If you want a lively, interesting and cheerful pet, you can’t go wrong with finches. They are very easy to care for and they make wonderful pets that will charm the whole family. Finch birds make the perfect pets for someone who likes birds, but doesn’t have a lot of time for social interaction that birds like parrots need. In order for your finches to be happy, you need to provide the perfect home for them.

These small, beautiful and active birds need a cage that is at least two and a half feet in length. Finches are small birds, so the bars of the cage need to be close enough together to prevent injury to the birds or their escape.

Finches are built for hours upon hours of continuous flight; so their cages must provide them with enough room to reach full light. They need to remain active to maintain good health. Most finch owners have two cages. They will move the birds to the other cage where they will be comfortable while the first case is being cleaned.

One thing to keep in mind is that there will be many things inside the cage with your birds; they will still need room for flight even with additional items in the cage. There will be separate finch feeders for water and food inside the cage. There should be extra dishes for grit, bathing and treats placed in the cage for short periods of time. Your birds will also appreciate a nesting box.

Pet finches also need perches to rest on. Perches for the cage should be of various sizes in order to provide exercise for the birds’ feet. Cement perches are good for keeping the toe nails trimmed, but they should not be used exclusively as they can be hard on their feet. Some finch enthusiasts recommend using natural perches made from the branches of trees like elm, maple, pear, poplar, or cherry.

In the bottom of the cage should be paper sprinkled with grit, or you can use a grit paper. As an option you can also attach a “bird protector” disk to the side of the cage in order to prevent mites. But this kind of accessory is completely optional.

Most likely your finches will also have toys in their cage. Finches love plastic rings, shiny objects or bells for entertainment. There are countless bird toys available in pet stores and retail outlets. You will find toys such as swings, ladders, mirrors and beads. Instead of stuffing the cage with toys, provide only one or two toys at a time and switch them often to keep your birds stimulated.

The cage should be cleaned at least once a week. Cleaning a cage is a fairly simple process that entails using hot, soapy water to thoroughly clean the cage and accessories. They then need to be rinsed and dried. For an easier time cleaning the cage, you can line the bottom of the cage with paper towels, newspaper or brown paper bags cut to size.

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