Why Choose Finches as Pets
Why pet finches? You might hear yourself ask this question when somebody suggests you choose finches as pets. Well, there are a number of reasons and here they are…
First and foremost, finches come in a variety of amazingly beautiful colors; one example would be the Gouldian Finch. It is one of the most beautiful finches in the world because of their colors that seem to have come from a rainbow. On the other hand if you like plain colored birds, then the Zebra White Finch is just the finch for you. Aside from their color, finches have amazing vocal abilities. If you’re particularly fond of waking up to a chirping bird, then you’re in for a huge treat.
Finches come in different prices so you will always find one that fits your budget. Zebra finches for instance, are among the least expensive finches available in the market. They are also quite common so you don’t have to go to the ends of the Earth to get them.
Zebra finches are social birds to their fellow finches –quite naturally! Even if they are not particularly fond of human interaction, they might just get accustomed to you overtime. Regular feeding time is extremely important and may allow them to get used to you. Finches in general are sort of panicky (except Society Finches because they did not originate from the wild) so you have to establish regular feeding and cleaning schedules so you do not jeopardize their health.
Zebra finches originate from Australia and live in the open grasslands. You can create a more natural environment by adding plants that are bird-safe to your cage or aviary. You will make your finch sing with joy if you put organic grass in a pot inside their home.
A healthy and well-cared for Zebra Finch may live up to 10 years including seedling is their base diet. Supplements in the form of chopped hard-boiled eggs, fruits, and vegetables will also keep your finch friend in good health.
As stated above, Gouldian finches are one of the most beautifully colored birds in the world and may live 8-12 years. Take note that they are not social and should be kept in pairs or groups of pairs. Like most finches, they do not respond well to handling and are very prone to being stressed out as a result. They are also endangered, so before purchasing this type of finch, make sure you are able and committed to raising them.
Gouldian finches come from Australia where they live in eucalyptus forests. Like all other finches, they would greatly benefit from a roomy cage. Chopped boiled eggs, a standard finch mix, and some greens make a great food selection for Gouldian finches. But if you want them to be extremely healthy you might want to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diet… except for avocados. Avocados are said to be harmful to finches and other domestic animals such as, dogs and cats.
Society finches are another type of finch you may like to take home with you. Unlike the first two types of finches, Society finches are very social creatures. They do not exist in the wild and are a hybrid of two other finch species. Although more social compared to other finches, they must be kept in pairs or groups of pairs.
Their colors are extremely unique that not two finches are alike. They are not afraid of people but still take some time before they tolerate human contact such as, petting and eating food from human hands. These pet finches eat the same food as Gouldian and Zebra finches and live an average of 10 – 13 years.
