Finches in the wild eat a wide variety of grains and seeds, with black oil sunflower seeds serving as a favorite during the hot summer months in particular. During the winter, when everything is frozen, these birds switch their diet to include fruits, nuts, leaves, and vegetables instead of seeds.
How often should pet finches eat?
Finches require food daily with a feeding schedule of 5 to 6 feedings each day. It means you have to feed finches after every 3 to 4 hours.
At home, you may make sure that the same routine is followed and that your feeder cup is continually refilled with seeds (which are high in oils and nutrients), fruits, nuts, and vegetables, among other things. In the case of young finches, try to feed them every two hours during the first two weeks of their lives.
Feeding Finches
The variety of food options may make finch-feeding appear hard, but it isn’t actually that difficult. A well-balanced seed mixture, including some sprouted nuts/seed and fresh food, provides finches with the maximum dietary requirements. Along with that, nutritional supplements complete their dietary needs.
Keep these critical considerations while feeding your finches:
· Incorporating variety into your birds’ diets will keep them from becoming picky, and it will keep their lives fascinating as they try new items and develop a taste for them.
· When feeding numerous finches simultaneously, dividing the food into different dishes helps alleviate the pecking order issue. Depending on which seeds the finch prefers, they will be consumed first, with the least preferred seeds being hurled out of the dish. Once the bird’s favorite meals have been identified, you must provide the bird with even more of what he enjoys.
· Pet finches require a regular supply of fresh water in addition to their meals. This can be given in the form of bowls or specially designed drinkers that attach to the side of cages. Every day, it is recommended that the water be changed.
How much to feed your finches?
As a general guideline, finches typically consume about 1-2 teaspoons of seed per bird per day. It’s important not to overfeed your finches, as excess food can lead to obesity and health problems. To ensure your finches are getting the right amount of food, monitor their weight and adjust their feeding as needed.
The fresh greens and vegetables will provide half of the finches’ daily food rations, while the dry seeds and nuts will provide the other half. But remember, as bird owners, we must also apply our best judgment based on the look of the birds in our care.
| Food | Amount | Frequency | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finch Seed Mix | 1-2 teaspoons per bird per day | Daily | High-quality seed mix consisting of small seeds such as millet, canary grass seed, and niger seed. Provides essential nutrients and minerals. |
| Fresh Fruits and Vegetables | Small amounts, 2-3 times per week | 2-3 times per week | Sliced apples, carrots, leafy greens, and other fresh produce can provide additional vitamins and minerals. Avoid feeding too much, as excess can lead to diarrhea. |
| Grit | Available at all times | Daily | Finches need access to small stones or grit to help grind up their food in their stomachs. Provide a small dish of grit in their cage at all times. |
| Water | Available at all times | Daily | Fresh, clean water should be available to finches at all times. Change the water daily to ensure it stays fresh and free from bacteria. |
If your birds appear to be overweight, you might consider changing their food. Reduce their intake of fatty grains (such as millet) and sweet fruits to a minimum. Underfeeding is more difficult to detect at first, although there are sure telltale signs. A finch that is scrabbling around in a tray of seed husks or rummaging through the litter at the bottom of a cage or aviary is hunting for additional food sources. When you get the proportion just perfect, there will be some food left in the dishes after the birds have finished their meal, which is ideal. If all of the fresh food vanishes in a short period of time, start feeding a bit extra.
It is beneficial to spend a significant amount of time observing your mixed aviaries’ flock as they eat. You’ll immediately find out who the greedy, finicky, omnivorous, bossy, and bullied ones are by observing their behavior.
Aviary mixtures can be expensive, but there are methods to save money without sacrificing the nutritional value of the food you provide. Purchase in bulk — the seed will be used up eventually, and a 50kg bag is always far less expensive gram for gram than a 2kg bag of grain.
Finch Pellets
Many breeders (especially in the United States) continue to utilize finch pellets as the foundation of their bird feed, despite being less popular now than they were a few decades ago. Finches benefit from high-quality pellets because they give complete nutrition. However, unless your finches have been raised on pellets, they will not find them as intriguing as a regular seed mix, and it isn’t easy to transition a finch from seed to pellet.
Another word of caution: some branded pellets may contain preservatives and coloring, which is a chemical additive that your finches should avoid. It’s better to believe that pellets aren’t necessary as long as you provide your birds with a varied diet. If you don’t buy pellets, you won’t be doing any harm to your finches, and they won’t miss them either.
If you decide to use pellets, they will provide around 75% of the finches’ nutritional requirements.
Mineral supplements
It is recommended that your finches have cuttlefish bones in their cage at all times for added calcium. These are typically offered with a clip that allows the ‘bone’ to be attached to the side of the cage.
It is also suggested to use a mineral block. However, finches thrive well from the addition of vitamins and minerals, which are often reserved for more giant parrots or budgies. The birds will consume as much as they require, eliminating the necessary dose calculations when adding supplementation to the birds’ water. Some breeders use grounded chicken eggshells instead of commercial mineral supplements to enhance their diets. Boiling should be used to completely clean these parts in order to destroy germs.
Providing Finches with Food While They’re Molting
An increased supply of fatty seeds will be beneficial to finches during their yearly molt. While most seed mixes will contain some of these, you may supplement the bird’s diet by adding an extra half-teaspoon every other day while the bird is molting. Millet, flax, niger, and hemp are examples of fatty seeds that are suitable for consumption. These will help to guarantee that the new feathers are sturdy, healthy, and attractive.
FAQs
What is the best type of food for a finch to eat?
Fresh vegetables and fruit provide natural vitamins and fiber to a finch’s diet, which helps it to thrive. Finches eat various fresh foods, including grated or finely diced apples, broccoli, and carrots, among other things. They are particularly susceptible to environmental pollutants, and bird owners should thoroughly wash all fresh meals to eliminate any remaining pesticides.
Is it possible for finches to consume peanut butter?
Peanut butter is a high-protein diet for finches, and they can consume any variety of peanut butter, just like people. It’s best to select natural or organic types that contain the fewest ingredients if you’re buying it expressly for birds. It’s preferable to avoid low-fat kinds because they may not provide as much nutritional benefit to the birds as regular ones.
What is the maximum amount of time a baby finch can survive without food?
Even though a baby finch can survive without food for 24 hours, he or she will need to eat for most of that time.
How much food does a finch consume?
As a general rule, most finches may be kept alive on no more than one teaspoon of seeds per bird each day, provided in a small bowl with a variety of seeds. It is recommended that if there are more than one finch in the cage, different dishes be used for each bird to guarantee that all of the birds have equal access to the food.
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All of our articles are reviewed by a licensed veterinarian for accuracy. These articles are written for eduction purposes. You much consult your own vet for any and all pet health related information.