Finch Care Guide

Pet finches are small, seed-eating flock birds, most often zebra finches, which are about 4 in (10–11 cm) long and weigh roughly 0.4 oz (12 g) (ADW), and the brightly coloured Gouldian finch. Both come from Australia. Keeping them well means giving a pair or small flock room to fly, UV light and a diet better than a seed bowl. They suit people who want birds to watch and listen to rather than handle.

Care requirements

Need	What to provide
Enclosure	An aviary is best. Indoors, the cage’s height, width and depth should each be at least twice the largest bird’s wingspan, plus 5% more space for each bird beyond two (RSPCA)
Temperature	54–79°F (12–26°C) for tropical and subtropical birds (RSPCA). Gouldians prefer it constantly above 80°F (27°C) (San Diego Zoo)
Humidity	A draught-free, well-ventilated room, never the kitchen (RSPCA; VCA)
Lighting	Indoors, flicker-free lamps giving 12% UVA and 2.4% UVB, on for a natural day length, with shaded perches (RSPCA)
Diet	Pellets for at least 70% of the diet, a smaller share of fresh greens, and no more than 1 level teaspoon of seed per bird per day (VCA)
Lifespan	Zebra finches live about 5–7 years in captivity (ADW)
Social needs	At least a pair of the same species. Zebra finches pair-bond for life and live in flocks in the wild (ADW; RSPCA)
Legal notes	No common restrictions; check local rules. Gouldians are near threatened in the wild, so buy captive-bred birds (San Diego Zoo)

Zebra vs Gouldian finches

	Zebra finch	Gouldian finch
Wild range	Most of Australia. Widely domesticated (ADW)	Small, isolated pockets of northern Australia. Fewer than 2,500 left in the wild (San Diego Zoo)
Nesting	Nests in trees, bushes, burrows and even building ledges (ADW)	Builds loose grass nests inside tree hollows, and several pairs may share one hollow (San Diego Zoo)
Telling the sexes apart	Males have orange cheeks and a red beak. Females are grey with an orange beak (ADW)	Males have a bright purple breast, females a dull purple one. Juveniles are greenish grey until 8–12 months old (San Diego Zoo)
Warmth	Within the general 54–79°F (12–26°C) range (RSPCA)	Prefers above 80°F (27°C) at all times (San Diego Zoo)
Voice	Males sing. Females don’t (ADW)	Quiet trills, soft chirps and clicks (San Diego Zoo)

Flight space, not height

Finches move by flying, so the RSPCA sets cage size by wingspan, not body length. A bird’s wingspan is likely to be more than twice its body length. If the birds spend most of their time in the cage, make every dimension at least twice the largest bird’s wingspan. For birds under 50 g (1.8 oz), which includes zebra and other small finches, add 5% for every bird beyond the first two. A tall, narrow “tower” cage gives a finch very little room to fly. A long cage or an aviary gives it far more.

Inside, use natural wooden perches of different thicknesses so their feet work in different ways. The RSPCA links uniform perches to bumblefoot, a foot infection. Space the perches out to encourage flying, and don’t place them where droppings fall into food or water. Leave enough open space for the birds to flap freely.

Moving a finch off seed

Seed mixes are what most finches are fed, and VCA calls them high in fat and short of nutrients. Given a mix, finches pick out one or two favourites, usually millet. Millet sprays and honey sticks are treats, not food. VCA recommends a pelleted base, and lists two ways to switch:

• Separate bowls. Offer pellets on their own first thing in the morning, when the birds are hungriest, and reduce the seed over a few weeks.
• Gradual mix. Start at 90% seed and 10% pellets, then shift by 10% each day until day 9, when the mix is 90% pellets.

Weigh small birds daily while you convert them, and check the droppings. White-only droppings mean the bird isn’t eating. Clip leafy greens such as kale, parsley or carrot tops near a perch. Laying females need extra calcium.

Keeping a peaceful flock

The RSPCA names zebra finches among the colony birds that can share a cage or aviary, provided the species are compatible and every bird flies well. A bird that can’t fly may be seen as abnormal and attacked. Most squabbles happen around food and water containers and on high roosting perches. Provide several of each, and give each bird its own seed dish so no one is crowded out (VCA). When you add a newcomer, watch from a distance for the first few sessions. Birds that preen or roost side by side have accepted each other.

Gotchas

• Keeping a Gouldian in a cool room. Temperatures that suit a zebra finch are too cold for a bird that prefers a constant 80°F (27°C) or more.
• An all-millet diet. The bird looks well fed but is short of vitamins and minerals, and seed-only diets lead to malnutrition and a shorter life (VCA).
• Relying on window light indoors. The RSPCA says all birds kept indoors need artificial UVA and UVB lighting, and that glass or plastic between the lamp and the bird can block the rays.
• Letting birds fly with a ceiling fan on. Birds can’t see moving blades, and mirrors and windows are invisible to them too (VCA).

Avoid

• Non-stick (PTFE/Teflon) cookware, irons and ironing-board covers. Above 536°F (280°C), PTFE releases odourless toxic fumes, and poisonings have also been reported at recommended temperatures (VCA).
• Cigarette smoke, essential oil diffusers, vaporisers, air fresheners and paint fumes (VCA)
• Avocado and onion, plus chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, salty snacks, and food cooked with oil, butter or spices (VCA)
• Grit, which can block the gut, and imported toys that may contain lead or zinc (VCA)
• Open water such as sinks, toilets and full glasses, where a small bird can drown (VCA)
• Oil- or grease-based ointments on feathers (VCA)