Zebra Finches have become enormously popular pets over recent years, and this upward trend shows no signs of slowing down. They are undeniably attractive animals, while also being some of the easiest birds to care for and having endearing personalities, so it’s easy to see why so many people are choosing to keep them as pets.
These finches don’t have any particularly unusual or awkward care requirements, and as such they are not difficult birds to look after. A cage is of course necessary, but it doesn’t need to be as big as it would be for many other birds. A larger cage will always be preferred though, and for any more than a single pair of finches you’ll need a much larger enclosure. Still, this is the case for any pet bird species.
One frequent concern among potential buyers is how noisy the finches will be – constantly squawking birds may well make you unpopular with your neighbors! However Zebra Finches are fairly quiet birds, and while they are not silent, they can easily be kept in a flat or apartment without annoying anyone living nearby.
Their diet can be catered for with a wide range of commercially available products that any pet store will supply, and the cage can even be lined with newspaper if you don’t want to buy anything more expensive. Further research is obviously recommended to see exactly what your pets will need before you get them, and there are many comprehensive care sheets both online and in books.
Zebra Finches will live comfortably at room temperature and so they can be very easily integrated into the average home, although they should always be kept away from cold draughts and air conditioning units. They may need some exposure to UV light, and some people choose to buy special lights to achieve this, but it shouldn’t be an issue in most houses.
Choosing to buy a couple of these birds is a reasonably long term commitment as they should live for at least six years, but this isn’t exceptionally long and is shorter than many species, making them a good choice for a first bird. If you’ve never owned a bird before, then Zebra Finches are certainly a better choice than something like a parrot that may outlive you!
In conclusion, Zebra Finches make excellent pets, both for first time owners and for more experienced keepers who want something new. Being so beautiful and straightforward to care for, it’s no wonder more and more people are buying these birds!
For more information about Zebra Finches and how to care for them, take a look at the comprehensive care sheet here.