Society Finches - Why You Should Have Them

It's Hard Not to Want a Whole Community of Society Finches

Whether you are a new bird enthusiast or have appreciated your feathered friends for many years, Society Finches are sure to keep you entertained. As their name suggests, they are extremely social little creatures so it is recommended to always have at least two so they can keep each other company. Society Finches are friendly and energetic but may be a little nosy and disruptive for other species that are more private in nature. Therefore, their fun-loving personalities should be taken into consideration when housing with or around other species.

Description of Society Finches

Interestingly, Society Finches are actually a hybrid species that were thoughtfully created and bred by Japanese and Chinese breeders in Asia more than 300 years ago. Although their definite ancestry is not confirmed, it is suggested that they are derived from the White-rumped Munia and the Striated Finch. Society Finches mature at a length between four and almost five inches are available in a few soft color variations being pure white, fawn and white and also chocolate and white. What makes these finches so special is that you will never find two exactly alike, there are even solid varieties as well as tri-colored and crested birds that were developed back in the 1930s.
 
General Care

Society Finches are considered the perfect birds for novice collectors because they are hardy, inexpensive, easy to care for and have outstanding temperaments. It is crucial that the birds are provided with fresh water and food everyday. In addition to this, these kind of finches need a constant supply of grit with charcoal. These essential minerals and trace elements will aid with digestion so it is easiest to keep some in a small cup so they have access to it whenever they eat.

* Diet - Finch seed mix will act as a solid staple for the diet of these energetic birds. You can find this relatively cheap at any pet store. In addition to this mix, Society Finches should be offered greens on a regular basis such as spinach and chickweed. As a daily treat, your bird will enjoy apples, pears, cooked eggs, seeds with honey and other fruits and vegetables.

* Cuttlebone - Society Finches should always have access to a cuttlebone in their housing. These provides the calcium that they need for strong beaks and eggshells when breeding. Calcium also helps to prevent females from experiencing egg binding and the lime they contain assists with digestion as well.

* Housing - While these birds are very easy to care for, they do require a clean environment. Most illnesses are always associated with a poor diet and unsanitary surroundings so if you cannot commit to cleaning their cage, you will compromise their health and happiness. When choosing a location for their cage, it should be away from any drafts and never left in a window with direct sunlight if they have no place to escape the heat.

* Bathing - Your Society Finches will appreciate being able to bathe themselves in clean water. Make sure the dish is not more than one inch deep and they only need about a half inch of water. Birds can drown in too much water because it is hard for them to fly with wet wings.

* Nails - A nail trim will be needed from time to time but you must be careful to not clip into the vein, this could be fatal due to blood. You will find nail trimmers designed for birds at your local pet store and it is a good idea to pick up some styptic powder which can quickly stop bleeding in case of emergency.

Society Finches are charming birds that are the perfect addition to anyone's home. They have great personalities and when care for properly, make happy and fun companions.

John K. is a great co-writer at FinchTips.com. Go there to check out the Society Finches Overview.

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General Information About Zebra Finches

Zebra finches are fun little birds and are easy to have in your home. They are the greatest pleasure to view and their soft singing and chirping is very soothing. Whether you want only one pair to keep you company or you want to be a breeder with one type or many birds, Zebras finches are a joy to keep. Zebra finches are small birds, and are very active and fun to watch.

They are quiet when it comes to vocalization or chirping and peeps that most people find very easy to tolerate. In general, finches have an expected lifespan of anywhere between 5 to 15 years. These birds average size is about 4 inches (10cm). Some of the English and German verities can be a little larger.

A general good Zebra Finch diet should include a mixture of millets, cereal seeds and canary grass seeds. Cuttlebone and grit should also be supplied at all times and not forgetting Fresh water. Lettuce, Spinach, Chickweed, Spray Millet, Egg food, Broccoli tops and Carrot tops can also be offered on a regular basis.
Zebra finches can be kept in cages or aviaries, indoors or outdoors it really up to you. Because zebra finches are very hardy, they can tolerate many different environments without any problems.

However, you should always place them in a spot where it won't rain on them. You should also avoid changing the environment too often, because the birds will need to get acclimatised to their new environment. Generally, healthy acclimatised zebra finches will look more healthy happier and more active. However, when breeding recommended temperatures may vary from region to region depending on humidity, etc.

You can take pride and enjoyment in breeding Zebras. Always Select a suitable couple in good condition and place them in the same cage. If the birds you chose are in good condition they will usually start building a nest immediately, and within a couple of days the first eggs will be laid. Check the nest every day in order to follow the progress. Be sure not to frighten the birds on approach let them know you are coming. If you frighten them, they can accidentally destroy the eggs when they panic. If the birds are unwilling to leave the nest, don't chase them off unless you are worried something might be wrong.

Around when the third egg is laid, the birds will start sitting on the eggs. After about 2 weeks, the eggs will start to hatch. At this time you should start to feed a rearing food or egg food. This can be bought in most pet shops, or if you'd like you can make your own. You should continue to feed the regular seed mixture as well. When the birds are around 8 or 9 days old, they should be fitted with a closed coded ring for later identification.

If you suspect something is wrong, you will have to check the nest. In that case, great take great care not to frighten the birds. When the birds are around 3 weeks old, they will leave the nest for the first time. Around 1 week later (at 4 weeks) the birds will start feeding on their own. A pair of zebra finches should not be allowed to breed more than 2 - 3 clutches every year. At 5 to 6 weeks the birds are self-sufficient and can be removed from the parents.

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For more information about Zebra finches visit: Finches Zebra

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Gouldian Finches Love Spending Time With You

Gouldian Finches Love Companionship

Gouldian Finches originate from Australia These gorgeous little birds were especially prominent in the tropics. Gouldian Finches were exported from the country of Australia by the millions until 1960 when the export of these birds (and other birds) was banned. They are formally an endangered species in their native habitat, but there are actually many Gouldian Finches in other countries, America included, for purchase. They are still popular pets and homes spanning the globe have these birds flitting about in them and performing their happy music.

They are flamboyant birds, endowed with marvelous, brilliant colors. These birds come in a wide array of hues, ranging from crimson, gray or orange-colored on the heads, and an azure back, or sometimes a golf green backside, and bosoms that come in purple, white colored and yellow. This breed has 3 basic colorings that take place naturally.

These are the black-headed Gouldian Finch, the Red Headed Gouldian Finch and the yellow-headed Gouldian Finch. But, there is an immense range of coloration within this bird family besides these standard colors. This includes mixtures of blue and yellow. The male is even more spectacular in color variations than the female. In addition to having more variants of coloration than the female, the male has a longer tail feather. There is no disputing the great beauty of the male. They rule supreme, and they operate like it.

Gouldian Finches Can Be a Handful

Gouldian Finches bring with their magnificence a much more difficult undertaking in the care and breeding of these Finches. This breed is a good bird, but it does not have the ruggedness of the Zebra Finch nor the Society Finch, which are two of the more rugged of the Finch species. They are not sturdy and their limit for extremes is not as high as their more hearty brethren. It is recommended that a new owner of a Finch should begin with the more durable Finch, and then with practical experience, graduate to owning a Gouldian Finch. These finches are also more reclusive and really don't want to be petted or held, unlike other finches who often appreciate such handling. If you're going to want to have your Finch rest on your finger, called "finger training," you really shouldn't get a Gouldian Finch. It is doable, but it requires a lot of patience and work. Those bird owners who would like a pet Finch that can be finger tamed should almost certainly stay away from the Gouldian Finch.

Recognize that this breed is much like the other birds. These little birds love companionship. If you decide to get one of these birds, be sure you get a pair. They are are sociable birds and if you're going to satisfy that natural need to socialize, then make sure you buy a pair. Never buy just a single bird. Realize too, they can be troubled by repeated changes in their cage habitat or by any motion of their cage, especially out-of-the-ordinary movement. You can genuinely weaken the birds immune system by giving too much stress to them.

Like their cousins, Gouldian Finches are very active birds. This means you must get a significant aviary for the bird. This particular type of bird needs room to play, room to fly in and move quickly from perch to perch. Your aviary can be solid wood (but not wood that is toxic, such as Redwood) or metal, so long as the little rods are narrow enough to keep the bird from getting loose, or getting hurt. Brass cages are ill-advised as these cages can be lethal to the Finch. The best thing you can do is get a cage (aviary) made principally for your bird, and any other Finch you may obtain.

These Little Birds Like to Sing

Bird lovers will get pleasure from the songs that comes from these uplifting little birds. The singing of the male is a soft, very lovely sound. Realise that only the males sing. Those who own of these birds often rave about their pets and are considerably attached to them. Their birds have become a component of the family. Gouldian Finches make superb pets who will offer satisfaction to a family, most definitely children, for a good number of years.

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