Is it a common practice to let finches out of their cage?

[livinonaprayer]

Hi. I've got zebras in three different cages. The f/m pair are in one cage, two in another, and three in another. The f/m pair and the three in one cage are in the same room.

I've been hearing that a lot of finch owners let theirs out of the cage for fly time. My concern is that they will fly behind something and potentially injure themselves.

Do they easily find their way back to the cage like budgies do; and is this a common practice for finch owners.

Thanks much.

[tajuano]

I would think that catching them would be the problem and them getting injure too. From what I heard that some people do let their finches out, but what if you have window open or door? they are small birds and therefore it is much harder to see them in the room and they are faster that parakeets. Unless you train them to came back to the cage I would not risk it. If they have a lot of room to fly in the cage why risking?

[ac12]

I do NOT let mine out.
I do not have them in a separate room with a door, so if they get out, they could fly around most of the house. I don't want them to poop on the carpet or furniture.

[debbie276]

Don't let mine out either. Not sure getting behind or in something would be worth the risk. Not to mention flying into or out of the windows and doors.

[livinonaprayer]

Thank you so much. I really wanted to hear it here. I respect all of your opinions. I sort of think of you guys as finchologists.

I'm also on a budgie forum and there are some young people letting their finches out. I try to tell them that it's just not a good idea for all the obvious reasons. I'll keep trying to educate them as you fine people have educated me in the past couple of years. Thanks again.

-Arlene

[cindy]

I don't let mine out....at least not on purpose!! There are to many things to fly into, get caught in and with two dogs and a very open floor plan it just is not safe.

[Ameza]

I have as a matter of fact just recently let a few of my finches out. Only in the room their cage is in though.
At first they are rather frightened about it but then start to really like it, mine tend to stay around the cage, check on the other finches and then fly around in a circle and back into the cage.
At first they didn't find the cage door right away but now they often take just a quick circle and go back to hang around the cage.

I didn't really plan to try this out but was curios what they would do if I just opened the cage. And I also have 2 hand fed chicks that jump in and out of their cage as they please when I am feeding them.

So yeah it can be dangerous, and it is good to give them perches or something they can land on outside the cage. And closed windows and safe environment matters a lot. And I never let them out for a long time, and am always in the room with them at the time.

[bugaboo5]

I'm with Ameza. Well, kinda sorta. I only let my two handfed finches out of their cage. They love - absolutely love being able to be out of their cage to fly around. They usually do not venture very far - like Ameza, mine hang out around their cage and the cages of the other birds. I do think you should consider what others have said though; in regards to safety issues and such. Plus, there's also the problem of the finches having free spaces to boo-boo around as they please. Those with aviaries and larger cages can concur, but there's nothing more beautiful than seeing a finch(s) free fly in wide open spaces. If you do ever try letting them free-fly, try doing so in a enclosed setting - perhaps a room or something similar. Good luck with your decision!

[livinonaprayer]

Thanks. I've been debating if I should let them out or not. The ones that are in a room with a door I was going to consider. The other ones are in much larger space with way too much to get into.

I've been wanting to give the cage a really good wash but can't really do that with them in it. I think I'll end up cleaning a part of the cage at a time like I have been doing. I'm too chicken to let them out. I'm the old 'better safe than sorry' type. They've been caged for two years now so I don't think letting them out is going to work for me.

Thanks for all your input. I knew if I came here I would get some positive results.

[Intyme]

Accidents happens, that could be a fatal mishap, I wouldn't let mine out, I think it would be to hard to catch them

[ksull72487]

I have been an avid Parakeet Owner, Cat Owner, Turtle Owner, and Salamander Owner. Love pets all in which lead long lives. My pets have left the house to good owners and the cats stay with my mother as she nor can they live without each other lol. Recently got into finches as a friend of mine is just as much into pets as I am. He has two cats all I had were plants as I travel a lot and the room mate is home more than I am. He wanted me to take them before anyone else knowing they can receive proper care between me and my room mate. The cats were spending too much time looking at the cage 8ft on top of a shelf and he decided it wasnt fair. I've had them for sometime now and I must say go nicely with my plants and are in the nest when lights out and out when the sun rises. Quiet but talkative at times its not annoying like a parakeet and beautiful to listen to. The birds outside make more noise. I love Finches, now more than any of the pets I have had. They need little attn. Make sure they are kept in pairs, they have a wicker nest*** of some sort lined with bedding (grass) used for rabbits etc. Perches (nothing fancy). Seed and spray millet. Water too and don't enclose it or buy a bath. They like to be wet every now and again. A mister is helpful to keep them clean but don't over do it. Unlike a parakeet they'll actually use it. They hate being handled, social finches are domestic not wild. Put them in a cage and dont take them out unless you have too. The main thing is make sure they have flying room. Horizontal not vertical. The nest should be at the height of the cage but horizontal is what you want to encourage flight. These small birds need more flight than a parakeet but inside the cage not outside. Parakeets you should let out once a week. FINCHES SHOULD STAY IN THE CAGE, PROVIDED YOU BOUGHT A BIG ENOUGH CAGE (ABOUT 20 INCHES WIDE).

[debbyloo]

When it is time to do a total cage wash-down and you need to remove the birds but have no spare cage to put them in, you can easily make a temporary holding cage out of an appropriately sized sturdy cardboard box or boxes, depending on how many birds you are needing to temporarily relocate. Tape all edges of the box closed very securely with strong packaging tape (I would not trust gift wrap tape), poke lots of small holes in the box on all four sides for air and some light (I use a screwdriver), insert several long perches that run from one side to the other (you can use long thin tree branches or wooden dowels), and then, finally, cut a "door" in the top of the box just big enough to get your fist through, leaving the "hinge" side uncut but folded to open and shut the door. Usually mine is snug enough to wedge shut securely enough without anything else, but if yours is not, use something to keep it closed (put something small but heavy on top so it can't be pushed open and allow the birds to escape). I catch my birds out of the flight aviary, install them in these temporary cardboard boxes and let them chill out in there for the hour or so (it is dim in there so they are calm and probably just take a little nap) while I move the flight cage outside to hose it down and spring clean it well. Dry it off with some old towels, bring it back in, refurbish, and then hold the cardboard box snuggly against the open cage door with the box "door" open - they will soon get the idea to fly out and into their new cage. I don't put any food or water in the box because mine won't be in there long, so I don't have to worry about spilling any of that. This works for me. Hope this tip will be helpful for you.

[WhiteMagicWoman]

Debbyloo,

That is an awesome idea! I'm getting ready for a big cage clean and was thinking it would be much easier to just take all the little birdies out and then take all the time that I need to do a thorough job. But where to put them? I still have a 30" flight cage, but I just know that in the light, they will pick at each other in such a small space (13 Zebbies). A big cardboard box where they can just "rest" or "nap" sounds like a GREAT solution!

Thanks!

[Justino222]

Im creating a flight room for my finch. All cages will be hoisted up on shelves on the walls (so they cannot get stuck behind them. And i have self adhesive perches to place on the wall. And doggy pee pads to place under them. For easy clean up. I woukdnt reccomend letting the birds out in a livingroom or such. But if you plan and construct a place then its alot better. For you and the finch

[Zebrafincher]

Finches and canaries CAN be let out to fly - you just need to be careful. My three birds - Canary, Star finch and Zebra finch all have free flight time (well, my star finch hops around as he can't really fly).

I keep the cages in the same places and peg the doors open. My birds fly in and out as they like. Finches will get used to getting in and out of a cage if you keep it in the same place. I do have a small top of an old cage which my birds are used to hopping into if needed as well. They rarely go out of the back room. My canary and zebbie fly together. Merl the star finch has to be let out separately because he fights with my canary and Zebbie

Good luck

Kind Regards

Zebrafincher