Room for Flight Equals a Happy Finch

Finches are small, metabolic dynamos. They are very active because of their need to expend all of that natural energy. Keeping your birds in a cage that is too small for activity is a death sentence to these little beauties. They must have room for flight; it directly affects their health.

If you have the budget for it, an indoor aviary that is at least forty inches high is an ideal set up for a pair of finches. If you don't have the budget for an aviary, let's talk cages.

When choosing a cage, don't go for the smallest cage you can find just because these birds are small. These birds were built for hours upon hours of continuous flight in the wild, so they need lots of room for flight in their enclosure.

For one pair of finches, their cage should be at least 28 inches long and 20 inches high. This is the minimum for two birds. Whatever you do, don't over crowd your cage because congestion is very stressful to these birds and stress will lead to health problems.

The cage must be well ventilated and free from any drafts or direct sunlight which can over heat the birds. The cage should be placed in a well lighted area that doesn't have too much activity. Place the cage at eye level against a wall.

When looking to purchase a cage for your finches, flight bird cages are a great idea. Flight bird cages allow birds to reach full flight. These types of cages are meant for multiple birds and they have several perches and feeders. They are much taller and wider than most average cages and would make a perfect home for your finches due to the large amount of space. Flight cages allow the birds more room for exercise and activity. But don't forget, you don't want to over crowd your birds.

Within the cage you need to provide separate finch feeders for food and water, grit and treat dishes and a bathing dish. You will need softwood perches of differing sizes to help keep your bird's feet healthy and to help keep their nails trim. Finches will also enjoy a nest box to sleep in at night. Paper sprinkled with grit should be placed on the bottom of the cage or you can simply use grit paper. You will also want to place a "bird protector" disk on the side of the cage. This will help to prevent mites.

Your birds with thrive with plenty of room to roam, good healthy food and a stress free environment.