Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi! I already have a parakeet that I've had for about a year, and he's doing pretty well, so I've decided to get a pair of zebra finches. I've been reading online all day about how to care for them, but I've still got a few questions. Can you help me?

Can they stay in quiet, low traffic areas of the house?

Do they need grit?

Do they need toys?

If I don't provide a nesting box, and I get a male and a female, will they still breed?

Should I get two males, two females, or one of each? Two males I think would fight - Two females, I'm worried about the eggs. One of each - I don't want babies!!

Do you HAVE to provide a nesting box for sleeping in?

ANY other tips would be useful! I'm getting nervous, but I'm still going to buy the birds! The sites I've found haven't helped me much, so - feel free!!

Congrats! You'll really love having the "zeebies." They're active, sweet birds. Before they settle down for the night, they have a "soft chirping" song that is so soothing!

To answer your questions:

"Can they stay in quiet, low traffic areas of the house?"
Yes

"Do they need grit?"
No. They discard the outer shell before eating the seed and therefore don't need grit

"Do they need toys?"
They really don't, as opposed to parrot-type birds who love toys. You could try a toy to see if they play with it, but my finches never liked toys.

"If I don't provide a nesting box, and I get a male and a female, will they still breed?"
Probably, since zeebies love to breed and will find a place! However, not all female zebras will lay eggs or if they do, will either eat the eggs, play with them, or totally ignore them! If yours do try to breed, you could just let them sit on the eggs, since they may not hatch. If they do hatch, you might change your mind! Baby finches are so endearing!

"Should I get two males, two females, or one of each? Two males I think would fight - Two females, I'm worried about the eggs. One of each - I don't want babies!!"
I suggest a couple. You're right about the same sex not getting along with each other. They prefer cagemates of opposite sex.

"Do you HAVE to provide a nesting box for sleeping in?"
No. They'll find their favorite sleeping spot, which could be in one of their food cups! LOL!

Keep us posted!

>>Hi! I already have a parakeet that I've had for about a year, and he's doing pretty well, so I've decided to get a pair of zebra finches. I've been reading online all day about how to care for them, but I've still got a few questions. Can you help me?

>>>>ANY other tips would be useful! I'm getting nervous, but I'm still going to buy the birds! The sites I've found haven't helped me much, so - feel free!!
-----
Canarymom

Finches: Melanie, Fritz, Casey, Sandi, Bunkie, and Sarah
Canary: Paulie
Budgies: Sammy, Curaco, and Pablo
Cockatiels: Elmo, Andy, Cleo, and Marley
And
My Rainbow Bridge Flock who are now singing in that other World

ou're DEFINEATELY right about me changing my mind about the babies! The problem is - I don't want babies until I'm ready! I've decided I should get one of each, just in case, so I'm looking up ways to sex zebras.

If I don't provide a nesting box, will they still make fertile eggs? Or be very protective of them? I can't let the birds sit on the eggs because if they WERE to hatch - I would have nothing to do with them! They would die! Oh no!

I'm really hoping this isn't an option, but - If I don't want baby finches - should I choose a different pet?

OH YEAH! Can you feed and water the finches with the cups that hang on the side of the cage?

In the normal grey zebras, males will have a bright red beak, orange patch over the ears, and "zebra" stripes on the chest; females have an orange beak and are paler in color.

The eggs will be fertile if they've mated, whether or not there's a nesting box. My zebras used a large food bowl for their nest! Until you're ready for them to have babies, I suggest removing the eggs and replacing them with "fake" eggs that you can buy at pet stores. If you remove the eggs and don't replace them, the female will continue to lay "replacements!"

Of course, if the birds are young, there's a possibility they won't "take care" of the eggs and will treat them as I indicated in my previous post.

A word of caution--make sure that the female gets plenty of calcium. I use a calcium supplement in their water that I bought from the vet. Without enough calcium, she could get egg-bound, which requires vet treatment.

Not sure what you mean about the cups. Cages come with cups that can be attached from the outside with the open part inside for the birds to eat or drink.

Finches are social birds, and thus need to be in pairs. If you want a single bird, I suggest a male canary. Not only will he sing beautifully, but also he doesn't need a mate since canaries aren't social birds as finches are.

>>You're DEFINEATELY right about me changing my mind about the babies! The problem is - I don't want babies until I'm ready! I've decided I should get one of each, just in case, so I'm looking up ways to sex zebras.
>>
>>If I don't provide a nesting box, will they still make fertile eggs? Or be very protective of them? I can't let the birds sit on the eggs because if they WERE to hatch - I would have nothing to do with them! They would die! Oh no!
>>
>>I'm really hoping this isn't an option, but - If I don't want baby finches - should I choose a different pet?
>>
>>OH YEAH! Can you feed and water the finches with the cups that hang on the side of the cage?

-----
Canarymom

Finches: Melanie, Fritz, Casey, Sandi, Bunkie, and Sarah
Canary: Paulie
Budgies: Sammy, Curaco, and Pablo
Cockatiels: Elmo, Andy, Cleo, and Marley
And
My Rainbow Bridge Flock who are now singing in that other World

>>The eggs will be fertile if they've mated, whether or not >>there's a nesting box. My zebras used a large food bowl for >>their nest! Until you're ready for them to have babies, I >>suggest removing the eggs and replacing them with "fake" eggs >>that you can buy at pet stores. If you remove the eggs and >>don't replace them, the female will continue to >>lay "replacements!"

Will replacing them with fake eggs not encourage the birds to have more, to fill the clutch? Also, will the finches then spend the rest of their time trying to hatch little fake eggs? You said they might not take care of the eggs - but if they do, will they be spending all their life trying to hatch fake eggs? That's not a very happy life...

A clutch is normally 4 to 6 eggs, and somehow they seem to "know" that it's a full clutch. So I don't think they'll continue to have more if you put that number in the nest.

Perhaps my recent experience will answer your next questions. My finches recently had 2 unsuccessful clutches. Poor guys were so diligent in sitting on them, but when the time for hatching had passed (14 days) and they still contined to sit on them, I removed the eggs both times. They seemed confused at the disappearance of the eggs, but soon adjusted and resumed their normal activities. Sometimes it's hard to do, but I had to step in to let them have a break. That's what I suggest.

-----
Canarymom

Finches: Melanie, Fritz, Casey, Sandi, Bunkie, and Sarah
Canary: Paulie
Budgies: Sammy, Curaco, and Pablo
Cockatiels: Elmo, Andy, Cleo, and Marley
And
My Rainbow Bridge Flock who are now singing in that other World

So - just to make sure - you're saying that if they are taking care of duds for 14 days or more, I need to take the fakes out? Just checking.

Another question! They never end! Um - would a cuttlebone or two in the cage be ok, instead of the supplement you put in the water? Or do I need to just find some supplement online?

Any other sites or advice would be useful. And don't worry - it will be a few weeks before I can get the birds. I have to build the cage.

Yes, that's what I did with their real infertile eggs after 14 or more days.

Cuttlebones would be fine.

Let us know when you get the birds!

>>So - just to make sure - you're saying that if they are taking care of duds for 14 days or more, I need to take the fakes out? Just checking.
>>
>>Another question! They never end! Um - would a cuttlebone or two in the cage be ok, instead of the supplement you put in the water? Or do I need to just find some supplement online?
>>
>>Any other sites or advice would be useful. And don't worry - it will be a few weeks before I can get the birds. I have to build the cage.
-----
Canarymom

Finches: Melanie, Fritz, Casey, Sandi, Bunkie, and Sarah
Canary: Paulie
Budgies: Sammy, Curaco, and Pablo
Cockatiels: Elmo, Andy, Cleo, and Marley
And
My Rainbow Bridge Flock who are now singing in that other World