zebra finch care, cage, food, water information :
Cage Position :
Its common name is chestnut-eared finch, spotted-sided finch, zebra finches are dimorphic. Male and females have different coloration. Males have a unique features which can identify easily it is a male.
The zebra finch is a well adaptable type that will breed under the most undesirable conditions. It is the perfect aviculture variety. It can take extreme in temperature, is highly opposing to ailment and parasites, can live on least food and water of appalling quality, require minimal space and get along well with other of its sort and other type and will try to breed in any of those conditions. There was a report of wild specimens that were captured and placed in a holding cage attempting to breed while that cage was still in the back of the vehicle. Now that's a set breeder! In the wild, the rains trigger the breeding season. Wild males will begin court as soon as 48 hours after the first rains. With the domestic Zebras, they are nearly always ready to breed. For some, it is more difficult to get them to stop breeding than to start and the only way I have found to stop them is to remove the nest box. This won't stop the hens from laying eggs, but it does remove a proper nest that they will defend, lay and incubate eggs in.
Cage Size : As mention above, the height of the cage is not as essential as have room to fly horizontally, so a long but shorter cage is suitable. While experts contrast in their recommended minimum size, it a good idea to get the largest cage you can. 30 inches long, by 18 inches tall and 18 inches wide is a good quality sized cage for a pair of zebra finches. If you are going to get a outsized group, you'll want an aviary or flight cage. This can be home build, but keep in mind that exceptional cleanliness is a must so any cage should be easy to clean. Wire spacing should be 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch.
Cage Position :
You'll want the finch cage in a quiet secure location in your home (although in warmer climates finches can be acclimated to outdoor aviaries). Avoid direct sunlight (overheating risk) as well draughts or being to close to heat or air conditioning ducts. Finches do not crave social interaction with people so unlike parrots do not need to be in a busy social part of the home, and in fact will probably be less stressed if kept in a quiet corner.
Water and Feed Dishes : Provide fresh drinking water daily. Some keepers prefer tube style water dispensers, while others use dishes either attached to the cage (with perches for access) or on the floor (place away from perches to reduce soiling with feces). Whichever you use, make sure there is always a supply of fresh clean water available, and clean water dished daily.
Bath : A shallow dish of water should be provided several times a week for bathing. The water in the bath should be clean so remove the bath water as soon as it becomes soiled.
Seeds : Feed a good quality finch seed mix, although this should never the the sole diet of your finches. Check that the seeds are fresh by sprouting them (put some in a plastic bag with a damp paper towel) - if they will not sprout then they are too old to feed. Millet sprays are a favorite treat of many finches but should be given sparingly, or the finches may develop a preference for millet.
