Finches can be found in various habitats worldwide, except in the Arctic regions and Australia.
Not all Finches are considered “true finches.” Birds known as “true finches” belong to the taxonomic family Fringillidae and have conical beaks and bright, colorful feathers.
Different types of finches can be found in different habitats. For the most part, passerine birds are found in the northern hemisphere, but there are some species native to the Neotropic regions of the world.
How Much Do Finches Cost In 2023?
Depending on the type, a pair of Finches will cost you around $20 to $200.
For pet finches, you should not only be able to pay for birds, but also provide a safe and healthy habitat as well as a healthy diet.
1. Initial costs
The initial costs associated with keeping finches as pets include the cost of the birds themselves, as well as the cage, cage accessories, toys, and grooming supplies.
Below you will find an overview of these costs, as well as a table describing the estimated costs for maintaining a single pair of finches, as well as a group of four finches:
Purchase Price: The average cost of a single finch will vary by species, color mutation, and where you get it. Depending on the type of finches you get, you should plan to spend $20 to $200 for pair.
Cage: The cost of a high-quality finch cage will vary greatly depending on the size, type of cage, and quality of materials.
Your best option is a large flight cage that could cost anywhere from $75 to $500 or more.
Cage Accessories: To properly equip your finch cage, you’ll need at least three food and water dishes, as well as a nesting box and several perches.
The cost of these items can vary greatly, but you should budget between $100 and $200 (£90 to £180) to be sure.
Toys: Actually, you only need to have 3 toys in the finch cage at any given time for a single pair of finches, though you do need to have a variety of toys on hand so you can turn them in and out to avoid boredom.
Plan to spend around $50 (£45) on toys.
Grooming Supplies: Like many birds, finches enjoy bathing, so you’ll need to have a birdbath available in your finch cage.
Other grooming supplies you may need include nail trimmers and cosmetic powders. The average cost you can expect to pay for these supplies is around $40 (£36).
2. Monthly Costs
Monthly costs associated with keeping finches as pets include the cost of birds feeding, nesting and bedding supplies, cleaning supplies, and veterinary care.
Below you will find an overview of these costs, as well as a table describing the estimated costs for maintaining a single pair of finches as well as two pairs of finches:
Feeding Cost: Feeding your finches with a high-quality diet is the key to keeping your birds happy and healthy.
Some finch owners choose to feed their birds a mixture of seeds, while others prefer pelleted foods. In addition to the basic finch diet, you should also offer supplemental foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables.
The cost of finch food varies by quality, but you should plan to spend around $20 (£9) on a large bag of bird food that will last you about a month for a single pair of finches.
Add to that the cost of fresh and supplemental food that you should budget for around $40 (£36) per month on food.
Nesting/Bedding Supplies: In order for your finches to build a nest, you need to provide nesting materials like wood shavings and small twigs. Plan to spend around $15 (£13.50) on nesting supplies.
Cleaning Supplies: If you want to keep your finches healthy, you need to keep a cage clean. You won’t need to buy cleaning supplies every month, but you should budget for a cost of approximately $10 (£9) per month in supplies.
Veterinary care: Not all vets are qualified to care for birds, so you may need to find an exotic vet to care for your finches. The average cost for this type of vet visit is approximately $50 (£45).
You don’t need to take your birds to the vet every month. If you take your finches to the vet twice a year and divide that cost into twelve months, you should budget around $8 (£7.20) per month, per bird.
3. Additional Costs
In addition to all these monthly costs, you should plan occasional additional costs, such as repairs of your Canary cage, replacement toys, etc. Again, you won’t have to cover these costs every month, but you should budget around $10 (£9) per month to be sure.
Providing Safe Habitat To Your Finches
Now that you know a little more about the practicalities of owning a finch bird, you’re ready to go into detail on how to keep them.
To keep your finches happy and healthy, you must provide them with a safe habitat and a healthy diet.
Birds like finches spend most of their lives in their cage, so choosing the right cage is not a decision to be made lightly.
In this section, you will receive detailed instructions on selecting and accessorizing your finch cage.
Minimum Cage Requirements
While some birds like parrots can exercise by climbing the walls of their cage, the only way finches can exercise is by flying. For this reason, it is important that you choose a cage large enough for your finches and it should be longer than it is wide to accommodate the flight.
If you are tempted to save money by buying a smaller cage, keep in mind that your finches will spend most of their lives in the cage; It pays to get a bigger cage to make sure your birds are happy and healthy.
Finches are not very large birds, so a cage that is spacious enough for multiple finches will still not be as big as a cage for a parrot or other bird, so keep that in mind as well.
For a pair of finches, the minimum cage size is 30 inches long, 18 inches wide, and approximately 18 inches tall (76x46x46 cm).
This is the minimum recommendation for a single pair of finches to allow normal flight patterns. If you plan to keep more than two finches in the same cage, you will want it to be slightly larger.
The best thing to do for your finches is to buy something called a flight cage. A flight cage is simply a cage that is large enough and long enough to allow normal flight.
While size is the most important factor for your finch cage, there are a few other things to consider. For example, the space between the bars in your birdcage is very important.
You want the gap to be no more than 1/2 inch (although 1/4 inch is better): If the gap is larger, your finches could get their heads between the bars or even escape. Bars spaced too far could also affect your finch’s ability to perch and climb on the sides of the cage.
Another factor you want to consider is the bottom of the cage. Your finches will spend most of their time flying around the cage and resting on perches, but you should also think about the bottom of the cage.
It is best to find a cage that has a sliding tray at the bottom for easy cleaning. You can line this tray with newspaper or birdcage liners and then just throw it away and replace it for quick cleanup.
You may want to avoid cages that have wire mesh or bars at the bottom because they can damage your finch’s feet and lead to a condition called bumblefoot.
Accessories And Toys For Cages
In addition to providing your finches with a cage large enough to fly, you should also provide certain accessories for the cage. It should also be intentional about how to organize the cage. The most important cage accessories for pet finches include the following:
- Food and water dishes
- Perches
- Bathtub
- Nesting box
- Nesting materials
- Cuttlebone
- Toys
Food And Water Dishes
Food and water should be available to your birds at all times, and the number of dishes you need will depend on how many finches you have.
If you have more than one pair of finches, you will need a separate food plate for each pair, as well as one or two plates of water.
Dishes should be made of sturdy materials because finches will perch on them to eat and drink stainless steel is the best choice because it is easier to clean and will not harbor bacteria.
Ceramic dishes are another good option, although they are heavier and can be more difficult to mount in the cage.
Many finch owners recommend having several separate bowls for different types of food: one for water, one for granules or seed mix, and one for fresh food.
Perches
While finches spend a lot of time flying, they need access to perches when they want to rest. You should provide your finches with at least three different perches made of different materials like natural wood or wooden dowels.
Avoid plastic perches because they can be scratched and then may harbor bacteria. Look for perches that offer some kind of texture so birds can grab it; do not use perches that are completely smooth.
You should also avoid perches that are too rough, such as sandpaper perches, as they can damage finch feet.
Perches should be about 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter for finches.
Bathtub
Finches like to bathe because it helps them remove debris from their feathers and also helps keep their skin hydrated.
For small birds like the finch, you can keep a birdbath in the cage so the bird can bathe whenever he wants.
The birdbath should consist of a heavy, shallow container filled with 1 or 2 inches of water; the water should not be deeper than the height of your finch.
Watch the birdbath and cool the water after each bath. You can go with a birdbath at the bottom of the cage, or you can go with one that is mounted next to the cage. It is simply a matter of preference.
Nesting Box
Many species of finches breed quite easily in captivity, so you need to provide them with a nesting box and nesting materials.
The best finch nesting boxes are made of wood or bamboo – these materials are soft enough not to harm your canary’s feet if caught.
You should mount the nesting box on the back or side of the cage near the top so it doesn’t get in the way of your finches’ natural flight path.
Nesting Materials
In addition to providing finches with a nesting box, you should provide them with a variety of nesting materials to use in building their nests in the box.
Mount a nesting tray or pan to the side of the cage and fill it with softwood shavings, small twigs, and other soft materials.
Make sure the tray you use to hold the materials is strong enough to support the weight of your finch and made of easy-to-clean materials like ceramic or stainless steel.
Cuttlebone
It is recommended to mount a cuttlebone on the side of your finch’s cage. Your finch will not only use it as a kind of toy but is also a valuable source of calcium for your bird; this is particularly important for female finches to help them develop a healthy egg.
As your finch nibbles on the bone, it will also help keep its beak trimmed.
Toys
In addition to being very active birds, many species of finches also have a playful side, so you will want to provide your birds with a variety of toys.
Provide your finches with at least three different types of toys and place them in the cage so they don’t interfere with their flight.
Some good toy options include wind-up toys, stainless steel bells, swings, and more. Just make sure your finch toys are made of non-toxic materials that are easy to clean. You may want to keep a large selection of toys and rotate them in and out of the cage to avoid boredom.
Lighting And Temperature
The size and shape of your finch cage are incredibly important, but you should also think about the location of the cage.
Finches are adaptable to different temperatures because different species come from different habitats.
However, for the most part, they prefer warm environments that do not exceed 78 ° F (25.5 ° C). The best daytime temperature range for finches is between 60 ° F and 70 ° F (15.5 ° C to 21 ° C) with nighttime temperatures falling no less than about 40 ° F (4.5 ° C).
You may also want to monitor the humidity in your finch cage. Most finch species come from fairly temperate areas, so you don’t need to keep humidity too high; something in the 50% to 60% range should suffice.
You can keep the humidity in your finch cage by tarnishing it with warm water from a spray bottle daily or you can set up a drip system. Higher humidity levels can be beneficial for reproduction and to ensure that eggs do not dry out before hatching.
Place your finch cage in a place that is not affected by drafts, this means that you will have to keep it away from air conditioning vents, windows, and doors to the outside.
The best location for a finch cage is one where the temperature is stable and there is a moderate amount of activity – don’t make your finch cage the center of attention in a busy room because it could cause stress.
If your finches start to get stressed, you can try covering the cage with a blanket or a cage cover. However, for the most part, you don’t need to cover your birdcage at night like you would other bird species.
Feeding
In the wild, finches follow a varied diet of different types of seeds, small insects, and sometimes young sprouts.
Unfortunately, many finches kept in captivity are offered a seed-only diet that may be deficient in essential nutrients.
To make sure your finches are happy and healthy, you should aim to create a diet that is adequately balanced in all the essential nutrients they need.
To keep your finches healthy, you must understand the basics of their nutritional needs and design a diet that satisfies them.
In the wild, finches feed heavily on a wide variety of seeds, so that’s what you should feed your pet’s finches.
However, it is important to remember that seeds are not the only thing that wild finches eat, but also feed on small insects and certain fruits, vegetables, and berries.
For this reason, you should feed your finches with a diet that consists primarily of seeds but is supplemented by other foods.
For most finches, about 60% to 70% of the diet should be made up of seeds, but there are also some other important foods to include.
In addition to the seeds, finches should receive small amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as some cooked grains and other complementary foods.
You can also give your finches some dietary supplements to help complete their nutrition. Just make sure your seed mix is always available because finches will eat up to 30% of their body weight in food daily.
In addition to feeding your finches on a well-balanced diet, you should also ensure that freshwater is always available. Freshwater is not only important in keeping birds hydrated, but it will also help ensure healthy digestion.
Most finches will drink water from a small bowl or plate mounted on the side of the cage. Just keep an eye on it and refresh the water daily, cleaning the bowl when you do to get rid of food particles and germs.
You may also want to consider offering your finches a cuttlebone to make sure they get the minerals they need.
What Should You Feed Your Finches?
Fresh Vegetables (Daily Feed)
- Beets
- Bean Sprouts
- Broccoli*
- Carrot
- Carrot Tops
- Corn
- Collard Greens
- Cucumber
- Dandelion Greens
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Parsley
- Peas
- Pumpkin
- Spinach*
- Sweet Potato
- Yams
- Zucchini
(*Only offer these foods once or twice a week because they could interfere with calcium uptake.)
Fresh Fruits (3x per week)
- Apple
- Apricots
- Banana
- Blueberries
- Kiwi
- Grapes
- Oranges
- Peaches
- Pears
- Raspberries
Grains and Starch (2x per week)
- Whole grain bread
- Whole wheat bread
- Cooked brown rice
- Cook sweet potato
- Cooked white potato
- Soaked/sprouted seeds
Protein (2x per week)
- Cooked chicken egg
- Mealworms
Supplements
Fresh fruits and vegetables will help supplement the nutrition of your finches, but you should also provide certain supplements to make sure your needs for certain vitamins and minerals are met.
One option is to provide the finches with a cuttlebone, also known as a cuttlefish bone; this is a great source of calcium.
Many finch owners also supply their birds with oyster grit. The oyster litter contains calcium and phosphorous, and can also help your bird digest fibrous food and seeds.
You can also find multivitamin powders that you can mix directly into the water of your finches, but it’s a good idea to ask your vet first to make sure you’re not over-supplementing your birds.
It is possible to have too much of a good thing and an overdose of certain nutrients could be harmful to finches.
Harmful Foods To Avoid
Although many of the so-called “human foods,” such as fresh fruit and whole wheat bread, maybe good for finches, many are not.
Avoid feeding them dairy products, sugary foods, salty foods, raw potatoes, beans, and canned foods. It is also important to note that while certain vegetables like lettuce and cabbage are not necessarily bad for your bird, they are very rich in water and offer relatively little nutritional value.
There are also some foods that are considered toxic or harmful to birds – you’ll find them below:
- Asparagus
- Avocado
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Chocolate
- Cocoa
- Dried Beans
- Eggplant
- Fruit Pits
- Fruit Seeds
- Poultry Feed
- Raw Egg
- Rhubarb
- Tobacco
- Tomato
- Milk
- Moldy Foods
- Mushrooms
It is also important to note that even safe food must be clean and mold-free. Do not feed your finch with anything damp, moldy, or anything less than fresh.
Facts About Finches
Although there are many species that carry the name of “finch”, they all belong to the order Passeriformes. This is the reason why finches are sometimes called passerine birds.
Within the Passeriform order, there are two main families of finches:
- The true finches that belong to the Fringillidae family
- The waxbills or estrildid finches that belong to the Estrildidae family.
There are more than 5,000 species of passerine birds. In fact, almost half of all existing bird species belong to the order Passeriformes.
Finches, as a type of passerine bird, generally have four toes on each of their feet: three of these toes are facing forward and the fourth is facing backward.
This particular arrangement of the feet is called the anisodactyl arrangement and is what allows finches to perch on horizontal surfaces like branches as well as on vertical surfaces like tree trunks. Unlike some birds (mainly waterfowl), finches do not have any webbing between their toes.
Finches are not only unique to other birds due to the arrangement of anisodactyl toes, but they have another special adaptation that allows them to sleep while perched.
Finches have a special tendon that runs down the back of each leg, causing the leg muscles to tighten when the leg is bent.
When the leg muscles tighten, the toes curl and hold their position. This is what happens when a finch falls on a perch and it is also what prevents the bird from falling off its perch even when it is asleep.
Although the details vary from species to species, the finches are usually small to medium-sized birds.
The smallest of the true finches are the Andean Siskin (Spinus Spinescens) that stands 3.8 inches (9.5 cm) tall.
The largest finch is the Collared grosbeak (Mycerobas Affinis) which is up to 9.4 inches (24 cm) tall and weighs up to 2.9 ounces (83 g).
Finches generally have large, strong, and stubby beaks, although there can be many variations in beak size and shape between different finch species. This is largely due to adaptive radiation: rapid evolutionary changes caused by a change in the environment.
When it comes to their plumage, true finches have nine remiges (primary feathers) and twelve secondary feather rectrices.
In most species, the base color is brown, sometimes with a greenish tint. Many finches have black patches or bars on their feathers, although white plumage is quite rare, except for markings or wing bars.
Bright yellow and red colors are also quite common among various species of finches. Many species also exhibit sexual dichromatism with the female of certain species that lack the male’s brightly colored display.
Although each species is unique, many finches have a sort of bouncing flight pattern: they alternate between brief flapping periods of their wings and gliding periods with their wings closed. Some finch species are very vocal (sometimes to the point of being noisy) and the males of many finch species sing as a means of attracting a mate.
When it comes to breeding, finches tend to lay colored eggs, and the average clutch size ranges from 3 to 8 eggs, depending on the species.
Finch chicks are born featherless and blind, so they require a great deal of parental care for the first few weeks, but once they are mature enough to fly alone, they are ready to become independent.
Things To Know Before You Keep Finches As Pets
With what you now know about finches, you may have some idea as to whether or not these are the right pets for you. However, before making your decision, you need to know some of the details of keeping finches as pets.
In this chapter, you’ll receive important information on keeping finches along with other finches and other pets, as well as an overview of the pros and cons of pet finches. You will also receive a summary of the costs associated with keeping pet birds so you can determine whether or not you can financially support pet finches.