“Society” is the perfect name for these social little birds. They are so social that it is best to keep them in small groups or flocks. At times these little social butterflies can be a too social; they have been known to disrupt the breeding patterns of other, more private birds. Though they have a very energetic nature, these birds are never aggressive and they will make the perfect pet for new bird owners as well as those more experienced.
Society Finches were originally developed in Asia over 300 years ago by Japanese and Chinese breeders. They are believed to be a domesticated form of the White-backed Munia, but their absolute ancestry is unconfirmed.
These affable little birds average about four and one-fourth inches to four and three-fourths inches or 11-12cm. They have three basic colors: chocolate and white, pure white and fawn and white. They can also be found in tri-colors, crested forms and solid-colored Society Finches. But you will be hard pressed to find two Society Finches that are exactly alike.
Society Finches make great pets for the novice bird owner. They are relatively inexpensive, easy to care for and the have a wonderful temperament and quirky personalities. Your birds do require a healthy portion of good finch seed mix and fresh water every day. You can find a Finch seed mix of millet and canary seed and any pet supplies store.
Owners should also supply their Social Finches with green foods, such as chickweed and spinach, in a separate cup on a regular basis. Other food supplements can include egg foods, apples or pears. You can even spoil your finches with special nutritious treats of seeds with honey, fruits or vegetables. Grit with charcoal is also essential to your Social Finch’s diet to aid in digestion, plus it contains valuable minerals and trace elements. Grit should be provided in a special cup or it can be sprinkled over the bottom of the cage floor.
You should also give your birds cuttlebone as the calcium that it provides will give your birds strong eggshells, firm beaks and it will help to prevent egg binding in females, which can be life threatening. Cuttlebone contains lime that aids in the birds digestion. Usually when a finch becomes ill, the cause can be traced back to poor diet, dirty environment or drafts.
Occasionally you can offer your Society Finches a bath by setting a dish in the bottom of the cage that is about 1″ deep with a 1/2″ of water inside, or you can clip a bath house onto the side of the cage.
You will also need to occasionally trim your birds nails. When trimming their nails you must be careful not to clip into the vein because you bird can quickly bleed to death. You can find bird nail trimmers and styptic powder to stop any bleeding at your local pet shop.
Learn more about caring for your society finches at Finches As Pets. This article, Society Finch Information has free reprint rights.