All baby bird feeding equipment should be boiled in distilled water.
Owners of finches raising chicks at home should generally allow the family to interact as they would in the wild, because as long as the parents are healthy, the babies should too. Human care is usually only necessary if the young are orphaned or rejected by the parents. When caring for a baby bird, the owner must regulate the chick’s environment, prepare a strict feeding schedule, and observe very strict hygiene. Handling a baby bird should also be done with the utmost care.
Each feeding during the weigh-in stage should begin with a small amount of syringe feeding.
Well-fed mother finches, kept in a clean cage, can usually give baby finches everything they need. The parents will process the food in their throats so that the pup can digest it. The mother and father birds also take turns sitting on the nest to keep it warm. If the owner notices signs of illness in the parents or puppies, he should contact a veterinarian immediately. Attempting to wait out the problem or treat it without professional help can result in the loss of the entire finch family.
A few drops of bleach are needed to clean bird feeding equipment.
In some cases, stressed finches may refuse to feed their young or die from a weak constitution. The owner should move the chicks to a brooder box immediately if this happens. A clean, deep plastic container lined with an electric heating pad should work well for this purpose. The pad should be on medium-low heat and covered with about 0.25 inches (about 0.5 cm) of a clean, soft cloth. Several clean towels or small blankets usually work well.
Lining the brood box with an electric heating pad can provide baby finches with the warmth they need.
Owners can also heat the breeding box with a set of grow lights about 8 inches (16 cm) above the bottom of the inside of the box. A commercial chick incubator is also an option. In either case, the starting box temperature for newborn finches should be around 93°F (about 33°C). The owner should reduce the heat about five degrees every two weeks until the birds are fully feathered and able to feed.
Many pet stores, both local and online, sell food specifically formulated for the digestive system of baby finches. Owners should carefully follow the mixing and feeding schedule recommended on the package or by a veterinarian. When caring for a baby bird, feeding should be done with a feeding syringe. Hungry babies normally chirp and keep their mouths open. Food can be gently dripped into the mouth until the small yellow sac, or craw, under the baby finch’s beak becomes visible. Excess food that gets into the beak or body of finches should be carefully wiped away with a soft cloth.
Babies usually need to be fed every two to three hours, especially on the first day. At the end of the first week, feedings can be done every four hours. During each growth stage, finch formula is usually mixed with different amounts of baby vitamin water or distilled water to give the finches the proper amount of nutrients. Vitamin water can only be part of the puppies’ diet for up to three days. After that, slightly heated water should work fine.
The formula should be almost runny for the first four days of feeding, followed by a sauce-like consistency until the birds grow their adult feathers. When the finches are almost ready to feed, the food should have the consistency of runny yogurt. Finches should be weaned when their true feathers begin to show.
Each feeding during the weaning stage should begin with a small amount of syringe feeding, followed by an introduction to adult finch food. Birds must be able to smell food and peck at it to learn to eat it; however, the owner may need to gently place the birds next to the food to show them what it is. When they start eating adult foods on their own, they usually no longer need formula.
Those caring for baby finches should boil all feeding equipment in water treated with a few drops of bleach. This should be done after each feeding. The owner should also wash their hands with unscented antibacterial soap before and after handling the chicks. If the chicks begin to look puffy around the chest and belly, or show no interest in food, the owner should contact a veterinarian immediately. These symptoms could indicate a disease.