Almost from the moment you walk into a pet store that has finches, you will know it. The bright cheerful songs these little birds sing are almost enough to make you think of spring regardless of the time of year. You'll quickly see that they are also active birds, seeming to spill over with energy.
There are several kinds of finches commonly kept as pet birds. Most are quite small, but a few, such as domesticated red or purple finches, can be medium sized birds a little larger than a house sparrow. Not all are colorful, but most are. Males tend to be more colorful than females and the genders can usually be identified by this trait.
Male red finches already mentioned are usually brown and gray birds with reddish or purple shading on the heads, shoulders, and necks. Zebra finches are among the most colorful as well as being one of the smaller breeds. All breeds eat seeds, though they will occasionally take small insects and enjoy fruit once in a while.
When keeping finches, consideration must be given to the breed. The smaller the breed, the more active they will tend to be. This is important when considering cage size. A larger species of finch requires a larger cage, even though they aren't quite as active. But several small finches will also need the space to flit around in.
Another consideration in regard to cage size is the number of birds that will be kept. With zebra finches, a male and two or three females will usually happily cohabitate a moderate sized cage.
Finches will often not spend a lot of time on the bottom of the cage, since they prefer roosts that are higher up. They will often even cling to the sides of the cage. Having plenty of perching posts for them to hold onto will be helpful for them. Placing a gnarled piece of wood in the cage can be visually appealing while also allowing the birds something to perch on.
If you have a male and some female finches, nest boxes can be provided. Finches breed easily in captivity, and pet stores sell nest boxes specifically for finches. These are enclosed, as the females will feel more protected.
Like most birds, finches also require fresh clean water. Checking it and filling it daily isn't a big task, and it helps to keep the birds healthy.
Finches are primarily seedeaters, and the smaller finches, while having a stout beak, do best on smaller seeds. However quality seed is important. Energy requirements for small birds is usually higher than those for larger birds, which means the finches need to have plenty of high quality food. As a general rule, you should avoid the low cost feed sold in the supermarket, as it is probably also going to be lacking in vitamins and nutrients. Avoid the temptation to purchase feed based solely on the cost.
Giving the birds a treat of some greens or fruit such as a grape or two, sliced in half, can often be well received. But note that these are treats and shouldn't make up a major portion of the diet of your pet finch.
Many people may tell you that finches should be kept separate from all other birds, but this isn't true. For instance, button quail often get along great with finches. They also eat the seeds the finches drop. Finches shouldn't be kept with more aggressive birds, though.
Some people get inventive when it comes to finches, and the results are remarkable. One couple had a spare room that was never used except for storage. They cleaned it out, lined it with plastic, put dirt on the plastic, then planted grasses and small shallow growing shrubs. They added a few large dry limbs for effect, replaced the light bulbs with grow lights, and in just a couple weeks when everything was growing well, they introduced several finches, making an indoor aviary. Even in winter, guests and the couple could go in, sit down, and enjoy the cheerful sounds of the birds, relaxing and feeling as if they'd just stepped into springtime.
Not everyone has the space for this, but finches are easy to keep, and with a little imagination, the results can be great. It is hard to find birds that seem happier than finches are, and just watching them almost makes you want to get up and sing yourself!