Our knowledge of bird nutrition is constantly evolving, both from heightened awareness of the importance of nutrition and from increased research into birds’ different needs. As with all other animals, birds need a proper balance of carbohydrates, proteins, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water. Different species of birds often require different foods.
Should I be concerned about what my finch eats?
Proper nutrition is commonly neglected and critically important for pet birds. You should discuss your finch's nutritional needs with your veterinarian. Too often, owners assume they are feeding a proper diet to their finch when they are not.
Poor nutrition is a common cause of many health problems in birds. Birds' health depends on how well they are fed, so it is essential that bird owners are educated about what to feed their birds. Stay in contact with your avian veterinarian to stay current on your birds’ nutritional needs.
What do finches eat in the wild?
Finches are generally seed eaters that eat a variety of plant seeds, especially grasses. At certain times of the year, and depending on seed availability, finches will also eat insects, certain fruits, berries, and other vegetation.
What should I feed my finch?
Like other birds, finches need to eat a balanced diet to stay healthy. Wild finches eat a variety of seed types as different plants come into season. Commercial seed mixes may contain 2-5 different kinds of seeds, but they tend to be high-fat and nutrient-deficient and are not the same kinds of seeds that wild finches eat. If these seed mixes are the only source of food, they could lead to malnutrition, which in turn will lead to poor health and a potentially shortened lifespan.
When offered a mixture of seeds, finches tend to selectively eat only 1 or 2 of their favorite types of seed, and they often prefer millet seed. Owners commonly offer millet in the form of a millet spray or branch. While tasty, millet offers little nutrition and is devoid of several essential vitamins and minerals. Often, owners also offer seed in the form of a honey stick, which contains seeds stuck together with honey on a stick of wood. Honey sticks are delicious but are also high in fat and, like millet seed, deficient in essential nutrients. Other seed-based foods often fed to finches include molting foods, song foods, and conditioning foods. These products offer different combinations of more seeds that finches like to eat but have little nutritional value.
Seeds should only be a small part of a finch’s diet, not the entire diet. The bulk of the diet should be commercially available pelleted food along with a smaller amount of fresh produce and a small percentage of seed. Feeding this balanced diet is the best way to achieve a healthy molt, vibrant song, and strong body condition.
"Seeds should only be a small part of a finch’s diet, not the entire diet."
As a guideline, most finches can be maintained on no more than 1 level teaspoon of varied types of seeds, per bird per day, offered in a shallow dish. If there is more than one finch in the cage, use separate dishes for each bird to ensure that all birds have equal access to food. In a flock, the feeding dish should be large enough to allow several birds to eat at one time.
Pellets
Pellets are the ideal diet for most birds, and should ideally represent a minimum of 70% of the bird's diet. There are several types of commercially formulated, pelleted diets that come in various colors, shapes, and sizes, and have been developed to meet all birds' nutritional needs. Seed-eating birds should be slowly weaned off seed-based diets and placed on pelleted diets. Mature finches raised on seeds may be particularly difficult to convert to a pelleted diet. Hand-raised babies are generally the easiest to start on a pelleted diet.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits, vegetables, and greens should account for approximately 20% of the daily diet.
- Pale vegetables with high water composition, such as iceberg lettuce or celery, offer very little nutritional value and should not be offered.
- Green leafy vegetables such as parsley, carrot tops, kale and/or red leaf lettuce may be clipped to the side of the cage near one of the perches.
- Avocado and onions have been reported to be toxic and should never be fed to a bird.
Fruits and vegetables must be washed thoroughly to remove chemicals before feeding. They should be cut into very small pieces appropriate to the size of the bird, but it is not necessary to take the skin off. Fruits and vegetables should be offered in a separate dish. If your bird appears to develop a preference for one food item, stop feeding that food item temporarily, to encourage the bird to eat other foods.
Water
Fresh, clean water must always be available. Depending on the quality of your tap water, you may consider using bottled water. Dishes should be cleaned thoroughly every day with soap and water.
How do I convert my bird to a pelleted diet?
Converting seed-eating birds to a formulated diet is not always easy. Initially, birds may not recognize pellets as food. There are two ways to convert your finch to a pelleted diet. One way is to offer your bird’s pellets in a bowl separate from any other food, ideally first thing in the morning, when they are hungriest.
If they do not eat pellets right away, keep offering them. Birds may be slowly weaned off seeds over a period of a few weeks, while having pellets constantly available in a separate dish. Do not mix pellets and seed together, as birds will simply pick out the seeds they like best. It may take days, weeks, or even months to modify a bird's diet.
To encourage the bird to taste the pellets, crush them into a powder and sprinkle it over moist table food. Gradually, you can crush the pellets more coarsely and mix them with smaller amounts of table food until the table food is no longer needed to get the bird to eat pellets.
A second way to convert your bird to a pelleted diet is to mix both pellets and seed in the same bowl, but only fill the bowl ¼ full. On day one, offer 90% seed and 10% pellets; on day 2, offer 80 % seed and 20% pellets; on day 3, offer 70% seed and 30% pellets; and so on, until day 9, when the mix is 10% seed and 90% pellets.
Converting a finch to a predominantly pelleted diet can be a stressful time for both you and your finch. Consult your veterinarian if you encounter any problems with this transition or with the health of your bird. Small birds, such as finches, should be weighed daily as they are converted over to pelleted diets to ensure that they are not losing large amounts of weight. It is also important to make sure that their droppings look the same throughout the day. If the droppings are only white, that is just urine, indicating that your bird is not eating.
Can I feed my finch “people food”?
As a rule, any wholesome, nutritious food that you and your family eat, your bird can also eat - but in very small quantities. Food cooked with spices, oil, or butter should never be fed to birds. It is wise to follow the general guidelines discussed above.
Occasionally, some birds may enjoy a very tiny amount of lean cooked meat, egg, or cheese. Dairy products should be consumed in moderation, as birds are lactose intolerant. Some foods are toxic to birds and should never be offered, including: chocolate, salty foods (chips, pretzels, popcorn), products containing caffeine, and alcoholic beverages.
Will my bird have any different nutritional needs throughout its life?
Birds that are extremely young, stressed, injured, laying eggs, or raising young may have increased nutritional requirements. There are specially formulated pelleted foods available for these birds with these requirements; consult your veterinarian.
Does my bird need extra vitamins, minerals, or amino acids?
Your veterinarian can help you assess your bird's diet and its needs. In general, birds that eat pellets as the basis of their diet do not need supplements. Specific vitamins or minerals may be more important at various times during a bird's life (e.g., calcium supplementation is required when a finch is laying eggs). Calcium supplements are available if your finch is determined to be deficient.
Powdered supplements are often regarded as more stable than water additives. If your veterinarian recommends supplements for your finch, they should be applied directly onto moist food. Placing these powders on seeds or dried foods is of little value, since it will ultimately end up on the bottom of the food dish as birds discard the shells.
Does my finch need gravel or grit?
Controversy continues over the need for gravel or grit. Previously, it was believed that grit was necessary for the breakdown of food in the gizzard to aid in digestion. This is true for birds that ingest seeds whole, shell and all. However, many birds, including finches, remove the shell before ingesting the seed kernel. Birds that eat this way do not need grit in their diet. When over-eaten, grit can cause gastrointestinal tract obstruction and interfere with digestion. Newer evidence has also incriminated store-bought grit as a source of metal toxicity.
What pointers should I remember about feeding my finch?
- Always monitor the amount of food eaten every day, by each bird, especially if birds are housed together.
- Offer fresh water every day.
- Offer fresh fruits and vegetables every day.
- Clean all food and water dishes daily.
- If a bird rejects a food one day, it may accept it another day. Keep trying!
Some suggested food items include kale, brocolli florets, parsley, and carrot tops.
