How to Buy a Finch Cage

Buying a cage for your finch is one of the most important things you'll do for your pet. Consider the species' unique needs, and you can easily make the right cage choice. With the right finch cage, she'll get plenty of safe exercise and will be a content and healthy bird.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Choose a cage that's big enough for your finches to fly from one side to the other. They don't need a tall cage, but they do need a long one to get enough exercise. A common name for this style of cage is a flight cage.

2. Consider the number of finches you have. A pair of finches needs a cage at least 30 inches long. House larger groups of finches in longer cages. If that isn't possible, get a tall cage that's at least 30 inches long so your finches can establish their own flight paths across the cage.

3. Measure the spaces between the bars to make sure your finches can't get stuck in them. A safe size for breeding finches and for small varieties is ½-inch-by-½-inch mesh, but larger non-breeding finches won't slip through ½-inch-by-2-inch mesh.

4. Accessorize the cage minimally. Finches aren't interested in bird toys, and they need to be able to fly easily through their cage. Install a few perches at the ends of the cage. Finches enjoy swings, so you can add a couple of them out of the way of their flight paths.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy the largest cage you can to have the happiest and healthiest finches.
• If you have a large number of finches, a custom aviary is better than a wire cage.
• Plastic cages aren't suitable for any birds. Even birds with small beaks, like finches, can chew the bars, wearing them down until they break.