Basic Care

This is a short introduction to the basic care of Zebra Finches. Find out what food they eat and what type of cage to get. There is also a short introduction to breeding.

Housing

Zebra finches can be kept in cages or aviaries, indoors or outdoors. Since zebra finches are very hardy, they are able to tolerate many different environments without any problems. However, you should avoid placing them where it may rain on them. You should also avoid changing the environment too rapidly, since the birds will need to acclimatise to the new environment. Generally, healthy acclimatised zebra finches will feel quite all right with temperatures between 5� Celsius and 30� Celsius. However, when breeding 15� Celsius should be the minimum temperature. (recommended temperatures may vary from region to region depending on humidity, etc.).

Breeding Aviary Considerations

Breeding Pair of Zebra Finches - Photo by Jörg Dickmann

When you want your zebra finches to breed inside finch aviaries, first make sure that your zebra finches have its own pair. An odd combination usually results in the finches fighting for superiority over the others.

Breeding Aviary Nest Materials

Inside finch aviaries, you cannot expect finches to create a nest for their eggs out of nothing, or of their own feathers. They become good nest builders provided there are available resources for them. Placing hay, straw, or dried grass inside the area are helpful in forming the base of their nests. Do not use anything synthetic because the zebra finches might accidentally swallow it.

Proper Weather and Temperature for Breeding Finches

Second, certain environmental conditions in finch aviaries may detrimental to a breeding finch. The temperature in the aviary must be somewhere near 15 degrees Celsius to keep them warm. Also, in extreme weather conditions, always keep the nest, with the eggs, and the finches protected by creating a shed or shaded area for them.