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When creating a finches nest is very important to know what will benefit the birds in terms of size and materials. Creating it can be easy and affordable; you’ve just got to know how. Remember that for a finch building a nest is about safety and shelter.

You can purchase pre-made nests from most retailers, and also on the internet. Some are boxes made out of wood while others are more like circular baskets; they are made of natural materials hand woven. They are popular because they look like what you would see outside.

You can get nests which go on the inside of the cage but to save space it is advised to purchase one that can be attached to the outside and where the top can be opened. This’ll guarantee that the young ones are safe and secure after hatching and also means it can be cleaned and air dried. It’ll be cleaner and more reusable in the future, cleaning also prevents disease.

They are originally tropical birds so you might consider a ‘finch nest box’. It is wooden with a hole on one side which allows enough air in but keeps the adults and young finches warm at night.

A double finch nest is good for saving space. It is a box but with a partition dividing it. Remember though, not to give this kind of nest to two territorial finches.

You can recreate how a finches nest is in the wild by finding a tray and filling it with soil and grass seeds. Wait for them to grow, let the finches build their nest and put it in the cage.

When it comes to materials for the finches nest you can use things collected from home or purchased. By instinct a finch will collect anything when building the interior of its nest so make sure the materials are clean, safe and natural. Synthetics are bad for the health of your finch. Also make sure, if you’re using string or threat to cut it into small pieces with no unwanted excess, so they won’t get tangled up in it.

Make the finches nest sturdy enough on the outside but soft enough on the inside. They like to line their nests with feathers so it’s worthwhile having a good supply available. Feathers of various types can be purchased at affordable prices online and also from pet stores.

All finches have their own unique personalities and this will come through in how they build their nests. Each new nest may be slightly different than the last.

Remember to avoid constant handling of their eggs. They are made with tiny pores that allow the chick enough air. By touching the eggs too much you are cutting down the finches air supply quite a lot which will be bad for their health.

Building your finches nest is easy and affordable. It is possible to create a happy, healthy environment for them, you’ve just got to know the best materials to use, the one’s to avoid, and what will keep your finches happy.

To learn more about keeping finches as pets checkout caringforfinches.com here.

When Stephen, my 5 years old grandson proudly handed me a shoe box with a grin and mumbled “Happy birthday, Nanna”, I thought I was getting something alive and that worried me. I have enough dogs and cats to manage and anymore would be verging on neighbour references of that crazy old woman with all those cats and dogs.

Never, not in a thousand years, would I have expected a chicken. A chicken! You have to be kidding me! I looked at my daughter with a quick flash of frustration and she responded with a sheepish shrug, “Stephen wanted to give you a chicken. He wouldn’t take no for an answer.” I was left wondering about my daughters parenting skills and then feigned my pleasure as best I could with a big hug and thank you. I felt terribly guilty as I started to think about how to get rid of the chicken without hurting a little boys feelings.

Birthday complete and family gone, it was just me and the chicken (and some curious dogs and even more curious cats that had a devilish look in their eyes). Chicken could be dinner and not mine. Yes, I admit, I did consider the thought of cat prey – for a split second. But as the night went on and I heard the ‘cheep cheep’ in a shoe box I knew I had to find out more about chickens – at least what to feed it and how to look after it until I came up with a plan to say goodbye. So I went to the net and started researching.

Just like receiving a chicken from a 5 year old, what I learnt about chickens surprised me. I found out that these fowl are not just chickens…they have qualities I could never have imagined. I decided to make a go of keeping the chicken and I took the plunge of getting a chicken pen and a few more adult birds. I had a flock within two weeks and grandson Stephen was over the moon. I learnt more about keeping chickens in two weeks then I ever thought possible. I had 4 books and endless notes. I became a chicken expert! I told myself that this was for little Stephen but, in truth, as time went on, it became about me and MY chickens.

It wasn’t smooth sailing, I have to tell you – I had run-ins with the local council about having livestock in a suburban area – important that you check that out, by the way – before you get the chickens! They eventually gave me the green light and I was well into the chicken mission.

Raising chickens as pets is fascinating. Chickens are easily tamed if time is spent handling them. In fact, chickens enjoy being stroked. You will also be surprised at their intelligence. Chickens can recognize up to 100 other chickens by their facial features and have over 30 different vocalizations to communicate with each other. People, myself included, who have kept chickens discover that every chicken has its own personality, just as dogs and cats do and I can attest to that. They respond to you when you call their name and ask for treats, like any other pet. Stephens’ chicken is named Nemo (yes, I know that’s a fish – but that’s his favourite character) and Nemo knows its name.

Ok, so I do not eat chicken anymore – that’s just a personal choice – you cannot connect with chickens and then eat them…well, I certainly cannot. My grandson threatened to buy another pet for my birthday. I politely refused and warned my daughter with a fate unmentionable should he arrive with anything that breathes. Nowadays, I think I might be known as that crazy old woman with all those cats and dogs and chickens. In fact I did overhear one of Stephens friends refer to me as the chicken lady to his mother.

Keeping chickens as pets is a wonderful past time and the bonus are the fresh organic eggs I get…oh, and the well-maintained back yard – but I will get to that another time…

Janice Honeyman considers herself an accidental pet chicken lover. For more details about keeping chickens and chicken pens, click here where you can get more information.

As soon as you step your foot into the colorful world of parrots, you get to know a whole lot of parrot facts that are quite amazing. These birds are one of the most fascinating and intelligent lives from amongst all those who can fly. Earlier, scientists thought that parrots were “hopelessly simple” because they have a very small cerebral cortex, the area of intelligence in animals. But now, they have realized that parrots are quite smart. Research studies have concluded that these birds use another part of their brain and certain parts of their lower brain. It has also been observed that their hyperstriata are quite similar to ours. Probably, this is the reason why they have the ability to communicate and perform tasks that involve logic such as identifying a problem and experimenting with various tools and solutions.

When it comes to their communication abilities, experts reveal that parrots actually make variations on whistling, when they are talking. They do not have vocal cords because of which they actually push the air out of their trachea and create sound. Parrots not only communicate, but they also have the ability to mimic the sounds that are made around them. In this context, it would be interesting to know that an African gray parrot surprisingly had a vocabulary of a thousand words. Now that is an amazing fact.

Parrots are found in different sizes. The smallest parrot in the world is the buff-faced pygmy parrot which is only 3.2 inches tall, almost the same size as an adult human finger. This parrot is found in the forests of Papua New Guinea. While the largest of all the parrots in the world is the hyacinth macaw, which grows more than a meter high. It is found in the jungles of eastern and central South America. Parrots not only vary in size, but also vary in color. However, the eggs of all the parrots are white. Parrots usually live in dense forest areas so that they can easily hunt insects and other small mammals. They also feed on nuts, seeds and fruits. When they eat their food, they hold it in any one of their feet since they are both left and right-handed. Some of the species of parrots have long, brush-tipped tongues to drink nectar. Parrots such as the wild macaw and cockatoos have the ability to fly up to 500 miles a day, when searching their food.

Thus, parrots have proved to be wonderful birds that can impress you with their melody and charm. And once you enter their world, you won’t feel like stepping out. You will always have the desire to know more and more parrot facts.

Alan is a lover of animals and nature. He writes on all types of alternative farming topics, as well as nature articles including those on tortoise facts and parrot facts.

It is a big step to add a bird to your home, just like any pet. They need a lot of attention and their own personal space. Your entire family needs to be prepared for the responsibility of owning a bird. It is also important to be aware of the fact that many birds have long life spans. This means that you will have your new pet long after it has lost that new pet smell.

You should make special preparations for bringing your bird home. If you make sure ahead of time that you have everything it will need ready at home when it arrives, it will make the arrival less stressful on the bird. A lot of people buy a bird and all the bird supplies at the same time. This means that once they get the bird home, they have to run around setting everything up for it, which can place a strain on bird and owner alike.

The best thing to do is to gather information on the type of bird you want to bring home. This way you know if your species of bird has any quirks or unusual behaviors that you should be prepared for. No two breeds are quite alike. African Grays and Lovebirds are going to have very different personalities and needs, and everyone will be happier if you know about these beforehand.

You should have a good place to get your bird supplies before you buy your new companion. Knowing exactly where to get bird supplies puts your mind at ease, because you won’t stress if you realize you need something for them at eight o’clock at night.

A store that specializes in products for birds is your best choice. They will have a wider variety of bird products than your average pet store, and they will be more qualified to answer any species-specific questions you may have during the course of your pet’s life. Get familiar with a store that carries cleaning and grooming products, food, and toys. Part of the point of shopping at a store that only carries bird supplies is so that you can buy everything on your list at one place.

When you are looking for a place to buy your bird supplies, try and find a store you are comfortable with. Do you feel they are selling products with your bird’s well-being and happiness in mind? Do you find them helpful and easy to work with or order from? Are their prices reasonable? Shop around until you find a store you really like, because once you have your bird you will be shopping for it a lot. You need to be happy with the store you buy your bird supplies from.

You will need a cage for your bird to keep them safe when you can’t supervise them, but where will they hang out when not in the cage? Perches are a popular item meant to fill this niche. Some are stand-alone, and can be moved around to any room of the house. Others attach to desks and tables, and there are even some that can be put in the shower so your bird can bathe itself.

Getting plenty of toys for your bird is also a good idea. This way they are encouraged to learn and play. Toys also keep them busy, and prevent them from growing bored and destructive. Another form of positive reinforcement that works well for birds are treats. Things like cuttlebones can be hung in the cage or on a play-tree and they last a long time.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for Web sites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background also includes teaching, gardening, and fashion. For more of her useful articles on bird ownership, please visit Bird Supplies, an online supplier of bird cages, accessories, food, and more.

Society finches as they are known in the United States, otherwise known as Bengalese finches in most of the rest of the world, are medium sized birds measuring nearly five inches beak to tail. Society finches are the domesticated form of the White-backed Munia. Most experts agree that Society finches were first bred in China and then were imported to Japan where selective breeding developed many color variations of this finch. The version of Society finch most available today was selectively bred in the 1930′s.

Three basic colorations dominate; the brown, yellow and white mottled varieties where mottled refers to blotches of white coloration. Within basic coloration, the shades and intensity of color varies widely. Mostly they have dark eyes but some are true albinos with pink eyes. The albinos are subject to developing eye problems which is preventable by feeding supplements that are high in carotene like green leafy vegetables.

Society finches are domesticated birds with no natural habitat. They are happy in cages or aviaries and, unlike most breeds of finches, will breed in a cage. This may be because during the breeding season they are even more sociable than usual and like crowded spaces. All females will lay their eggs in the same nest which tends to interfere with incubation. It is, therefore, advised that breeding pairs be kept in separate cages.

Because, true to their name, Society finches are most social, they should never be kept alone. But, except for mating, they should be segregated into gender groups to prevent unplanned breeding.

They are not picky eaters. They will be most happy with seed blends supplemented with vitamin and mineral pellets. In addition, you may supplement their diet with millet, greens, and crumbled hard-boiled eggs. A cuttlebone and egg shells help provided calcium.

When breeding Society Finches, they should be transferred to a brooding cage as a mating pair. They will build their nests using coconut fiber and dried grasses if available in enclosed or semi-open besting boxes. Society finches will return to their eggs immediately after a nest check. You will see hatchlings after sixteen days of incubation. The young require a diet supplemented with chickweed, green seeds and eggs.

Young birds must be separated from their parents as soon as they begin feeding on their own. If you don’t separate them they will continue to sleep in their old nests which, in turn, disrupts the next brood.

Society finches are not easily identified by gender. Males and females look identical. The one main distinguishing factor is behavior. Males engage in a hopping ritual which appears to be a mating ritual dance while females do not do this. Careful observation is needed to decide which is which if the birds are not housed separately by gender.

Gregg Bowers is a finch expert. He raises and breeds Zebra finches and has done so for over ten years. Greg shares his expertise, like his knowledge of society finches, and more on his website www.RaisingFinches.com where he is giving away his 16 lesson mini-course, Raising Happy, Healthy Finches, for free. It is his gift to you.

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