Forage Box

[Celeris]

Hey all!

I have a mixed flight of zebra and society finches. All male colony.

And yet, it seems like the little guys are trying to nest. In their bath. At least, that is the only interpretation I have for finding the bath packed full of greens, bedding, and spray millet "fuzz" whenever I get home.

So, since I don't particularly want to completely cut out spray millet. And bedding. And greens. And whatever else they end up interpreting as "nesting material," I am pursuing a way to occupy them. Get their minds off of nest building.

I have seen multiple references to "forage boxes" on this forum, but have yet to read about them anywhere else. What all do you put in them? How big a box do you use? Any pictures?

Thanks guys!

[Rox]

Foraging trays are often used for the African species, as these birds are mostly insectivorous (especially when breeding) and they hunt for their food. Some people use organic soil, allow bird seed to sprout in it and then add live food to the mix so that the birds can scratch around and catch their own food. It stimulates hunting for them. Others do the same with their egg food mixes, also adding the live food and changing this daily. I use cat litter trays to feed mealworms in my aviaries. The birds need to work for their food by scratching around in the bran looking for the worms.

I'm not sure how either Zebra's or Bengalese would react to a foraging tray (neither species is as active as the waxbills for example) but it's worth trying. I would sprout some seed in organic soil and offer this to them. You can also add some leaves from the garden (no pesticides!), so that they have things to look under and move around in the tray.

Size of the container all depends on what will fit into your cage

[Celeris]

Rox

Thanks for the answer! Do you think something similar would work with, say, spray millet? I have yet to offer these guys mealworms, so I don't know how quickly they'd take to them.

I have seen some "forage boxes" that appear to be small cardboard boxes stuffed with goodies. Seems to be aimed towards parrots, moreso than finches, but I think the idea is that the birds have to tear open the cardboard to get to the treats. Is that even plausible for finches? Not sure if they'd have the strength to rip cardboard?

Just trying to find ways to get their minds off of nest building! These guys are a girl finches' dream!

[Sally]

I don't think putting goodies inside a cardboard box would work so well. Most people who do foraging boxes simply put an assortment of goodies in a small plastic container. The whole point is to make the birds work to find something, just as they would in the wild. Spray millet won't work so well for a foraging box, but your birds would love some hung in the cage.

[delray]

Celeris Do you have a nest in the cage? This is their natural instinct to nest even without a hen. I agree with Sally, a forage box may not be the best. What they are doing isn't hurting them, so I wouldn't worry about changing things up.

My birds love paper towels and cocofiber as some of their materials.

[Zebrafincher]

Hi There,

My two rascals, Beaky and Itchy (Zebbie Males) frequently "dress up"their nests and cages (they have separate cages, and have free flight). I give them feathers, dried grasses fresh grasses and other things and it really keeps them busy. Some of the "nests"are fairly weird, but it keeps them happy. My very old star finch, likes to pull grasses in and out of the cage (he can't fly).

The funniest thing is if I make nests for them, they just pull them apart, then start rebuilding their own!
Birds!

Zebrafincher
Proud Owner of
*”Merl” Merlin – Starfinch – Very old starfinch, can’t fly, has deep relationship with own reflection!
*Beaky “Beakster” – Gray Zebbie, Bossy Boots, into everything. Naughty little Boy!
*Itchy – “The Flying Golfball” – White Zebbie, Sweet little Boy!

[Babs _Owner]

Celeris

Foraging and nesting are both entertaining for the finches. Ive had an all male society finch cage. Everytime they got finished building their nest, I messed it up, threw the stuff all over the cage and let them start over.

Get some little cardboard rolls for tunnels to hide nesting material in, maybe buy a few cubbies to hang on the side of the cage and stuff nesting materials in those as well. It makes them work harder to get the materials out.

A lot of fun watching them wrestle and chase each other for the best nesting stuff, and it kept them busy all the time.