If you plan on getting finches and having them breed you will need to first provide them with a nest. Many finch experts will tell you that store-bought nests are best for finches. Generally it is best to give your adult finches the same type of nest they were bred in although some finches will prefer to build their own nests. Once you provide a nest don't be surprised if it is rejected by your finches just get them a different one and see how they react to it. They will eventually take to a nest and you will be on your way to breeding finches!
During the winter months, most of our birds will be subjected to temperatures lower than they would experience in the wild. To survive this treatment the period when they cannot feed must be kept to no longer than ten hours. This means that artificial lighting to fourteen hours must extend natural daylight length. To save the inconvenience of switching the lights on and off manually, automatic time switches and dimming devices can be fitted in due course.
The beginner is best advised to treat his Finches as only semi-hardy and keep them in a temperature not lower than 10°C (50°F). Draughts and dampness must also be avoided. With experience, the balance between daylight hours available to the birds and the minimum night temperatures can be adjusted. Some form of electric heater is recommended, the warm air fan heaters sold for use in greenhouses are ideal. A thermostat, this being adjusted to achieve the desired temperature range, should control the heater. A maximum / minimum thermometer will indicate to the bird keeper the temperatures that are being experienced by the birds during the coldest part of the night. Clearly the absolute beginner may not be able to afford the outlay of such sophisticated equipment, however many well established breeders started by keeping a few pairs of birds in the house, sometimes utilizing a spare room. Here temperatures are reasonable and lighting is easily controlled.
Most Finches will thrive on two types of seed, plain canary seed and a mixture of the round seeded millets. Elaborate feeders are not necessary, small plant saucers are ideal and cost a few pence from garden shops. All seed eaters need grit to help grind their food, and calcium to build up bones and produce eggshell. A mineralized grit and small pieces of cuttlebone will provide these requirements. Finches will rear more and better young if fed an egg-based soft food. This can be fed to the birds on a regular basis; the adults then become accustomed to it and naturally give it to their chicks. A number of different manufacturers produce such foods and discussion with the breeder of your birds will indicate which type they use. Some Finches will not rear their own young without the provision of live rearing food. There are a number of ways of supplying these and most garden insect pests fit the bill very well. An outside aviary is a tremendous advantage to these species. Mini mealworms and well-cleaned pinkies or squats are a valuable source of animal protein.
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