Finches for beginners Top 10 Tips

In this video I give you my top 10 tips for beginner Finch keepers

[@Ninjaheiro]

I tried introducing my finches to my Cockatiels, my finches decided to try and ride on back of the cockatiels lol

[@FinchManDave]

I'd be dubious about them being together. 1 swipe of those hook breaks can kill a small finch however... I've seen them co-exist perfectly in large aviaries. Just be careful, which I'm sure you are 😊

[@ericmichie1897]

Great update mate birds are looking good and well done on your show results.

[@Victor_GouldianPro]

Top advice Dave. Been keeping finches for close on 40 years and could not have put this advice any better mate. Brilliant. Just Brilliant!

[@FinchManDave]

Much appreciated, Victor. Thanks for your kind words 😁👍🏼

[@thebirdbrained.]

Much appreciated!

[@FinchManDave]

You're welcome. Thank you for watching 🙂

[@surroundrive]

I can't kick up my feet. I'm limited on space. But I love your vids. Keep it up!!!!

[@FinchManDave]

Haha glad you like the vids 😁👍

[@edwinrivera646]

Your advice to new fin shoulders was fantastic. I never thought about all those things medical space disease contamination from other finches thank you very much I'll be watching your channel.

[@FinchManDave]

Thank you so much, Edwin. I'm really glad you found my video helpful. And thank you for your support 😁👍🏼

[@mroviraptor3382]

Thank you this is just what I was looking for!, I'm 16 and I've been keeping Pigeons, Doves, Game Chickens and Rabbits for a long time now, I've been wanting to get into Finches for the longest time and finally have a job so I'm capable of buying my own things so I plan to build an aviary for Finches and get some Society Finches

[@FinchManDave]

Awesome! And you're welcome. Would love an update when you've done your aviary 😁

[@FinchManDave]

@@angelblue314 Im sure you'll be able to find them a good home 🙂 Make sure you remove all areas where eggs can be laid, to discourage breeding. Bowls, nests etc. Im in England 😁

[@beachgirl6014]

Love your video!

[@FinchManDave]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it 😁

[@Weirdkids890]

This was a fantastic video Ive just purchased 2 starfinch Wee beauty’s Ive a cockatiel for years He free flies so i didnt want to stress her and these seem perfect Watching ive removed some toys as you advised Really gonna work on them getting used to my hand but waiting a week or two although they seem to be settling well and making lots of noise Very very helpful advice he Will listen few times to get everything right Thanks again

[@FinchManDave]

You're so welcome.. glad you enjoyed it & thank you for watching 😊

[@crypticapocalypse]

Wow great vid! Soon i'm getting star finches and i'm sooo excited i wanted a bird for THREE years now, everyday i do research and find something new about birds. keep up the good vids!

[@FinchManDave]

Thank you for your kind words 😁 Star Finches are great birds to keep. They LOVE to bathe, & are very laid back. Great choice of birds 👌🏼

[@crypticapocalypse]

@@FinchManDave Thank you and I meant to say zebra finches LOL! Do you have any tips for taming them? I've never had a bird but i've heard finches are quite hard to gain trust! Have an awesome day!

[@FinchManDave]

@@crypticapocalypse I've never owned Zebra finches but they are awesome little birds too! Finches are generally a 'hands-off' bird, however - some are less aloof than others & over time, trust can be won over to a certain extent. Usually the only way you'll be able to have hand-tame birds is to raise them that way from birth. There are exceptions though. Good luck with your new birds 😁

[@leronzaval4998]

Thank you Dave. Finally I've found a detailed video for the beginners. Somehow it happened that there are not that much as comprehensive information in Russian speaking section of KZbin though I can see a bunch of finches almost in each pet top🤔 Now I feel more confident before buying my first birdies😌

[@FinchManDave]

Hi!! Greetings from England 😁 I'm so glad you were able to find this video useful, & that you now feel more confident buying your first birds. Thank you so much for watching & for your support

[@totallynotthebillcollector]

Great video. Really good advice

[@FinchManDave]

I appreciate that. Glad you liked it 🙂👍

[@Alex-S.]

Very good video Dave! 👏👍

[@FinchManDave]

Thanks Alex 😁

[@syedjunaid652]

i am starting finch business in pakistan karachi and your videos is very helpful to me thanks a lot man keep up the good work 😊

[@FinchManDave]

Awesome!! Thank you so much for watching & glad I could be of some help to you 😁

[@Vstromxt]

I have a blind finch. It was in a cage with 8 other finches at a local nursing home. The other birds pulled its tail feathers out. I have it alone in a smaller cage. It won't sit on a perch. It stays on the bottom of the cage. It has been eating and pooping just fine. It sleeps a lot. Its been more vocal the past few days. I hate to see it sitting in its own do n pee. I have a piece of paper on the bottom, I change out daily. It has a hard time walking on the wire so I put paper down.

[@FinchManDave]

Hey. I personally would never recommend wire floors. They're a flawed design & although it can make it easier for you to clean, it makes it harder for the bird to exist. Finches like to forage on the floor. They cant do that with a wire floor. And its uncomfortable too, so not good for them. Blindness will very often immobilize birds, as they cant navigate flying space & judge perch landings. I would keep watching your bird, nurse it back to health, & then work to adding a passive species in with it so there is company.

[@zaccllewellyn8950]

They're better off as a couple instead of a group unless every one on a group is selectively chosen

[@cfaizant]

congratulations for your great videos. Greetings from a french java sparrows breeder 🙂

[@FinchManDave]

Thank you, Christophe 😁

[@Tocimah]

QUESTION: Where did you find your double wide cage (the white one). Cages in the US are only 30''wide but I feel my finches should have double the length. Also another questin; My zebra finches are terrified when I try to place the night covering on the cage. Any suggestions?

[@FinchManDave]

I bought it from a store online & had it shipped from Ireland. I think you can get them on ebay too. You should only need to cover the roof back & sides, so that they can still see out of the front. Is that what you already do?

[@Tocimah]

@@FinchManDave No, I thought they would like to have the cage all open during the day. I found they do like the top covered, though. Why should the cage be covered on like you suggest?

[@FinchManDave]

@@Tocimah because seeing through the front but having the sides & top covered reduces the stress of strange sounds nearby. If they cant see the threat, that can cause them to attempt escape & fly into perches or the cage bars. Its called night-fright, & is a big cause of premature bird deaths

[@Tocimah]

Another question: I've had my finches for three years. They have no interest in fresh vegetables nor fruits. I've tried beets, cabbage, parsley, apple, pear, peach. the only thing they like is iceberg lettuce. Also, I put a tiny drop of Apple Cider Vinegar in their water and they wouldn't go near it. So I spray them with a tiny amount in a water bottle. Another channel had mentioned meal worms but they wont' go near any of this stuff. It's like its poison. I do have fruits and veggies by Higgins and they eat that....but that is dried and the dried greens I buy. Is there something I am not doing right? Also, I found this zebra finch KZbin post where the female talks and they respond right along with her. Is this okay? Or am I creating anxiety among them by playing it?

[@FinchManDave]

Persist with the veggies. Sprinkle their favourite food on some. Maybe millet. They WILL eventually eat it. Some birds are seed addicts & it can be hard to break their habbit. Worse case scenario, forget the veg & stick with the dried sorts that they eat. Itll contain pretty much the same goodness. Fruit isn't really part of many species staple diet - so you'd be lucky to get them to eat fresh fruit. Watch my video on Apple Cider Vinegar for all the information you need. It shows the correct dosages for what you give it to birds for - & lots of other info 🙂 My birds LOVE cress!! And its extremely healthy for them too so you could try that (the sprouted version). I personally stay away from meal worms. I do keep insectivorous birds but I substitute worms for high protein egg food. Non-breeding birds dont really need meal worms, and some wont touch them. Every single bird species uses a range of 5 voices - song, call, alarm, juvenile begging & territorial aggression. Id avoid playing bird sounds as if you dont understand bird noises, you cant possibly know which one you're playing. It will do nothing but stress them out

[@oscargoldman4867]

Hello, great video! Very informative. What is your recommendation when adopting a pair of owl finches in a smaller cage, and then moving them to a bigger cage when i get them home? Should i allow them to adjust to my house first before switching them to the larger cage?

[@FinchManDave]

Thank you for watching! 🙂 The move to a new home/surroundings is stressful to our Finches, & catching them to add them to a new enclosure is stressful too. It would be unnecessary to allow them to settle in their current cage, only to have to stress them out to move them again. I'm assuming you're looking to add them to an already empty cage, so I'd move them straight away - providing the new cage is completely decontaminated & cleaned. If you're thinking about moving them into a cage with other birds just yet - that's a different ball game. Please let me know 🙂

[@gauravsoni3647]

Hi Dave, this seemed like a very knowledgeable video and I did find some valuable tips. Greetings from India!

[@FinchManDave]

Hi Gaurav. Greetings from England! So glad you found this helpful & thank you very much for watching 😁

[@gauravsoni3647]

@@FinchManDave I would like to know what medication do you usually provide to your Gouldian finches when they are sick. I have around 35 of them in my open aviary.

[@FinchManDave]

@@gauravsoni3647 I have never used anything other than ACV, & I monitor all of my birds several times a day for ANY changes in behavior or unusual poop. Ive never lost a bird to illness & have only ever lost 3 birds. 2 to night-fright & a hen to egg-binding.

[@gauravsoni3647]

@@FinchManDave That is commendable. I look forward to gaining more knowledge and understanding how best to keep Gouldians. They are indeed my favorite of all birds. Thank you very much! :-)

[@FinchManDave]

@@gauravsoni3647 you're very welcome, Gaurav 🙂

[@johnsidney7129]

Hi Dave, great vids mate. I've been out of the game for a good 20 year, but this Year have decided to get back into it. Built a 10x8 shed and I'm in the process of building a connecting 11x6 outdoor flight. 20 year go Birds were easy to find I always knew someone who had the same passion. Sadly, after a return I'm finding it very hard to locate Birds in my area. Do you have any advice or know of any websites that could make my task easier? As yourself I'm not a fan of buying from pet shops for many unseen reasons. I used to show birds in my younger days but this time it will only be as a hobby. any idea's or links to where I can find Bird auctions situated in the UK. Especially the North East of England or any websites with dealers? really struggling here. I'm going to have a community aviary mainly finches, but I will have a few breeding cages onside with some canaries ie Borders,Fifes. Started following you. keep up the good work lad.

[@FinchManDave]

Nice one John. Thanks so much for the support m8. And so glad you're getting back into the hobby. Don't know of any bird auctions close to you but will keep an eye put for you & give you a shout as soon as I find something. Stafford bird show is on a few times a year & is a brilliant day out with loads of birds to choose from. Would love to see your aviary once its done m8. Will give you a shout if I find any links for you 😁👍🏼

[@johnsidney7129]

@@FinchManDave Yeah for sure I'm like a kid again building it and feeling the buzz. obviously, the birds are not ready to go in yet but I'm just getting the feelers out again, so I know the places to go to get the birds when I'm ready. any help would be grateful if you did find anything mate. I also would like to see more of the birds you have seems a great set up.

[@FinchManDave]

@@johnsidney7129 will 100% let you know m8. I keep a nice mix of Finches. Mainly Gouldians but some waxbills too, some Stars & a mix of other Australian Finches. My bird room is 11x11x7ft & they free-fly in there. Would love an outdoor aviary some day

[@FinchManDave]

@@johnsidney7129 Hiya m8. Middlesborough has a bird auction 1st Sunday of every month apparently

[@johnsidney7129]

@@FinchManDave Yeah I saw that I might have a wander down and check it out. I will be like a kid in a sweetshop only problem is I don't think my set up will be ready so it probably will be a fact-finding mission on the first visit. I promised to myself I'm going to get everything up and running before the introduction of the birds as I don't want to stress them out with continuous building work. keep up the good work great to see someone passion in what they do.

[@Tocimah]

I'm new here so I have another QUESTION: Heat lamps. Our winters here in central Pennsylvania are cold in my apartment. I read to keep the cage covered on the side facing the window and place a heat lamp on the opposite side of the cage. What is a bird safe avian heat lamp? Can you give some names of them. I've read infrared. Can someone give some links?? Supposedly one can keep them on day and night? And the temps should be 68-72 degrees with coll mist humidity. But what would the humidity level be? Thanks.

[@FinchManDave]

Hey 🙂 We have central heating here in the UK so if my Finches were kept inside my house, I would make sure the temp never drops below 19c which is around 66f - as I keep tropical finches & African/Indian waxbills (the latter need higher temps). So it depends which finches you have. My birdroom is generally kept between 20-30c (68-86f) & I control the humidity with equipment that keeps the humidty between the optimal 50-70% which is ideal for the Finches I keep. A heat lamp should always be kept to one side so that your birds can escape its direct line of warmth, if needs be. I have a temp controlled fan heater on a thermostat, & keep large chicken coop heat lamps with low wattage ceramic heat emitting bulbs, just incase my usual heat source packs in or malfunctions, or for the unfortunate case I need to isolate a sick bird in the hospital cage 🙂

[@Tocimah]

Thanks for that info. I'm writing it down. I just purchased this today: K&H Pet Products Snuggle-Up Bird Warmer. I just wanted to try it. Then I might get the lamp. And, I found this cage which is really double wide but I don't know when I can buy it. Double X-LARGE Birdhouse Flight Bird Cage With Center Divider and Rolling Stand. The problem with the current cage is it's so hard to get in there and clean. Why they don't put doors on every side of the cage....it would be so much easier to clean. I keep humidity at least 50 -55 in the winter because I have dry eye. I try to keep the apartment at 72 degrees bare minimum. I have Zebra finches. @@FinchManDave

[@FinchManDave]

@@Tocimah You're welcome 🙂 I've heard good things about the K&H bird warmers, but aren't able to get them in the UK. That temp & humidity will be perfect for Zebras 👌🏼

[@verogrm8340]

Hello! Thanks for the video! ❤ how many years do zebras live if you take good care of them?

[@FinchManDave]

Hey. You're welcome, and thank you for watching 😀 Pet Zebra Finches can live past 5 years and some even in to double numbers if they're from healthy stock and taken good care of

[@verogrm8340]

Thank you very much! 🙂

[@FinchManDave]

@@verogrm8340 you're welcome 👍🏼😁

[@cyrussataravalla6731]

Ma786sai Dua Dave your insight and deep connect with finches is spot-on. Extremely helpful for one like me who is close to birds for 50 years. But Gouldian finches for the first time due to their spectacular rainbow-hued beauty and dainty acrobatics

[@FinchManDave]

I LOVE gouldians. They're my favourite species 😁

[@teresa-greeneyes3886]

What should the temperature be when having a outside avariy

[@FinchManDave]

That maily depends on the outside temperature. My rule of thumb has always been, if I'm uncomfortable in it, my birds most likely are. If its too hot, provide baths & misting. If its too cold, they should be inside or at least in a heated indoor area.

[@wwqq8016]

hi, im curious about how big the bar spacing for these birds can go. ive seen some pretty big cages with a reasonable price, but the bar spacing seems to be wayy too big

[@FinchManDave]

Hey. Quarter inch to half inch is the recommended size. I lost a bird a few years back when I put an incompatible waterer in which widened the bar. It was summer & my bird room windows & doors were open so when I came back it was gone. Absolutely stupid mistake but you live & learn I suppose. It was literally 2 days into quarantine, and I've regretted that decision ever since

[@catpsyche]

Um. One really Big Question - Where are all the Finch Breeders & Is there some kind of Finch/ Bird Breeders Website where you can Locate Breeders in an area? Absolutely coming up empty handed with all my searching and scouring the internet in completely futile attempts to find ANY in the entire state of Minnesota, not that I would go that far away anyway, and it's commonplace to see Finches in all major Pet Stores. So. Loved the video and found everything except actually Finding Finch Breeders, and/ or their locations, helpful. Thanks in advance of any follow-ups or responses.

[@FinchManDave]

Hey! Glad you liked the video. Over here in the UK, we have various websites that have finches for sale, & generally through breeders. However, in my experience I've found the best breeders don't need to advertise online, & are generally recommended through others on forums & the finch specific facebook pages you can find dotted about. Might be a good idea to try joining some of them & see what you can find 🙂

[@catpsyche]

@@FinchManDave Thank you so much for the response, and a quick one at that! After 7 years I did rejoin FB, somewhat anonomously and privately now at least, specifically for the groups there, and THAT was the last option I figured on my own. I saw that you responded, and it's good to know I'm on the right track at least. Still, it seems very likely to me that I will end up buying from one of the large Pet Shop Chains at this point. I will hold off a month anyway, just in case. I'll keep brushing up and learning what more I need to learn about Finches til then. Get my house and supplies in order first! But, I'd LOVE to see you do a vid on finding Finch Breeders in "your/ our area." I'm def subscribing NOW for your excellence in info/ vids & for awesomeness in responding to questions. ♥

[@FinchManDave]

@@catpsyche sounds like a good plan 👌🏼 If you're gonna buy from a pet shop, study the bird/s carefully first. Don't choose any that have ruffled feathers & that are tucking their head inside their wing. Could just be stress but a posibility it's illness. Pick the ones that are actively flying about. Check their eyes to see if they're bright & responsive to movement. Don't pick any that have soiled backsides, scaly legs, or missing feathers. Depending on the species, don't pick any that are moulting. Thats the most traumatic time of their yearly cycle & a new house move on top of that can be deadly. If you're unsure of anything, gimme a shout & I'll do my best to help. And thank you so much for subscribing!! I really appreciate it 😁

[@marcoducceschi3849]

Can you recommend a good finch book with the different kinds of finches

[@FinchManDave]

Of course, Marco. Estrildid Finches Of The World is one of the very best 🙂

[@coop5329]

@@FinchManDave There seem to be two different books with this exact same title. The first was written by Derek Goodwin and published in 1982. Mr. Goodwin is an aviculturist and describes how to care for each species. The second book is by G. Jelmer Huisman and is described as a "coffee table book" with a great many photographs including the nestling mouth markings of 111 species. I was not able to find information on whether this book had details on how to care for the birds in captivity. It is also much more expensive. Which of these books were you recommending? Also, a book that has been very helpful to me in caring for my birds is The Care and Breeding of Seedeating Birds: Finches and Allied Species--Doves, Quail, and Hemipodes, by Jeffrey Trollope. It has very detailed information on diet, behavior and breeding for many species of finches as well as other birds. Thank you!

[@FinchManDave]

@@coop5329 its the Derek Goodwin version I was referring to 🙂

[@mapofthesoultagme7143]

can finches eat hemp protein power or pea protein powder, if there are no other ingredients?

[@FinchManDave]

Not sure. If your birds are on a correct & balanced diet, your birds shouldn't need targeted nutrition like those you mentioned. I'd be more inclined to use more suitable sources of protein (boiled egg, egg food, protein rich veg etc)

[@chuckyreturn593]

I just bought a finch but I have to say she is just a teen girl I bought it from she told me it is a quiet bird but watching lots of videos on you tube birds are very stressful what do I do from here now that I have the bird?

[@FinchManDave]

What type is it? Finches cant live alone so you'll need at least another 1. What is your setup like? Watch my video on HOW TO CARE FOR FINCHES. You'll find some great advice on there 🙂

[@chuckyreturn593]

it is the one with a red beek grey feathers I have a very small room 8by 4 feet but I don't have a cage he is warming up he doesn't flyaway when I move but he still flies when I try to grab it just to put it in the food bowl and water that's the only time it will eat@@FinchManDave

[@FinchManDave]

@@chuckyreturn593 you shouldn't need to grab it, unless its absolutely essential. That will only stress the bird out unnecessarily. You will need a mate for the bird. If its the opposite sex, they'll probably breed. If you dont want that, buy the same sex. The video I suggested will help you out 🙂

[@shelleycharlesworth5177]

Can I keep a house finch -wild but hand raised by me-with a society finch from a breeder?

[@FinchManDave]

I don't have any personal experience with House Finches, or keeping wild finches with domesticated finches - but I do know that they can be aggressive, so my advice would be not to house the 2 together

[@petranawahine3661]

Oh I’ve been searching and searching and I cannot find any help with having an injured finch birdie. I decided that I’ll keep him once his parents finish feeding him. BUT I bought a small cage, I quite frankly don’t have room for it and I figured since he cannot and will not fly, he will not need the space…? My plan is to hang him outside during the day so he can at least vocally interact with his kind…is that cruel? Will he be depressed? I just cannot leave him to die outside alone. But I also don’t want to make his life harder by keeping him hanging outside or stuck inside. In the house he’s pretty calm and loves me holding him and carrying him on my shoulder. Since day one, he’s been very tame and seems to enjoy my touch. What would you recommend knowing what you know about these guys? I have African silver bill

[@FinchManDave]

Im assuming he is wild? If so, removing him whilst he's still being fed by his parents is not advised. He needs to stay where he is until they're done raising him. How do you know he's injured? He may not be able to completely fly yet. Some can learn faster than others. Let's say he IS unable to fly, & that his parents have done raising him to juvenile stage - keeping him on his own can be cruel. Finches need company. I know that your heart is in the right place but this is a tough situation. If he's unable to fly, then he'll eventually be abandoned & doesn't stand much of a chance. If you keep him caged on his own, that's also bad for him as loneliness can cause health & wellbeing issues that could shorten his life. I would suggest contacting a bird rescue, or an avian vet. They may be better placed to give some kind of diagnosis. If you DO end up keeping him - he'll need another bird for company. And you will have that added responsibility of giving them both the day to day care they need. Please let me know the outcome & good luck with this.

[@petranawahine3661]

@@FinchManDavethey left the nest already but this little guy was on the ground. His wing is almost all missing. They were attacked by myna birds while in the nest. I have a camera pointing to the nest I built for them under our roof. So I picked him up and found a lady that works in a wild bird center here. She said he won’t fly again. They will not keep him because he’s not native. I keep him close to his nest in a box to be fed by his parents who keep flying back. (Cannot return him to the nest because he keeps jumping out and falling to the ground) I figured keeping him after they stop feeding him gives him some life, better than being eaten by a cat on the ground.

[@FinchManDave]

@@petranawahine3661 oh of course, keeping him after gives him a better chance of survival. He can't be on his own though as finches are naturally flock animals that need interaction with others of their kind. I would keep him outside to hear others as alarm & distress calls will have a negative affect on him. Plus in a cage outside, he could be attacked by predators or other birds. He is primarily a seed eater so you'll need to give him the correct food (millets, grass seeds etc). Looks like you have a new pet now 🙂

[@petranawahine3661]

@@FinchManDavedid you mean to keep him outside or not? It’s been a wild ride since I found him. Another thing is that he doesn’t know how and what to eat yet…I thought some finch food, millet etc and he has no clue that he can eat it. Even his parents don’t notice it in the box. I was told that I’ll have to teach him. I’m trying the first feed in the morning before I put him outside. I mash up some finch food and syringe feed once I open his beak, which is a challenge. One dose is good enough for now, but will have to figure out how when he stops getting fed. This is hard! 😂 I really don’t want him to suffer more than he has to 😢

[@FinchManDave]

@@petranawahine3661 it honestly sounds to me like you're already do a fantastic job, & I commend you for that. You really seem like you have it all under control. But yes, I meant NOT to cage him outside. Not unless you are with him the entire time to watch over him

[@edwinrivera646]

Finch owners

[@nataliebutler]

My local independent pet shop gets its small birds from responsible local breeders.

[@FinchManDave]

That's great to hear, Natalie. Hopefully they're then looked after as well as they would be at a responsible breeders 🙂

[@dontmindmyname1234]

i remember my finches started breeding as soon as i got a female in there to stop the males fighting, didnt even get prepared for breeding

[@FinchManDave]

Yep, when nature calls, theres not too much you can do to stop it

[@graciepace9043]

Not fax

[@dontmindmyname1234]

wdym “not fax” this guy has like decades of experience

[@vandammegamingYTbuthasedits]

you speak too fast

[@catchmany95]

Enjoy the knowledge re listen if you have too