Zebra Finch

Zebra finches are horizontal flyers, so a long flight cage matters far more than height: a single pair needs at least 75 x 30 x 45 cm, and more length is always better. Bar spacing should be very narrow, around 0.6 to 1 cm (a quarter to three-eighths of an inch), because these tiny birds can slip through or trap their heads in wider bars. Provide perches at each end and keep the central flight path clear. They must be kept in at least a pair, as a lone zebra finch is stressed and lonely.

Base the diet on a quality finch seed mix or finch pellets, with daily fresh greens (spinach, dandelion, broccoli, seeding grasses) and finely chopped vegetables. Offer a cuttlebone and mineral grit for calcium and digestion, plus egg food during moult and breeding for protein. Fresh water daily and a shallow bath dish are important, as finches bathe enthusiastically. Avocado, chocolate, caffeine and alcohol are toxic and must be avoided.

Keep at a steady room temperature of around 18 to 28 C, out of draughts and direct sun, and away from all kitchen and non-stick cookware fumes. Provide natural daylight and 10 to 12 hours of quiet dark sleep. They do not need out-of-cage time and are very difficult to catch if loose, so their wellbeing depends on a generously long cage. Good ventilation without chilling helps prevent respiratory disease.

Zebra finches are highly social flock birds that must be kept with at least one companion, ideally a same-species pair or small group, and they form lasting pair bonds reinforced by mutual preening. They are not tame handling birds and interact with each other rather than with people. Their constant chatter is soft and cheerful, and their noise level is low, making them well suited to apartments. A finch kept entirely alone will suffer from loneliness and stress.

Enrichment is mainly space, flight and the company of other finches. Provide seeding grass heads, millet sprays for foraging, a swing, safe greenery to explore and a bathing dish they can splash in. Offer nesting material like coconut fibre for natural behaviour, but withhold actual nest boxes if you do not want breeding. Rearranging perches and adding fresh browse keeps them busy.