subject: All About Zebra Finches [print this page] All About Zebra Finches All About Zebra Finches
Zebra finches belong to the family of songbirds, which are small in size and have bright, colorful plumage. They are mostly kept as pets because of their friendly demeanor and attractive colors. These birds are said to have originated in Australia. It is where they can be found in abundance, although they have since spread out in different parts of the world, particularly Africa and North America. They are low-maintenance and can breed well even inside cages and aviaries. They are indeed ideal birds for pet lovers of all ages.
Another plus thing about Zebra finches is their ability to thrive even with minimal attention. So if you are often away from home, you need not worry about the birds as long you have left them with enough food and water. But you need to pay attention to potential dangers such as predators lurking in the corner. Hawks, cats, and snakes love to prey on these birds, so make sure that the cage is high enough not to be easily attacked by these.
Weather - Extreme weather can also pose danger to the Zebra finches. During winter seasons, you must make up for lost sunlight and freezing temperature by providing some sort of heater and light bulb to maintain safe body temperature. During summer, avoid putting the cage on top of metals because they can easily conduct heat which is also not healthy for the birds. A mild, dry weather such spring season is when the finches thrive best. They easily susceptible to low temperature from drafts, so you need place them on a good distance from doors and windows.
Zebra finches can vary color depending on their breeding. There are certain color mutations that differ from one bird to another. But you can easily spot a Zebra finch because it usually has a black chest and gray and white streaks on the back. More importantly, these birds have black and white stripes on their tail feathers, hence the zebra' name.
Gender - Because of common traits, it is a bit of a challenge to tell the gender of birds. One cue that could help you is that the female finches are generally lighter in color when compared to the males. The male finches, on the other hand, have vibrant, well-defined colors. When it comes to Zebra finches, you can simply look at the color of the beaks and you can tell outright the gender. Females have somewhat orange beaks while males have bright red beaks.
Because Zebra finches are quite popular, it is not difficult to find food for them. You can check out your local pet stores and they are more likely to sell food for finches. In a nutshell, finches thrive on seeds, although feeding them small, cut-up grapes, apples, and vegetables wouldn't be such a bad idea. In fact, this diet can increase their stamina and make them healthier. If you suspect that your pets have a disease of some sort, bring them to a veterinarian once and for all for proper treatment.
