Types Of Finches
A Few Types of Family Friendly Finches
There are many different types of finches in the United States, but if you are looking for a family friendly finch you are in luck. The Society Finch is the bird you just might be looking for. These little guys are cute, and love to stick their beak in your business. Don’t fret, the family bird doesn’t have to be a Parakeet or a Canary, so here is a little more detail to tell you why.
These are great birds for those who have never had a bird as a pet before because they are easy to care for, fairly inexpensive and if you would like more they are easy to breed. These birds are pretty social, which is how they got their name here in the United States. These birds have never actually existed in the wild which may have a lot to do with it. These birds have been raised in captivity so that is one unique claim they can make versus other types of finches. As you can imagine, this leads many to believe how they got their start, but there is speculation that this breed started in the Orient.
The unique color combinations lead many birders to believe that this breed started by using a few select breeds such as the White Rump. Most finches have a white or very light colored back end hence how the White Rump bird got its name. The Society Finch is quite active, so if you do get them as a pair make sure you get them a wider cage versus a taller one. They love to fly from side to side and sometimes they start with a jump so they need the space. These types of finches prefer to engage their playtime with swings and ladders, so they don’t need a lot of toys unlike parakeets. Society Finches also debunk the belief that birds are dirty. You certainly can’t fit a birdbath in their cage as we know them today, but you can get a small plastic dish like bath that works well. If you aren’t sure what to get, just ask the bird experts before you make your purchase.
When you bring your finch home, make sure that you keep their cage in a spot all by itself. It is best to keep it away from a door that is opened frequently, and make sure to keep it clear of vents where your air conditioning and heat are expelled. Temperature changes can be harmful to these types of finches, and any paint fumes or any chemical spray residue can poison them. At night before you go to bed, be sure you cover them up too. These birds can be easily stirred up by things that go bump in the night, and they don’t take kindly to strange noises.
Last but not least, the diet is very important. Just like any other pet they don’t mind a little variety in their diet. They enjoy pellet food, seeds and millet, but they also enjoy greens now and then. Generally, the pellet food should make up no more than 70% of the finches diet. When offering a diet that is mostly pellet food you will need to give them additional vitamin supplements. The good news is that you can add some other interesting concoctions to their diet. They can have very tiny amounts of apple, apricot and banana, and oddly enough they will eat crushed eggshell and cuttlebone. They are lovers of fresh water, which means the water should be a fresh batch, but make sure you clean their dishes just as you would your own. One other important thing to consider is that if you plan to breed these types of finches, they may lay eggs without a nest present. So make sure that you do a little research to understand the needs of the Society Finch before you spend your money.