finch cage free time?

For "miscellaneous" finch-related questions.
Post Reply
User avatar
Justino222
Novice Nester
Novice Nester
Posts: 446
Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2012 3:32 pm
Location: Philadelphia PA

finch cage free time?

Post by Justino222 » Tue Jun 17, 2014 2:59 pm

Hello guys, i know i have lots of questions but i was wondering how i woukd go about Letting my finch out of their cage for a few hours daily. Im createing a bird room that they can come. Out and fly around etc. But dont know how to go about it. And ideas or helpful hints would be greatly appreciated :) like whats the best way to clean up their poo etc.

User avatar
mayble
Sisal Slave
Sisal Slave
Posts: 563
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2013 11:34 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: finch cage free time?

Post by mayble » Tue Jun 17, 2014 3:29 pm

Have you ever checked out Doug Taylor's site? He has a pretty neat (and apparently successful) set up for some of his birds where they come and go from their cages at will. I think you'll find some good info there:
http://www.gulfcoastfinches.com/the_safari_room

I'm planning something similar, converting a spare bedroom. I just need to close up some gaps around doors, vents, etc. I'm not sure yet about the poop situation - the floor is old linoleum, so I believe it should be easy to spot clean when and where necessary. I think the preferred perching spots will be obvious early on, and will put paper or other bedding under them.

User avatar
Justino222
Novice Nester
Novice Nester
Posts: 446
Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2012 3:32 pm
Location: Philadelphia PA

Re: finch cage free time?

Post by Justino222 » Tue Jun 17, 2014 3:41 pm

Thanjs so much! I have carpet and was gonna buy those plastic clear mats that are like 6 foot × 3 foot so itd be easy to clean. I dont wanna rip the carpet incase it ever become a bedroom again lol.

Corkysgirl
Weaning
Weaning
Posts: 1709
Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2011 6:43 pm
Location: Extreme North East

Re: finch cage free time?

Post by Corkysgirl » Tue Jun 17, 2014 4:39 pm

Justin...check out sandri_90 through the member's gallery. She lets her finches and canaries free fly a lot. She has towels atop of things and paper sheeting, etc.. You would love to see all of her images and videos because she is a great photographer. I just love going to her page because she has close ups of her birds doing funny and crazy things! She's very sweet also...to correspond with if you need to. She's in Romania she's in a different time zone. :)

Sheather
Proven
Proven
Posts: 2299
Joined: Thu Dec 12, 2013 7:49 pm
Location: Northwest Indiana

Re: finch cage free time?

Post by Sheather » Tue Jun 17, 2014 4:46 pm

Free flight is so great for finches. My birds live in an unused upstairs kitchen which is mostly empty but very sunny and regularly get to fly free. My Java Sparrows are out for almost all day and LOVE flying and using the branches I've clipped by the ceiling and perching on the great big doors which attach to the inside of the windows (very old house) and my societies get let out periodically but don't really seem comfortable with it yet and just hop on their own cage when they do.
~Dylan

~~~

User avatar
Justino222
Novice Nester
Novice Nester
Posts: 446
Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2012 3:32 pm
Location: Philadelphia PA

Re: finch cage free time?

Post by Justino222 » Tue Jun 17, 2014 8:11 pm

Corkysgirl thanks I will be sure to check her out hehe. Just think itd be nice to have them out some lol. Being in the cage all day has to be miserable I guess.. lol

@Sheather wow! Nice. Im using my guest room (because I never ever have guest) lol. I just want them to know that when lights go out of whatever, that they need to go back in their cage lol. I dobt want to have to catch them all every day. And im scared that when they are breeding that they are gonna abandom the eggs for free time and ugh haha im a worry wart for sure :P

Sheather
Proven
Proven
Posts: 2299
Joined: Thu Dec 12, 2013 7:49 pm
Location: Northwest Indiana

Re: finch cage free time?

Post by Sheather » Wed Jun 18, 2014 12:18 am

My birds return to their cages to sleep at sunset every day.
~Dylan

~~~

User avatar
Justino222
Novice Nester
Novice Nester
Posts: 446
Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2012 3:32 pm
Location: Philadelphia PA

Re: finch cage free time?

Post by Justino222 » Wed Jun 18, 2014 12:26 am

Oh ok. Ill just do that and see what they do

User avatar
mayble
Sisal Slave
Sisal Slave
Posts: 563
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2013 11:34 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: finch cage free time?

Post by mayble » Wed Jun 18, 2014 8:48 am

I'm sure if they have nests in the cages, they will return to them. You may find they decide to build nests somewhere else in the room, given the opportunity.

User avatar
Justino222
Novice Nester
Novice Nester
Posts: 446
Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2012 3:32 pm
Location: Philadelphia PA

Re: finch cage free time?

Post by Justino222 » Wed Jun 18, 2014 11:50 am

Thats what im afraid of lol. Then id have to leave them out 24/7 and the clean up would be a full time job haha. I just wont place fake trees etc in the room for them to breed i guess

User avatar
lovezebs
Mod Extraordinaire
Mod Extraordinaire
Posts: 18214
Joined: Sun Dec 15, 2013 11:51 am
Location: Calgary Alberta Canada

Re: finch cage free time?

Post by lovezebs » Wed Jun 18, 2014 12:06 pm

Justino222u
Hi Justin.
I think if you feed them in the cage, they will come back.
You know it's funny, but we all worry about our birds escaping, but usually when they do make a run for it, they do a circle and land back on the top or side if the cage...."let me in, let me in!" :D
~Elana~

Linnies~ Canaries ~ Zebras ~ Societies ~ Gouldians ~ Orange Cheeks ~ Shaft Tails ~ Strawberries ~ Red Cheek Cordon Bleu ~ Goldbreasts ~ Red Brows ~ Owls ~ Budgies ~ Diamond Firetails ~ Javas ~ Forbes Parrot Finches ~

User avatar
mayble
Sisal Slave
Sisal Slave
Posts: 563
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2013 11:34 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: finch cage free time?

Post by mayble » Wed Jun 18, 2014 12:15 pm

lovezebs wrote: Hi Justin.
I think if you feed them in the cage, they will come back.
You know it's funny, but we all worry about our birds escaping, but usually when they do make a run for it, they do a circle and land back on the top or side if the cage...."let me in, let me in!" :D
That is so true! In fact, I usually leave an empty cage with the door open and a bit of seed in the bird rooms - escapees seem to end up in there eventually. Beats chasing them around with a net!

User avatar
Justino222
Novice Nester
Novice Nester
Posts: 446
Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2012 3:32 pm
Location: Philadelphia PA

Re: finch cage free time?

Post by Justino222 » Wed Jun 18, 2014 3:49 pm

Hahaha yes i worry. But ill just feed em in the cages then. Seems about right that theyd go back in at night

User avatar
Justino222
Novice Nester
Novice Nester
Posts: 446
Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2012 3:32 pm
Location: Philadelphia PA

Re: finch cage free time?

Post by Justino222 » Wed Jun 18, 2014 6:20 pm

Let my finch out for a lil while. It was entertaining. My single male finch tried to steal my other males female haha but she fought him off really quick.

Post Reply