A Brief Guide to Finch Birds

All families of finch birds make astounding family pets. How do I know this? I raise and breed finches myself. Through both personal, hands-on experience and studying finches over the years, I know the pleasure of raising finches. I believe that the joy derived from raising finches is worth the labor it takes to care for and feed these small birds. It is my absolute pleasure to share what I know about raising finches with you. I can only hope that my enthusiasm for finches will rub off on you.

In any pet shop selling birds you can securely bet that there will be people gathered around the finches. People find finches magical, perhaps because of their songs and activity. Some, like the Gouldian Finch, are colorful and bold while others, like the popular Zebra Finch, are more muted in coloration but there is no bird of this species that doesn’t in some way catch one’s eye.

Finches are energetic, always moving about their enclosure. You rarely can find them sitting quietly on their perch. Finches in no way seem to run out of vigor as they follow each other around their habitat all day long.

You should also find that finches are voracious eaters. Each bird will down approximately a third of its body weight in food every day. Mostly, finches consume a diet of small seeds. Like many birds, finches are omnivores, eating diets rich in plant life as well as small insects and pupae. They gravitate to green, leafy vegetables, cut-up fruit, mealworms and other insect pupae.

Their aviary should be big enough for them to fly around, longer than it is wide and without frills. Finches typically take no interest in toys, ladders, mirrors or bells; those are things that parrots and parakeets find thrilling and finches tend to ignore. Oh yes, you should not expect your finch to be tame like a parrot or parakeet either; they mostly will not sit on your finger or eat from your hand. If they take off their enclosure you’ll follow them for hours trying to recapture them.

If you are new to finches and thinking about getting a pair of birds for your home, I recommend you begin with Zebra, Spice or Society finches. These groups of finches are largely easy to care for, tend to be hardy and will be easy to breed at home. They also are the cheapest to buy.

As pets, finches engage themselves with song and motion all day long. While they are entertaining themselves they are also entertaining you. I can sit for hours watching these little creatures live together in peace and harmony, singing to each other, grooming themselves and their mates, splashing around in the birdbath and generally enjoying themselves.

Raising finches comes with a deep obligation to see to the health and well-being of your birds. It is an awesome responsibility but one that is easily carried out when you have the tools to care for these wonderful little birds.

Bogart, the cheeky parakeet goes in search of something for breakfast and discovers Rude Health’s delectable new crispy muesli ‘Early Bird’ (www.rudehealth.com/our-products)
Video Rating: 4 / 5

New Zealand 1962 Birds/Health/Parakeet 2v set (n20703)

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A guide about the best and probably easiest way to tame your new pet bird

A lot of patience is needed on your part to achieve this, and the taming process needs to begin whilst the bird is still young and has not yet learned to be afraid of people. It can be done with an adult bird but is usually much more of a challenge.

Some bird breeds however do tend to be a little more difficult to tame (finches for example), they’ll sit on your hand or finger ok but would often rather get away from you, and are less likely to take food offerings (unfortunately I don’t know why that is so) but my findings are based on my own personal experience with these birds so if you’ve had better luck or you get better look with this then good for you! (Please let me know how you‘ve managed it, I‘d love to learn where I’m going wrong). Most parrot-like species (budgies, cockatiels etc) however are a different matter and will readily take to hand taming as long as this is approached in the correct manner.

Remember that whilst trying to tame your pet bird sudden movements or loud noises are a no no, you don’t want to frighten the poor thing, talk softly, move slowly and don’t shout at your bird, even if it does misbehave.

Whilst your bird is still very young, has only very recently flown the nest, and has not yet gained enough confidence to fly away is the best time to start the taming process.

Take your bird in hand or use your finger or hand as a perch and allow your bird to step onto it. Talk softly to your bird all the time as you are doing this, tell him or her what a good boy or girl they are for example. Give your bird time to get used to this and gradually move your hand around the cage and hopefully your bird will stay put. Offer some food stuffs and if your bird takes them it’s a sign that at the moment it is putting its trust in you. After a while, say 5 minutes, return it to its normal perch and then leave it there and talk to it again from the outside of its enclosure for a minute or two, your bird will need to learn to trust the sound of your voice. Say goodbye then go away and leave your pet bird to its own devices for a few hours.

Do this several times a day, every day, until you feel it is confident enough to stay with you outside its cage. Your birds cage is its home and is the place where your bird feels at its safest, so if you try to take your bird out of its cage it may just jump off your hand or finger back into its safe place. Be persistent but be patient also, remember your bird has already learned to put its trust in you and it will only be a matter of time before it feels safe enough for you to remove it from its home. Learn what is your birds favourite food treat and use it as a prize for being good (much like taming or training any animal). Again you must interact and try these methods regularly throughout each day, but don’t overdo it, your bird will need to rest awhile between its taming sessions.

Soon you and your bird will have enough confidence in each other to allow you to perhaps walk about your home with your bird on your shoulder for example (pieces of eight), or your bird will follow you about. Eventually it will look forward to its daily human interaction and so will you.

Remember to be sure that if removing your bird from its cage not to give it any means to escape outside; close windows, doors and curtains, turn off the ceiling fan (don’t want chopped bird do we), and try and restrict your taming to one room that your pet bird cannot escape from. Eventually you may be able to allow your bird the run of the house but you must still be sure to not leave any escape routes.

Be sure to do some bird taming every day, don’t put it off, because if you miss your sessions then after a while your bird will lose its trust in you.

Be persistent and confident and do these things very regularly and sooner of later your pet bird will be fully confident with you and not nervous.

More information will be available in my new ebook coming soon, email me to reserve your copy or to ask any bird keeping related questions. I will try and answer as soon and as honestly as possible.

Day one working with Meme, my indian ringneck, with negative reinforcement. www.dogsandparrots.com
Video Rating: 3 / 5

Train Your Bird to Talk - Vintage 45 record Parakeet training

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The Pleasures of Their Company: An Owner’s Guide to Parrot Training

Product Description
Making the Most of a Good Thing Sharing Your Home and Life with a pet bird from the parrot family can be a joy that must be experienced to be appreciated. Whether your parrot pal is a lordly macaw, a tiny budgie or any of the beautiful Amazons, African greys, cockatoos or other beloved species in between, life can be beautiful when communication works. And that is what The Pleasure of Their Company: An Owner’s Guide to Parrot Training can do for the relationship.

The text discusses the reasons for training a parrot, how an owner’s behavior influences training results, working with baby birds and weanlings, three basic obedience skills and training techniques for adult parrots. You will find chapters on potty training to help your parrot clean up its act; speech training that makes your parrot more fun to be with and some intriguing examples of parrots really knowing what they’re saying; trick training that allows a parrot to use its nimble mind and dexterous body together and some valuable insights on fun and games with your parrot to enjoy your relationship fully. With delightful illustrations by parrot lover Richard Cole and a wealth of practical guidance, The Pleasure of Their Company is the gift you give yourself and your parrot to make life better for you both.

Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot

• Category: BIRD
• Manufacturer: BARRON’S PUBLISHING
• Sub-Category: BIRD BOOKS BY SPECIES
• MFR-PART-NO: 3667
• Made By: BARRON’S PUBLISHING

Product Description
This expanded new edition of a popular parrot-training book explains parrot psychology and discusses the ways in which parrot owners can apply it to solve behavior problems. The author cites the most common problems—screaming, biting, and feather-chewing—and tells how to remedy them. She also stresses the need for periodic reinforcement of desirable parrot behavior traits and advises on many aspects of good parrot care, including proper nutrition and providing the bird with steady companionship. The text is complemented with many attractive and instructive color photos and line art.

Parrot Training: A Guide to Taming and Gentling Your Avian Companion

• ISBN13: 9780764563270
• Condition: USED – VERY GOOD
• Notes:

Product Description
In paperback at last — the definitive guide to parrot training.

Originally published as The Pleasure of Their Company: An Owner’s Guide to Parrot Training, this amply illustrated book is just what parrot owners need to bring up happy, well-behaved pets. You get:

• Hands-on advice from one of the nation’s foremost parrot authorities
• A thorough explanation of “normal” parrot behavior and the benefits of training
• Coverage of everything from gentling fledglings and basic obedience to potty training, speech, and tricks”

The parakeet owner’s handbook;: An easily followed guide to long life for your parakeet; showing how to most quickly train yours to talk; how to breed … diseases promptly; a human interest handbook