You've decided to buy a finch. Something easy enough to care for yet active and fun to watch. A good choice for someone with your busy schedule. Or simply because you are ready to relax for a change and don't want to hassle with a higher maintenance pet. Either way, you are ready for a finch.

Which finch to buy? Always a tough choice. There was a day when you had only a few options but today you can contact local breeders, attend bird fairs, or your neighborhood pet store has a wide variety. There are some thing you may wish to consider while deciding on which finch to buy.

1) Song - Do you want to fill your home with the sweet sounds of bird song. Most song birds are simply that, song birds. Their call is so delightful and melodious that they don't need an elaborate display to impress the other finches. Some excellent singers are: Green Singers & Strawberries. Of course Canaries are too, but they are also not technically classified in with finches.

2) Color - Something so bright and colorful that everyone who visits will be compelled to stop and look. In my experience, the more colorful the bird, the less it sings. They still sing, but it's more repetitive. They don't need a fancy song. Just look at them and admire. Some excellent colorful finches are Gouldians & Melbas.

3) Dance/Display - A finch to watch for hours on end. These wonderful little birds are active and engaging. Always showing their personalities and their physical agility. These finches will dance, sing, and strut their stuff from dawn until dusk with only a few naps in between. They are always on the move. Some excellent dance/display finches are: Zebra, Society, Waxbills, Whydahs, Mannikins, and Munias.

Once you've picked the type of finch you want it's time to learn all about that species; their diet, care, housing, and other needs. Simply putting some finches in a cage and given them seed and water each day wont do anymore. We know better that than now.

Finches need space for exercise, many have special dietary requirements, and all benefit from companionship (another finch). Do you feed fruits and veggies along with the seed or will your finch need live bugs. Many species need a little extra protein in their diet. This includes all Waxbills.

When buying a companion for your finch, not any species will do. Sometimes you can mix species, but it's not always wise. This is when you need to learn as much as you can about the species behavior and how they interact with other species, or with members of their own species. Putting two male weavers together is not a good idea.

You have decided on a male/female pair. You don't want them to breed, at least not now. This is always best when bringing new finches into your home, and the best way to stop reproduction is to not give them a nest. Mating is going to happen, eggs will be laid, all you can do if not give them a suitable place to incubate the eggs.

It's time to go pick out your new finches. Which ones to pick. If at all possible pick birds that are not related, just in case you decide to let them reproduce someday.

The bald one huddled on the floor in the corner looks so pathetic your heart nearly melts. That would not be a good choice. Granted with a little love and care the finch may re-feather and really perk up. It may also drop dead a few days after you get it home. The stress of being attacked (the most common cause of baldness in finches), added to the stress of moving to a new home may just be enough to do the little bird in.

The sleeping bird which doesn't move much when someone sticks their hand inside the cage, an easy catch, probably not a healthy bird. Not one I'd pick unless you feel you can nurse the bird back to health. I'd go for the active birds, with clear eyes and skin. Feathers should be neat and clean.

Sometimes you'll see an otherwise healthy active bird who is missing its tail. That's to be expected if the cage is over crowded. I have been known to buy tailless birds myself. They have always grown back in. Tattered feather, often the tail again, are not necessarily a bad thing. That bird has probably been spending a lot of time jumping to the cage walls and sliding down. The tail feathers will look better after a molt.

A crossed or overgrown beak is another indication that maybe the bird isn't healthy. All birds, no matter the species, should have a nice clean well formed beak. The same goes for claws of course. Yes you can trim back the beak as you would for over grown claws (toe nails) but you really shouldn't have to unless the bird is very old.

Young birds are usually an unwise buy. If the Zebras beak is still black (or tan/pink), the Gouldian is still olive green in color, the Owls head is still grey; the finches are too young. If you buy finches that young you risk them dying on you. It's sad but I have seen unweaned finches for sale, most all die before they are even sold. Those which do wean but are still very young can succumb to stress or illness very quickly and die. It's always best to buy adult finches.

What you want to look for is an active bird, clean feathers, healthy looking skin and beak. Clear eyes are a must, as are clear nares (nose holes). Pin feathers are no problem, they will open into new feathers after a few days or weeks with proper bathing. If you are buying a species which changes color during the breeding season it's best to buy them when they are in their breeding plumage or starting to molt into the colors. This way you can be sure you have the sexes you want.

Pick the bird which you feel you can best care for and one you will enjoy having around. Most finches live 5-9 years so look forward to many happy years together.

Article © Myra Markley 2002

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