them into aviaries. They are really cool! Wish I could help on that front...but it's not my area of expertise.

antz318 · Post by **antz318** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 12:10 am

Thanks for the link Sally, I will definitely look into that!

Corkysgirl, so sorry to hear about your escaped finch

I'm from Montreal, Quebec. I found him on Sunday July 20th. If there is any chance it is yours or the other members, I would be glad to help get it back to you.

Corkysgirl · Post by **Corkysgirl** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 1:36 am

Tony, I'd just be happy he was safe. I've been so worried about him. If you could post a picture at some point that would be really awesome! He has a really weird honking sound for his song. Not a normal...nice finch song. It's very peculiar. Probably it's not him but I'm in Maine and it's always a possibility because it's been more than 3 weeks. It would be so funny if it turned out to be him!

Colt · Post by **Colt** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 1:42 am

Glad you were able to find and rescue him.

And I think Sheather was the other member and that was two Java finches, not zebras. ;)

Corkysgirl · Post by **Corkysgirl** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 1:50 am

Yes, it was Sheather and her Java finch. Was it two? I thought it was one. Oh no!

You're right Colt.

Sheather · Post by **Sheather** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 3:54 am

*his

and yes, I lost a lovely pair of female Javas, a gray and a white, a few weeks back. Escaped through a loose corner and never seen again. They just got carried away in the wind and then the wild sparrows went after them.

Corkysgirl · Post by **Corkysgirl** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 6:08 am

Oh, I remember now, the wild sparrow going after them Sheather. So sad!

antz318 · Post by **antz318** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 8:20 am

Corkysgirl wrote: Tony, I'd just be happy he was safe. I've been so worried about him. If you could post a picture at some point that would be really awesome! He has a really weird honking sound for his song. Not a normal...nice finch song. It's very peculiar. Probably it's not him but I'm in Maine and it's always a possibility because it's been more than 3 weeks. It would be so funny if it turned out to be him!

Well I was just telling my wife yesterday that he sounded like a squeaky toy when he sings (it's chirping followed by three squeaks)

It really would be something if it turned out to yours!

I'm recording him right now and hoping he does his little song

I'll try to upload the sound with some pictures some time today

antz318 · Post by **antz318** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 8:36 am

I got a recording! I uploaded it to dropbox here is the link:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gf9gufkerjrox ... 05_001.m4a

antz318 · Post by **antz318** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 8:56 am

And here is a picture

MiaCarter · Post by **MiaCarter** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 10:48 am

antz318 -- He's so lovely!

He's got a very light complexion. It appears he's perhaps a variety called lightback?
http://efinch.com/species/lbzeb.htm

How lucky that he flew into your house!
In my many years of pet rescue, I've never, ever found a finch!

And what a lovely song he has! I love it! It's like a super light tinkling at points. It sounds like he's happy and relaxed with you already!

Building an aviary would be lovely! (And an excuse to adopt more birds! LOL)
If you'd like, in the interim, you could let them fly free in your home. You'd just need to bird-proof a room or two for them. Here's a little writeup I wrote on some bird proofing tips: http://wp.me/p4JWrl-5T

antz318 · Post by **antz318** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 3:53 pm

Mia Carter, it does have a light complexion. Probably a lightback as you mentioned.

They seem to be getting used to each other and to the new cage. They are both eating and drinking. The female even took a bath in the water bowl as opposed to the bird bath I provided them.

My only concern is the male who keeps flying left to right on the same two perches. Hopefully he is just having fun and not stressed or feeling claustrophobic.

I will definitely do some research on homemade aviaries. I would like to build one that is 3 or 4 feet by 7 or 8 feet and 6 feet in height. They should be able to stretch their wings in something that size

My current cage is about 33 x 17 and 26 high

Corkysgirl · Post by **Corkysgirl** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 4:35 pm

Yes it's a very good thing he found a home with you! It's not him. Too bad! Your little guy has light patches on his cheeks. Mine is very light colored also, but the cheeks are much more pronounced, a darker orange. I couldn't open the link to hear him for some reason. If Mia is saying it's a nice song...it's definitely not my bird. Nice...or pretty and song in the same sentence would not be what I would say about him. I never heard a finch sound like him! His male offspring has his genetics...the screech in his voice. I am still hoping when he starts singing though, he learns from the great singers in his room. This is a picture of him with his 3 chicks.

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