This guide will help you choose a Canary or Finch pet and keep them happy and healthy. This guide will show you how to set up an aviary or cage, provide a complete menu of food options, and help you recognize when your birds require extra attention, distraction, or intervention.
It is designed to guide novices from purchase to expert status. birds facts It covers the basics of care for finch species, as well as the colorful details about their characteristics.
This guide assumes that all finch types can benefit from the general information regarding food, cages, etc. The exceptions to this rule are highlighted.
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Pet Finches
Table of Contents
The earliest documented human-finch relationship dates back to the 1360s when Java Sparrows were kept as pets by China’s 1st Ming Dynasty. Although the west was slower to catch up, five hundred years ago, the first Canaries arrived in Europe from Spain. Over the past 100 years, many other pet finches have joined these pioneers, including the Zebra finch.
So, the Canary is the pioneer of modern cage birds. It was a nondescript green-yellow bird at first, but it soon sang its way into European villages and towns in the 16th and 17th centuries. While other cage birds have come and gone with the times, the Canaries’ love has not wavered.
Ironically, the Budgerigar, a small Australian parrot, was the one who gave the kickstart to other popular pet finch species. In the middle of the 19th century, pet Budgies were imported from Australia. Bird importers soon discovered the Australian budgies’ fellow avians, including the Cockatiel (a small parrot), the Zebra Finch, Gouldian Finch, and Double-barred Finch. Safflower Seed For Birds
The Java Sparrow and the Bengalese Finch are also major players in the finch pet industry. Java Sparrow has been kept in eastern countries as a pet for many centuries. These finches are not native to Australia, but they are all members of the same family, the Estrildid finches. There are many other finches that you can buy, but the Canary and five Estrildid are the most popular.
What is the Cost of Canaries and Finches?
Pet finches come in a variety of prices. Prices for a Canary standard start at PS10 and can go up to PS200 for rare varieties. Zebra finches, Bengalese finches, and other uncommon species are usually priced between PS5-30 and PS200.
How long do pet finches live?
A Canary lives between 8 and 12 years in captivity, but birds as old as 15 can be found. The average lifespan of Zebra finches is 8 years (sometimes longer), and the lives of most pet finches are similar. For an estimate of the lifespan of your pet bird, speak to the breeder/shop where you purchased it.
