Customizing the Cage for Finches and Canaries - via Catalog Shopping

While I've kept birds for only 12 years, mostly finches and canaries, I've been exposed to many types of cages that have passed through my home and to what I've seen while I've been out and about, and in catalogs. I've yet to see the ideal ready-made cage for these small birds.

While finches are small, they need lots of space to exercise by flying. Since their best flight path is horizontal, I've never understood why narrow, tall vertical cages are even manufactured. A few birds in a large cage is the best arrangement. I have eight mixed finches housed in a cage 28" long x 16" deep by 23" at the top of a curved, shaped top. Four canaries and three finches share a cage 24" long x 16" x 16." I am not a breeder.

Plastic perches 3" long are terrific (Abba and Norshore). They are placed all around the sides of the cage, some high, some lower. The finch pairs can roost on them comfortably, and the canaries each have their "privacy" perch for sleeping. This leaves lots of spaces in the center for a good flight path.

My favorite seed feeder is a plastic 7" trough with a perch attached (Abba). It is shallow enough so the birds eat all the seed presented. Another favorite is a plastic egg biscuit feeder, rediscovered in the Pet Warehouse catalog after Abba discontinued it. Not only does this hold the whole biscuit, but I use it for other treats as well. It, too, is shallow with an attached perch. I tried the new "Extended Feeder" made by AHTD Inc., but found that the finches sat around all the edges and defecated in it. A plastic cuttlebone holder comes with a perch and is an Abba staple. Plastic treat clips are great for fruit, veggies and millet spray (Pet Warehouse). Although their lifetime is limited (the plastic levers break after a few months), I prefer them to the metal clips which rust with fresh produce. You can soak all these plastic products safely in water/bleach solution. I am always giving away the trough feeders and "privacy" perches to new bird people I meet. They are inexpensive gifts and are welcomed.

And last year I finally found the Prevue Hendryx cage swings (one metal rod at each end to attach to the cage top) at Norshore. These had disappeared from the local shops for a while. The swings come in various sizes ... they are the best swings for smaller birds since they provide stability.

To complete the finch cage, a 2-forked manzanita branch placed 8" up from the floor of the cage holds a Japanese earthenware shallow bowl with a lip used as a removable bird bath. The canary cage has a special bowl I made in pottery class some years ago. It's very important for finches and canaries to bathe daily in fresh, cold water -- it's a good health indicator. I've learned that the canaries like the water really cold. In summer I sometimes have to add ice cubes to cool it down.

Cage customizing is very important since the accessories that come with many ready-made cages just don't work to the best advantage of the birds or to the maintenance of the cage. It took several years to work out the best accessories for my birds and me.

For catalog requests: Abba, Elizabeth, NJ 1 (908) 353-0669 Pet Warehouse, Xenia, OH 1 (800) 443-1160 Norshore, Elk Grove Village, IL 1 (800) 245-6732