What kind of cage do you need for finches?
Finches are active little birds that need plenty of space to fly around. The general rule is to get the biggest cage you can afford and accommodate in your home. The minimum recommendations are:
- A small finch like a society finch needs at least an 18″ x 18″ x 18″ cage
- Larger finches like zebra finches need at least a 20″ x 20″ x 20″ cage
- Extra large finches like Gouldian finches need at least a 30″ x 18″ x 18″ cage
Bigger is always better when it comes to finch cages. The more room they have to spread their wings, the happier and healthier your finches will be. Avoid round cages, as finches like to perch in corners. Get the biggest rectangular or square cage possible.
Look for a cage made of sturdy metal that has bars spaced no more than 1/2 inch apart. Finches have small bodies and can squeeze through wider bars. Make sure the cage doors are easy for you to access but securely latched so smart finches cannot accidentally open them.
Where should you place the finch cage?
Finches are active during the day (diurnal) and need to be placed in a bright location. Some good spots are:
- Next to a window – Provides natural sunlight and interesting views
- In a well-lit room – Avoid dark rooms or closets with no windows
- Near human activity – Finches are social and like to be around people
- Away from drafts – Avoid placing the cage in drafty areas that get direct AC or heating vents
You’ll want to place their cage somewhere you often relax or do activities, so you can enjoy watching your lively flock. Kitchens, living rooms, and family rooms near windows are popular placement spots.
What should you put at the bottom of a finch cage?
Finches spend a lot of time hopping along the cage bottom, so the right substrate is important. Avoid sand, cat litter, or any loose particles that could be accidentally ingested while foraging. Good options include:
- Newspaper – Simple, inexpensive, and easy to replace
- Paper towels or plain butcher paper – Also economically easy to replace
- Peat moss bedding – Absorbs messes and odors naturally
- Pellet bedding -Made from recycled paper, absorbs well
- Corn cob bedding – Another highly absorbent option
- Recycled paper bedding – An eco-friendly choice
Line the bottom of the cage with a layer of bedding about 1-2 inches thick. Spot clean any soiled areas daily and replace all the bedding weekly or whenever it starts to smell.
What types of perches should you have?
Finches love to perch and need multiple perches placed all around their cage at varying heights. Good perch types include:
- Natural branches – Manzanita and cholla cactus branches offer interesting textures
- Rope perches – Covered in sisal for a soft footing
- Wooden dowel perches – Simple and inexpensive
- Concrete perches – Filed down for comfort
- Plastic perches – Easy to clean and find in colors
Try to use perches with varying widths and textures. This helps prevent foot sores. Place perches vertically and horizontally to encourage flying and exercise. Make sure no perch is directly above food or water dishes where poop could fall into them.
Perch positioning tips
- Long perches running front to back on cage sides for hops
- Short stable perches for preening
- High perches for surveying from above
- Low perches for easy cage access
- Crosshatched perches to navigate around
- Swings and hanging perches for play
Rotate out perches weekly to clean and prevent mold/bacteria build up.
What toys should you put in the cage?
Finches are intelligent, active birds that need mental stimulation. Provide ample finch-safe toys and rotate new ones in regularly to prevent boredom. Some great options include:
Foraging Toys
- Treat balls – Plastic balls they roll to dispense treats
- Piñatas – Paper mache with holes for pecking treats out
- Twirly treat balls – Dispenses treats when batted around
- Foraging trays – Plastic trays filled with treats in sand/paper
- Shredding toys – Paper, wood, and cardboard toys to rip up
Play Gyms
- Ladders – Allow climbing between perches
- Swings – For acrobatic fun
- Bells – Create sounds when pecked or moved
- Push-pull toys – Allow batting and pushing around
- Mirrors – They will interact with their reflection
Things to Chew
- Mineral blocks – Provide calcium, phosphorus, and salt
- Cuttlebones – Helps wear down beaks
- Millet sprigs – Hang fresh millet bunches up
- Wood pieces – Unpainted wood blocks to shred
- Rope cage accents – Natural fibers like sisal, hemp, or cotton
Aim for at least 3-5 toys in the cage at a time. Make sure to inspect toys and remove any damaged ones promptly.
What should you feed finches?
Finches have unique dietary needs as small seed-eating songbirds. A complete finch diet consists of:
Quality seed mix
The bulk of a finch’s nutrition comes from high quality seed mixes. Look for mixes made specifically for finches, containing small millet, canary seed, nyjer, and more. Stay away from cheap “parakeet” seed.
Offer 1-2 tablespoons of seeds per finch daily in a ceramic dish, rotated out and cleaned daily. Supplement seed with:
Finch pellets
Offer a teaspoon per finch daily of veterinarian formulated pellets to round out nutrition. Popular brands include Zupreem Fruitblend Flavor and Lafeber Nutri-Berries. Gradually transition to pellets over 2 weeks.
Healthy snacks
- Greens like spinach, kale, dandelion greens
- Chopped carrots, broccoli, peppers, zucchini
- Sprouted seeds
- Fresh fruits like apples, berries
- Eggs and legumes for protein
- Soaked seed and grains
Provide 1-2 teaspoons of chopped produce daily. Grit aids digestion of vegetables.
Calcium/grit
Sprinkle a calcium supplement like oyster shell 3 times a week. Offer calci-grit in a separate dish free choice.
Clean water
Always provide fresh filtered, chlorine-free water in clean bottles with ball-tipped sipper tubes to prevent drowning. Change water daily.
A varied diet is key to finch health. Avoid sugary or salty human foods.
What should you use for cleaning the cage?
Finches are sensitive to fumes, so natural cleaning products are best:
- Dawn dish soap – For washing perches/toys, use unscented original blue
- White vinegar – Disinfectant, breaks down poop
- Hydrogen peroxide – Disinfects safely at 3% concentration
- Baking soda – Deodorizer and mild abrasive
- Baby wipes – For quick spot cleaning between washes
Here’s a safe cleaning routine:
- Remove finches from the cage
- Discard old substrate, droppings, leftover food
- Wash all surfaces with white vinegar and hot water solution
- Rinse off soap film with plain water
- Let cage dry entirely before replacing bedding and finches
- Clean water and food bowls with hot soapy water
- Disinfect perches, toys, and accessories with dilute vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or bleach and water solution
- Rinse everything thoroughly and let dry before returning to cage
Deep clean the cage thoroughly each week. Spot clean daily by wiping down surfaces and removing droppings. Provide a clean and sanitary living environment.
What should you do about nails and beaks?
Finch nails and beaks grow constantly, so regular trimming is essential:
Beak Trimming
Use a small nail file or emery board to gently file down the tips of overgrown beaks about once a month. Only take off a small amount from the top and bottom. Proper beak length should allow the tips to meet neatly when closed. Ask a vet to demonstrate proper technique.
Provide chew toys to help wear beaks down naturally. Concrete perches also help file nails.
Nail Trimming
Finch nails can grow long and sharp enough to get caught in cage wires. Use small pet nail clippers to trim each nail carefully every 4-6 weeks. Clip off just the sharp tip, taking care not to hit the quick vein inside. Only clip nails in good lighting so you can see the quick clearly.
Ask an experienced finch owner or vet staff for pointers on safe nail trimming technique. Be patient and reward your finch with millet spray after trimming.
What temperature and humidity do finches need?
Finches do well at normal household temperatures and moderate humidity:
- Temperature range: 60-80°F
- Ideal temperature: 70°F
- Humidity range: 35-65%
- Ideal humidity: 50%
Monitor conditions with cage thermometers and hygrometers. Move cages out of drafty spots, sunlight, or away from heat vents to maintain proper ranges.
Use room humidifiers or dehumidifiers as needed if household humidity strays outside the target zone. Keep finches away from humidifiers to avoid lung issues. Proper ventilation and air circulation is important.
Signs of temperature/humidity issues:
- Panting – Too hot
- Fluffed up feathers – Too cold
- Wheezing/sneezing – Too dry
- Feathers dull – Too humid
Make adjustments as needed to keep your finches comfortable.
What kind of lighting should finches have?
In addition to natural sunlight from windows, finches benefit from full spectrum lighting that mimics sunlight. Use full spectrum:
- Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
- LED bulbs
- UV heat lamps
- UVB reptile bulbs
Aim for 12-14 hours of light per day to mimic natural day/night cycles. Invest in an automatic timer to ensure consistent daily photoperiods. Proper lighting is crucial for health.
Do you need multiple finches?
Finches are highly social and do best housed in pairs or groups. Good options include:
- 2 females
- 1 male + 2-4 females as a harem
- All males if cage is large enough
Start with younger birds under 1 year old for easiest bonding. Introduce new finches slowly by quarantining then housing cages side-by-side before combining. Watch for fighting, which requires rehoming one finch.
How do you get a new finch to adapt to a cage?
To help new finches settle in smoothly:
- Allow 1-2 weeks of adjustment before trying to handle
- Keep a routine for feedings, lighting, etc
- Use a night light or low light at first to reduce stress
- Set up a “safe room” inside cage with hiding spots
- Use treats to positively reinforce interacting with you
- Move slowly and speak softly around the cage
- Play calming music to mask loud noises
- Use treats to lure them onto your hand/finger
Over time, finches will become more relaxed, confident in their environment, and bonded with you.
What are signs of a sick finch?
Monitor your finches closely for any signs of illness:
- Feathers fluffed up
- Sitting at cage bottom
- Wheezing or difficulty breathing
- Discharge from eyes/nose
- Sneezing/coughing
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Diarrhea
- Increased sleeping
- Strange head movements
- Swelling
Separating sick finches promptly and taking them to an avian vet boosts recovery chances. Common finch illnesses include air sac mites, respiratory infections, intestinal worms, and more. Medicate only as directed by your vet.
How do you tame an untamed finch?
With time and patience, even previously untamed finches can become quite friendly. Useful taming tips:
- Move slowly and talk softly around their cage
- Sit near the cage while reading, singing, or talking to get them used to you
- Offer treats like spray millet or greens through the bars to associate you with good things
- Add a few of their favorite treats to your palm and rest it inside cage until they eat from your hand
- Offer a finger perch near their normal perches so they land on your finger for treats
- Increase handling gradually, rewarding with small millet sprigs
Inconsistent or forceful handling will cause setbacks. Session lengths should be short to avoid stress. Over many repeated sessions, finches will learn to trust you.
Can you train finches to do tricks?
Finches are quite intelligent for small birds and many can be trained to perform fun tricks like:
- Fly to your hand for treats
- Perch on your finger
- Spin in a circle
- Ring a bell for treats
- Play basketball with a small ball
- Fly through hoops
- Retrieve small items
Use small millet sprays as rewards during 5-10 minute daily training sessions. Clicker training lets finches associate the click with getting a treat. Shape behaviors in small steps with patience and consistency. Target training onto a stick helps teach maneuvers.
Some finches will readily learn numerous tricks while others may struggle with more than 1-2 simple behaviors. Training provides your finch mental stimulation.
Conclusion
Caring for finches requires proper housing setup, nutrition, cleaning routines, and handling techniques. Provide the largest cage possible filled with varied perches, toys, hiding spots, quality feed, and fresh water. Monitor finch health closely. With time and gentle persistence, finches can become quite friendly and trainable companion birds. Patient finch owners will be rewarded with years of enjoyment watching their lively, colorful songbirds thrive.
