Please help me with my finch....

[cjegan2014]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and I need some help. I got a Finch a little less than two weeks ago, and I need some help. Okay, so I work and live at a hotel, and my boss owns several rental property's, so one day, while I decided to play angry birds for the first time on my phone, (seriously) my boss and I went to o e of the apartment complexes he owns. The tenet had a bird and my saw the bird, and the lady asked him if he wanted it, and so wala, my boss has this bird. My boss and I get back to the hotel, and he wants me to take care of the bird...which I know nothing about birds other than they chirp...so my first bird is a finch...well the first day or two, I can't remember which, I decided to try to hold this bird.....and of course he escaped and flew over the main building of the hotel....I know I'm not to smart.....if I was caged I probably would have escaped too....anyway...so long story short I caught the bird. Now ever since I got this bird, he, whenever I try to feed him, or clean out his cage, he fly's around like mad...and he goes from the bottom perch, to the water dish, to the top perch, then down to the seed bowel, back to the top perch, and then if I get to close he will start chirping and flaying his wings around, so idk if he is scared or what. I called a wildlife foundation, and she suggested I put a shirt over the cage so he could get used to my scent, which I did....and since I work at the hotel, she said not to bring the bird around a lot of people....and it hurts my heart because I want to be nice to this bird....but I am so ingnorant of bird behavior I have no clue what he's doing....so I uploaded a video of my finch, and of its behavior, and please let me know why its acting like this. Please help me here.....here's the link to the video of my finch....https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B01a4a4 ... cslist_api. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have read a few things on here about bird behavior but I'm not sure why this bird is doing this....idk if this bird is a male or female, so I just call the bird bird........please help....thanks in advance...

[Sally]

I have looked at your video, and you have a female Zebra finch. The first thing I would suggest is to get her a bigger cage. She is hopping around because there is not enough room for her to fly. Finches need to fly, so a cage that is longer or wider rather than taller is best--24x16x16 minimum and 30x18x18 even better. Otherwise, her behavior is absolutely normal for a finch.

She is also very active because finches are not as calm around people as many of the parrots can be, finches really prefer the company of other finches. She is in a new situation, so she is a little frightened.

I would suggest that you read the articles at the Finch Information Center, linked at left. There you can learn about how to keep a finch properly, what to feed it, etc. Under the Species section, there is an entire article just about Zebra finches. They are very easy to keep and can be very entertaining. I disagree with the wildlife foundation about keeping the bird away from everyone and covering it. Finches become used to being watched, they just don't care for fingers or hands invading their space. And welcome to the forum!

[debbie276]

I agree with all Sally has said
welcome to the forum

[cjegan2014]

Thank you for letting me know....I didn't know she was a female. Well I'm glad to know that now....I will get a bigger cage then....what would you suggest for a cage ? And should I get her a friend or no ? Also she beats her beak against the perch, what does that mean ? And how do you get a Zebra finch to stop being scared of you.....?

[finchmix22]

Where are you located? Petco has a good flight cage for finches which is 30 inches wide. That would be ideal, especially if you get your hen a mate or buddy. I'd get a Society, unless you want to breed, to cut down on any aggression between girls or mating between a pair. Sally is correct that there is lots of information about what to feed finches, what to avoid doing, behavior, illness and other info on each species. Welcome to the Forum! You'll soon be hooked on finches.

[finchmix22]

cjegan2014
What's your name and where do you live? I loved your comments on the video and noticed your zebra hen was listening and curious. She looks healthy and that's great! I think you'll really enjoy her too.
Here is a pic of one of my finch cages, to give you an idea of how they can be set up for the finches.

[Nerien]

It will just take time for her to get used to you, but she will. She will be much happier when you get her a bigger cage, and add some fake plants to give her some sense of having protection (not being totally exposed). A buddy may help, too. Most finches do not become hand-tame like parrots do, but she will calm down and learn that you bring her food and other goodies and be less panicked by you, and maybe start coming over to see what you've given her. just remember that, to her, you are a giant, about a thousand times bigger than she is, and so even a gentle, loving giant, is still a bit scary.

[cjegan2014]

Well I live in Urbana, IL, and thank you guys for your response's, it means a lot that you guys care....I just don't want to do anything to scare her...she's very vocal and she does listen when you talk to her. She looks at you and cocks her head....but most of the time, like right now it sounds like she's crying out for me....just chirping but when I go near her sometimes she flips out, but most of the time she starts acting like that I go and sit down near her and she goes to the back of the cage like she's afraid to chirp and then gets quite.....idk if that's because she's scared or what...but then she will start talking and hop on the bottom perch and talk back, moving her head side to side in a jerking motion and lift her chest high....I'm guessing maybe she feels threatened. Idk...what do you think ? And I will go to Petco and get her a 30 inch cage so she can fly and put some plants in there too...

[finchmix22]

She is just getting used to you sitting there by the cage. Her chirping is normal. Zebras make those sounds a lot! Once you get the 30 inch cage, she'll be less scared because she can get away from the front of the cage, to a perch or nest, behind greenery or just give some distance so she feels more secure.

[Zebra-mutations]

I would get her a mate. Probably better off with another hen. Make sure you upgrade your cage to a larger on. 3ft long is perfect for zebra finches. She is lovely and active. Zebras a like popcorn. Sweet, noisy and bouncy!

[Colt]

She looks very healthy. I agree with what everyone has said so far. A larger cage would definitely make her feel more secure because she then has the option of being close or moving away from you. In her little cage there's not much room for her to move away.

Just remember to offer a few different types of perches for healthy feet, fresh water and food, some mineral mix and cuttle bone and since she's at the hotel, you may want to keep her cage pretty for people to look at so you can add some artificial plants in there.

Also black cages are easier for the human eye to look past to see the bird vs white cages that tend to catch our eyes and we struggle looking past the bars. Guests would probably enjoy seeing her in a darker cage.

Here's a thread with some pictures of one of my flights to give you an idea on how to decorate.

http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=27200

[lovezebs]

Hi cj, and welcome.
Have you picked a name yet for your little girl?
Once you get her a bigger cage, she will be happier. A little friend will be a good idea too. If you're in the pet shop, ask if they have any nice Society Finches, your girl and a Society finch should get along nicely.
When it comes to food, a good seed mix for finches is what you need. Also fresh water ever day, and a little plastic bathtub too, so that she can have a bath.
She will also need some fruits and vegetables to eat. Romaine lettice, cucumber, broccoli, red beet leaves and stalks ( just a few ideas) Also a little apple, some chopped grapes, maybe a little bit of pear. One very important thing, NO AVOCADO!!! Another thing thats very important, is some hard boiled egg (boil it for around ten minutes in the shell) then mash it with a fork . Mash the egg shell and give it to her too, it's good for her and gives her calcium.

She will get used to you in time, but will never like to sit on your hand or for you to hold her. Finches don't like that, it scares them.

Goodluck, and if you have any questions, just ask. There is always someone here ready to help.

[wildbird]

Be sure to wash the veggies real well and only put bird safe plants in. Just a reminder.

[Ginene]

Welcome to the forum . Your zebra hen is a cutie pie. I have the same cage you are currently using and use it as a transport cage. I hope you dont mind me saying so, but your feeder cups are in backwards. The bird stands on the part you have outside the cage . This is a pic of the Petco cage that would be perfect for your girl and a mate...

Best of luck to you!!!

[cjegan2014]

Okay so...umm...I feel bad that I haven't yet got a new cage for her yet....but I just had to clean her cage and because of a lack of another cage I had to let her out of the cage for a bit.....the cage was really nasty. So I had to any catch me if you can to get her back in there....I'm not sure where else to find a cage....I found one at Petco but there were all white. Does anybody have a 30x18x18 black one that's not to expensive....and would someone please tell me how intelligent these birds are ? She keeps hitting her beak again st the perch on the cage....I know she's not happy with me for catching her....