Society Finch

This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.

A pet that was never wild

Society finches, Lonchura striata domestica, are about 4 to 5 inches and often live 5 to 8 years. They were shaped in captivity. There is no forest to return one to. They chirp quietly, they do not talk, and they do best in a group with room to fly. A cage of 24 by 12 by 18 inches is a crowded minimum for a pair and wrong for a flock.

They foster other finches' chicks in aviaries, which is why breeders keep them. In a pet home that habit is irrelevant. Give perches of different thicknesses, a bath, and no draft. Night frights happen. A small night light helps some rooms and is not a substitute for a cover and quiet.

Feet, air, and a bird that hides illness

Scaly leg mites, air-sac mites, and a bird that sleeps on two feet in a fluffy ball are the problems. Finches drop dead looking "suddenly" sick because they hid it. Weigh them if you can, or at least notice who is not eating at the dish. AAV lists clinics. The quiet bird page is the emergency look.

Society finch questions

Do society finches need a pair?

They are social. One finch is a lonely finch. A small group in a flight cage is the point of the species. They are a poor choice if you wanted a single bird on your finger.

Can I hold them?

No. Handling is stress. Watch them. A grab can kill a bird this light. If you want a hands-on pet, get a budgie or a cockatiel and learn that one.

What do they eat?

Seed alone isn't a complete diet; add greens, egg food during a molt or breeding, and a cuttlebone.. Add greens, egg food during a molt or breeding, and a cuttlebone. Obesity and itchy legs from a seed-only bowl are common.