Finches are such small living things with delicate bodies and sensitive systems, and yet in the wild and in their natural habitat they survive under all kinds of conditions. The difficulty we have is to emulate the natural conditions by providing the right accommodation, food, temperature, humidity etc. and that is probably why many things can go wrong. And yet there are many highly successful finch breeders who have learnt how to care well for their finches and who have been successful season after season.
Here is a quick checklist for beginner finch breeders:
Why do finches have health problems?
a) illness has not been identified
early enough.
b) new stock had not been
quarantined.
c) new stock has not been given
enough chance to acclimatize.
d) birds are not weaned slowly onto
a new diet and different water.
e) over crowding causes stress and
birds coming into close contact with
other birds’ faeces.
f ) strict hygiene is not applied.
g) an aviary is not suitable; damp,
drafty, too hot or too cold.
h) birds in a mixed collection may
not be compatible.
2. Why do birds fight?
a) too many birds in one
cage/aviary.
b) species are incompatible.
c) there are not enough hiding
places for timid species.
d) there are not enough food and
water dishes.
e) there are too many cocks or too
many hens.
f) there are not enough nest sites.
3. Why do they not go down?
a) no stimulation eg. introducing an
mate, nest, breeding diet etc.
b) birds are of same sex.
c) birds are too old or too young, or
incompatible.
d) they prefer a bird/s in the
ad joining aviary.
e) they are disturbed by other birds,
humans or pets.
f) the conditions in and the size of
the aviary is not to their liking
4. Why do eggs not hatch?
a) eggs are infertile – one or both
parent birds may be infertile or
inexperienced in mating.
b) birds may be weak or ill or
perches may be loose.
c) birds may be temporarily sterile
as a result of having been given
medication.
d) parents deserted the nest so
embryos got cold and died; a
number of factors can disturb
brooding birds and cause them to
desert their eggs.
e) conditions are too dry; certain
levels of humidity are necessary.
5. Why do young die in the nest?
a) the diet is inappropriate,
inadequate or inconsistent.
b) most finches stop brooding
chicks at ten days of age and they
would die during a cold night
c) parents are inexperienced eg.
squashing chicks.
d) nest exposed to excessive heat.
e) ants or mites, mice or
cockroaches have invaded the nest.
f) nest checks disturb the birds.
g) humidity too high causing fungal
outbreak.
h) sudden diet change.
6. Why do chicks leave the nest prematurely?
There are many factors that cause this, from an overcrowded nest to any kind of change in the routine or nest situation. The important advice is not to place the chick/s back into the nest as it will only disturb the rest of the chicks. Bring them inside for the night, do not artificially heat them, and release them into the aviary the following morning. Parents normally resume feeding.
Conclusion
In order to overcome problems with
finches, the owner needs to follow
basic rules, such as strict hygiene
and proper housing and feeding. He
should get to know the normal
behavior of his birds, so that
anything abnormal can be spotted
immediately and the resulting
problem be prevented.
Reference: Kingston , Russell ”Here’s to good health”, Australian Birdkeeper Oct/Nov 1996.
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