Zebra Finches are becoming popular little birds to keep as pets.  They are not only very inquisitive and sociable birds but they are also pretty little birds that are easy to keep and look after. The zebra finch orignally comes from and can have a lifespan of up to 5 years. They like the company of their own species so if you are thinking of owning a bird, then consider buying two or more. Having more than once, also means they do not need as much of your time to keep them entertained.

Although they are quite friendly, it is worth knowing that Zebra Finches will rarely become tame enough to perch on your finger like a budgerigar.  Some who have been hand-reared may do this, but generally they are happy to just respond when you talk to them but will not mimic your voice like a budgerigar does. To pick up a Zebra Finch, make sure your palm covers its back and wings while your middle and index finger surround the bird’s neck. Use your other fingers to support its body and feet and please be very gentle – Zebra Finches will bite if they feel stressed or threatened. If your birds are housed in an outside aviary, then use a padded rim net and never try to catch one in mid flight – always wait until it is perched safely to avoid stress and injury.

There are lots of bird cages on the market that are ideal of finches and they come in various shapes and sizes.  However, even in the largest of bird cages, they will need regular exercise outside their bird cage and are at their most active during the daytime, sleeping once it gets dark.

Zebra finches would appreciate either a large cage with a plastic base in the house or in a purpose-built aviary outside. If you are considering the former, then the bird cage should include some horizontal bars set at different heights because they love to hop from one bar to another.  A large square or oblong cage works the best with bars no wider than 12mm apart otherwise they may get their heads stuck or try to escape. If you opt for an outdoor bird aviary, then you should make sure there is plenty of room inside the aviary for the birds to fly around in.  Zebra Finches that are kept in the house should be let out of their cage daily to exercise once they are familiar with the room you have placed them in.  Don’t forget to shut all the doors and windows before letting them out or you could have your birds flying out of the door or window.  All birds need plenty of sleep, so ideas-4-pets advise you to cover the parrot cage with a bird cage cover to encourage your birds to settle down quietly. The bird cage should always be placed in a position away from draughts and direct sunlight.

Because Zebra Finches love to play, it’s a good idea to provide them with plenty of toys in their cage to keep them mentally and physically stimulated. They like to climb and so should be let out of their cage at least once a day for exercise.  You could purchase a small table-top bird play stand but make sure that it is suitable for this type of bird before purchasing.  Providing a bath for your Zebra Finches is also a good idea.  You can either fix it to the outside of the bird cage or place a shallow bowlinside the cage for them to splash around in.  Some birds prefer to be sprayed with tepid water instead.

You will notice when purchasing a Zebra Finch that they come in assorted colours and markings. The most common colours are fawn, grey or white and typical markings are black breasted, penguin, yellow beak, and crested.  They eat a wide range of seeds, grains, and vegetation when they are in the wild but when kept as pets, you should look for a specially-formulated Finch mix with a few supplements added. Small pieces of fresh fruit and vegetables are also enjoyed as treats and as with all pets, make sure they have easy access to fresh drinking water.  It’s certainly worth remembering that birds can be poisoned if given avocado, lemon, potato, lettuce or any sweets or drinks that are made for humans. A Cuttlefish bone placed in the cage will provide your birds with some extra calcium.

As mentioned before, Zebra Finches can be kept alone but prefer the company of their own kind. They can be as a male and female pair, although if just keeping a few birds together, either sex should get along fine together. For larger aviaries it’s usually best to keep more females than males as, like other birds, they will become territorial and may fight over the females. You can also mix pairs of Zebra Finches with other soft-billed small birds such as canaries although if kept in a breeding aviary you shouldn’t mix more than 2 species together.

To give your birds the best in life, make sure they are fed a good balanced diet with no sudden changes which can affect their digestive systems, Keep them entertained and amused by supplying them with lots of toys, make sure that their Water bottle and feed bowls are cleaned daily and that they have easy access to clean, fresh water all the time, Try to use peaches that file their nails as this avoids having to have them clipped, let them have access to a daily bath as they need to preen themselves to keep clean and lastly, ensure they have daily exercise outside their cage.