Pros & Cons of different Finch varieties

[violetsky]

I keep wandering over to look at the finches when I shop for fish
supplies and go frequently as I have many tanks. I'm not sure if
I really want to buy a few finches or not. I'm confident
I can provide proper food/housing but what I want to know about
is the character of finches. In the pet shops they are busy and
entertaining and occasionally I've heard some singing pleasantly.
I would like that very much, but want a variety that doesnt panic
everytime you need to clean their cage or feed them. This summer
for example I saved a blue jay that had been hit by a car and his wing
broken. It took about 5 weeks for him to heal enough to fly off, but
it was very stressful for him to have people near his cage. I'd like my birds
to be happy. The choices at my local petstore are cordon blu, society, zebra, strawberry, and something
like cutthroat? Anyways, I won't feel challenged by what kind of environmental
care they need as in beginner hardy types, I just like calmer types that are
happy in a domestic situation.

 

[9Catsz]

Quote:
I'm not sure there is a finch species that's so tame that they just sit there while you clean their cage. My Java finches weren't so bad, but even they didn't sit like my peachfaced lovies or my African grey do while I clean their cage.

Quote:
Just because they're afraid of you doesn't mean they're not 'happy' in a domestic situation. It's in a finch's nature to be flighty....that's perfectly normal.

Some of these birds have been bred in captivity for many, many generations (especially society and zebra finches) and have never known the wild.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

I'm thinking of getting a pair of finches, I'm a huge bird lover. If I do, I would probably get Zebras to start since I've read that they are the best for beginners.

 

[Magic Birdie]

Zebra finches are good for starters

Just make sure you understand that you can't handle finches (well, generally. There are some exceptions).

Good luck!