Hey Dave, last week one of my finches became ill. She was puffed up and couldn't fly any longer. By grace of the finch gods, I stumbled on your video and followed all of your advice. I must admit, I put her to sleep last Friday night and figured she wouldn't last the night. I said a few prayers to St. Francis and said my goodbyes. The next morning I took the blankets off the cage waiting to discover her body and lo and behold, she was hopping around and chirping like her happy self. I can't thank you enough for the advice. Finch on!
That's absolutely made my day!! Soooo glad she's ok 🙏🙏🙏 Which part of my video helped you out may I ask? And what do you think caused her to become ill in the first place?
I assume it was because she was too cold. the temperature here has been -2 and no matter how much we run the heater the house doesn't seem to stay warm for long. So I moved the cage into our warmest room and set the cage up on a shelf so that it was higher up. The cage was not very clean at all and so I did a deep clean on everything given your advice. I also ran up to the store and bought a humidifier for $13 and placed it in the cage with warm water. I placed her in her house figuring if she is going to die she can at least be comfortable. I also moved the house toward the bottom of the cage in case she attempted to fly again. I didn't want her to try and fly and fall from a high distance which would stress her out all the more. I placed her water down low as well so she could have easy access. Lastly I moved a lot of the riff raff out of the center of the cage so that if she returned to health, she could move more freely in a horizontal fashion. Lastly, I set a space heater on the side of the cage which produced even more heat. @@FinchManDave
Well done! I have so much trouble convincing people that those ornamental parakeet cages are not for finches and canaries. They are designed to appeal to human aesthetics, not the needs of the birds. Not to mention that they cost 3 to 5 times as much as a good 18 x 18 x 30 "flight" cage by You and Me or Yaheetech.
This is THEEEEE best finch video I have ever seen Dave!! Thank u so so much, u can really tell how passionate you are for the care and health of your birds!! 🖤🖤
Excellent! The extra video clips and images used for examples are very well done! I’m happy to see you’ve referenced veterinarian-grade F10 disinfectant - that’s what I use for my Canary hobby as well.
I learned a ton from this video. I have never owned any birds before ever. But am SERIOUSLY considering rescuing 3 zebra finches that someone is trying to give away. I’m not interested in breeding at all. I just want to give them a happy and healthy home because I do enjoy watching them. I don’t plan on handling them either just keep ‘em safe and happy y’a know? Let them thrive in their habitat. But anyway I’ve been researching on what to use and what NOT to use to clean the cage. The f10 is specifically for the thorough cleaning right? Would dish soap and warm water be okay for the food bowls and water bowls? I’ve read several different things but haven’t been able to actually speak to someone knowledgeable about them specifically. Also, I read about the possibility of finches getting mites? What is the BEST way to prevent that from happening? Thank you to whoever gets a chance to read this and willing to help. ♥️
@@keyshushpuppy hey Sam. Glad you enjoyed the video. That's really sweet of you to do that. Just be aware that if the 3 Zebras are mixed sexes, you'll REALLY struggle to stop them from breeding as they're super prolific when it comes to 'gettin' it on' 🙄 Researching before-hand is 100% the right way to go, so you're already heading in the right direction with that. F10 is a potent disinfectant & is meant to be left to air dry once surfaces are sprayed with it. It can be used often if you'd prefer. Check out my 'HOW TO CLEAN A BIRD CAGE' video for a more in depth look at that side of the hobby. Mild dish soap is perfect for water & food containers. Just make sure they're thoroughly rinsed afterwards. You can treat for mites preventatively. Look into S76 & SCATT. The latter is a topical treatment applied to your birds skin but involves you needing to catch & treat. S76 is administered in their water, so is less 'invasive'. Both are great for preventing & treating for mites. Just be sure to research which suits your situation the best
Just found you very impressed with your knowledge I will continue to watch you I want to get started with finches just for my enjoyment I'm old lady I'm gonna be a bird lady instead of a cat lady lol. Thank you
I cared for one male canaries for a year, people are amazed how tame he was, one day i forgot to lock the door and he flew away then after watching some videos that has similar accidents came to realize that these birds won't bond with human no matter how 'tame' they look like. They will leave when there are chances.
@@lilsangarden that's sad that he flew away. You can get most birds to bond with humans providing they are hand tamed from being very young. However, tame or not - if a bird has the chance to escape into the wild from captivity, they will. So sorry you lost him 😞
@@lilsangarden you're welcome 😊 Canaries are a type of finch, so the main difference you would need to consider is that canaries are perfectly happy to live alone, whereas finches of other breeds NEED company & cannot live alone if they're to thrive & live a long happy life
Wonderful video! PETA says keeping birds in cages is cruel, but I do pretty much everything in the video except free flight. I have society finches. They will hit windows or walls and I had to stop that. I don't have a room small enough and I live in a cooler climate. Each of the eight society finches is happily mated with a sibling and does not breed, except the original father. He lost his hen to sudden death last week. She was perfect at 7:30 a.m. and dead less than a hour later. I was devastated. Late I found she had laid a shell-less egg, a problem with her and my one female zebra so I push the calcium with D3, oyster shell and homemade chicken shell. They love their pellets, greens, eggs and perle morbide. Fruit is harder. Did the egg kill he? I have successfully treated many eggbound finches over the years (including her) and she showed no signs of distress less than an hour before. There are no avian vets within a 100-mile radius of where I live in central PA.
@@jeanmank6342 thank you so much, Jean. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. You sound like you've got it all under control & seem very knowledgeable, which is so refreshing to see 😁 I've had the odd instance where one or two of mine have hit the glass door. Completely unavoidable freak out situation where they went into escape mode for no apparent reason, but luckily happened while I was there so I could make sure it was dealt with. Not something you can help sometimes though. As you've treated egg bound hens in the past, you'll know that generally they survive if they can pass the egg, so it would be quite unusual for a hen to pass after laying the egg, unless it was extremely stressful. Did you examine the cloaca on the hen? It may be that it broke before being passed & a piece didn't pass through. Was the egg shell entire? I'm so sorry this happened 😞 It's the absolute worst part of the hobby & the main reason I don't breed my birds. I'm way too attached to risk it. And I know the feeling all too well. With regards to fruit, very few finches we keep eat fruit in the wild. And although Society finches are man made, they too never seem to go for fruit. I've personally never been able to get any of my birds to eat fruit, so you're not on your own there. Sounds like the rest of the diet you provide is sufficient. I'm about to finish up a great vid on safe veg & greens which explains exactly what is contained in lots of varieties & how our birds can benefit from them, so keep an eye out for that being put out soon 🙂
@@FinchManDave Thanks for the great answer! No, I no longer breed or provide any nesting material but she did lay random eggs. The last one was clear with no shell. Her vent looked clean and unswollen.
Very Informative video, Dave. Can you please share any details on the cage set up shown at 1:46 - where from base unit. Thanks in advance. Subbed for future reference & your next video.
Thank you so much for the sub, & I'm glad you enjoyed the video 😊 The cage at 1:46 is a double breeder which I ordered online from a store in Ireland. Its an Italian wire cage - very good quality. If by 'base unit' you mean the unit the cage is sat on - its not purpose built & is a 3 drawer/cupboard gloss white unit
@@FinchManDave Thanks for the reply. I’ll have a look online 👍🏼The setup looks so clean that it really does show the birds off & allows you to observe & enjoy from a distance. It’s perfect for what I’d want. Thanks
Gouldians in my experience are fairly quiet - even when they sing & call. My loudest bird is my Strawberry finch & my bird that makes the most noise is my Violet Eared Waxbill. I hope that helps 🙂
Depends what they're going for, or if it can't be treated in-house. There aren't really many situations where they'd need to go in numbers. Usually one at a time, if they're sick
I have two finches for two years and adore both of them and their personalities. Mine like to have a scrabbled egg in the morning and enjoy a fresh cucumber. They like to be by the window and to take frequent showers. The female have a much healthier appetite and always run first for the fresh food were the male head first for the new water to take a bath. My question is what should I do the have them make babies? It seems that they are trying but nothing happens and the eggs dont hatch. Any suggestions?
Hey 😊 What Finches are they? Do you have a nest? What age are they? My first piece of advice would be to thoroughly research breeding finches. Read lots of literature. Watch lots of videos. Speak to breeders. Join forums. RESEARCH, REASEARCH, RESEARCH!!! Breeding isn't as easy as some would make out. Your finches should be conditioned first. If they aren't on the correct diet (calcium, protein, vitamins etc) then you could come across issues.
They are zebra finches. I have them on a huge flight cage. After watching your video, i introduce them to broccoli and carrots along with your other recommendations. I am planning to put some vitamins on their water and give them some proper nesting materials to use for their nest. I'll follow your advice to continue the research. One last question, if possible, can you show us what is the proper way to catch and handle a finch (to inspect if they are healthy or how to transfer them to a vet). Thank you advance for all your guidance. @FinchManDave @@FinchManDave
@@dionysiosk I can't 'show' you per se - but I can tell you the easiest way I do it. I use a net with a handle. Like a butterfly/fishing net. The reason for this is because I have a large 10ft flight, & a 6ft flight. In cages I use my hands as it's smaller & easier. When I net catch, once they're in I turn the net slightly so they can't escape - plus it makes them lay still & not struggle. Then I get them out by hand. Keep catching to an absolute minimum as it's stressful for them. I only do it to trim nails, check them over, or to transfer them for whatever reason. Others say they're easily caught when wet. Others catch at night when they're sleepy or it's dark. I personally avoid the latter method as you risk missing them & spooking them into a flight frenzy which can end really badly. And you're very welcome 🙂 I'm here to answer any questions you have, providing I know the answers 👍
If the cage can't be divided in the center, it's too small to be having birds in. So you'd use a divide. I have a large central divide in my main flight cage, which they can't see through. Personally, my birds don't mind me being in their flight. They're used to it.
Looking for advice. I have a male zebra finch being a bit aggressive to the female, specially when he mounts her. Sometimes he chase her around the cage. What should I do
Is she ready to mate? If she isn't, she'll reject his advances & that can cause him to be pushy/aggressive towards her. They don't necessarily come into breeding condition at the same time. Any way you can separate them until she's conditioned & ready?
I have a room in my home that is a "bird room". I have 3 budgies and they have a cage but during the day they fly free in the room. Can I put 2 finches in a cage 25 inches long by 16 inches wide and 53 inches high as long as the finches can fly free during the day with the budgies?? Or should I keep the budgies in their cage part of the day ? And the finches in their cage part of the day as well ? Have them take turns being out?
I live on a narrowboat and want a pet bird. I can not decided the best. I want a bird for song, not one to play with or cuddle. What do you think is best from these.... Canary Goldfinch Parrot Finches Also I know canary like to live alone. Do goldfinches like to be alone or in a pair? Can the parrot finches get tame enough to be calm if I go near the cage? I had gouldian finches before and they got very tame... But I dont want to keep them again as they got too fat easily in a cage and health problems like sir sac mites and scaly legs. 😢
If you want A bird - then out of your options, a Canary would be your best bet as they're perfectly happy to live alone, as you mentioned. Goldfinches are flock animals & very sociable, so I wouldn't keep one alone. Also, you're gonna need a large enclosure either way, if you're not going to allow any free flying time. Parrot Finches are notoriously skittish, so it would be very unusual for any adults to become anywhere near tame. Whichever choice you make, preventative measures should always be taken for mite treatment - monthly with s76 or quarterly with Scatt 🙂
thank you for your video! my father in law decided to buy a pair of finches and i doubt he'll be as thorough in his care as he should, so knowing what to do will help me give them a bit more comfort. unfortunately they'll be placed in a quite cold covered balcony, what can i do to keep em warm over the winter?
Hey. You're welcome 😁 What Finches are they and when you say "cold covered balcony" is it open to the elements or is it fully enclosed? Drafts & temperature fluctuations are what kill
It's pretty much a given that they'll experience some level of stress whilst being caught. You can try to catch them during sleep, but if you miss or spook them, you run the risk of them getting injured while theyre trying to escape
I'm thinking about keeping finches in the near future. I do have a question though regarding the size of the cage enclosure and how many birds you can safely keep. Is there a rule about the number of finches for the size of the enclosure?
Yes - 100%. An over-crowded enclosure will lead to a number of issues. Stress & terrotorial disputes can cause illness & even death. Certain species need more space than others too. In my opinion, its HUGELY important to understock. If you have an idea of the cage/enclosure you want, Id be more than happy to advise you on bird numbers 🙂
@@FinchManDave Thanks Dave. I'm planning on going with the cage dimensions you mentioned, 30x18x18 or as close to that as possible. I'm thinking two finches. But two finches would be the max given those enclosure dimensions right?
@@sshamon72 You're welcome 🙂 And yes, that would be the maximum number for that size. I would only advise that cage size as a temporary measure - unless you're going to allow them free-flight time outside of the cage. Those measurements are the absolute bare minimum. The longer, the better
@@FinchManDave Dave, would you have some recommendations for cage brands/sizes or point me to a few sources where I can purchase in the US? It seems most of the local pet stores have the bare minimum dimensions only.
Sir my 1yr. Old society finch has developed a lower beak abnormal length condition. Can her beak be trimmed by a vet? Thank you in advance for your response
Hey Allan. Yes, its best to get a vet to look at it as the beak contains blood vessells that if damaged, can bleed A LOT - so I wouldnt advise you trim it without experience. The vet may also be able to do some tests to find out why the beak is overgrown as it is not normal for that to happen. Good luck & please keep me posted if you will 🙂
Hi m8. In that situation, I'd seperate them. Zebras are regarded as 'pushy' & Cut throats regarded as 'aggressive' - so not really a good mix imo, unless they're in a huge aviary with tons of space. Big amounts of stress can cause birds to pluck others feathers, aswell as flock heirachy with the plucked bird usually being the lower (of the two in your situation). If you're sure the feather loss is not parasite or diet related, & that it's 100% because of the other bird - I'd seperate them as it'll just carry on.
Incredible detail! Thank you Dave! I'm curious what you think of using cotton balls as nesting material? I recently got finches but they are not entering the nest, instead they are sitting on top of it. Even if its winter
Hi Leala. Thank you so much for your kind words 😁 I personally wouldn't suggest using cotton balls as the tiny fibres are easily ingested. Natural coconut fibre is a much safer (and often less expensive) alternative imo. What Finches do you have?
@@lealalamoureux3634 you're welcome, Leala. Put a bit of the coconut fibre in the nest & then leave a pile of it nearby. They'll be building a nest in no time 🙂
I found a wild finch outside my house who's eyes are sealed completely shut by what I think is a bacterial infection. I put her (I think she's a her, she's a brownish grey color with soft black strips on her belly), in a small box (a little bigger than a shoebox) with some old but clean tshirts for padding, a bowl of water, a small plastic tube for her to perch on, and some wild finch birdseed. I've been treating her eyes every few hours with an anti-bacterial spray I've used on my own eyes before and neosporin. If anyone has any advice for me on how to better care for her and her eye-infection then please let me know, I want her to heal quickly so I can release her back to the wild. She ate some of the food earlier today but idk if she's been drinking water. Poor thing can't even see where the bowl is so she walked right into earlier by mistake and freaked out. Is she gonna be ok be in such a small enclouser for a couple weeks? Her wings are fine but she can't fly when she can't see. Also it's a little cold in the room I put her in (about 15-20 degrees Celsius) should I put a space heater in there with her? I put her in my brothere's room for now since I have an indoor cat but she's completely alone in there and now I'm worried about her mental health since she doestn have any enrichment or anything. Please help😅
When birds are ill or injured, they struggle to regulate their body temperature so heat is absolutely vital. Sounds like you're doing an amazing job, Alex! I would personally take him/her to a vet for checks & treatment. They'll know exactly what to do. Please keep me posted 🙏🏼🙂
@@FinchManDave Thank you! I put a space heater on the opposite side of the room as her so it should warm up soon. I noticed she had some yellow discharge in one of her eyes, do you think it’d be ok to try and wash it out? Unfortunately I don’t think I have quite enough money to pay for vet bills right now but I’ll try and start saving up so I can take her in in a few weeks. Thanks again for the help! You’re a lifesaver!!
@@a1exneedsahamdleplease I really can't give any advice on that as a 'this would fix it' situation, as I'm not trained in that field. I know thats a crappy answer but it would be wrong for me to advise medically. I can give my opinion & that is that if I ever came across anything that looked likevan eye infection in my flock, I would use colloidal silver as a first port of call. Its fairly inexpensive & easy to get a hold of. I personally would wash it with sterile water, or a saline sollution - NOT NORMAL WATER, & be careful what I wiped it with as birds eyes are really delicate & easily scratched. Again, this is just what I would do in that situation & is by no means a sure-fire fix. A vet is best to consult for this, Alex
