Finches For Dummies

by Nikki Moustaki

Friendly advice on proper finch care Of all the birds kept as pets-16.5 million in American homes-none are as widely diversified as finches, which hail from nearly every corner of the globe. This fun, practical guide provides finch owners and those deciding if they want to bring a finch into their home with expert guidance in raising this delightful bird. It covers choosing the right species of finch, health care, housing and supplies, feeding, training, and how to have fun and maintain the best relationship with a finch.

Genres: Reference

96 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2007

About the author

Nikki Moustaki is the author of The Bird Market of Paris: A Memoir, as well as twenty-five books on the care and training of exotic birds. She holds an MA in creative writing, poetry, from New York University, an MFA in creative writing, poetry, from Indiana University, and an MFA in creative writing, fiction, from New York University. She has received a National Endowment for the Arts grant in poetry, as well as many other national writing awards. She splits her time between New York City and Miami Beach.

Reviews

[Dani · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't really consider myself a finch dummy going into this, so joke is on you Moustaki! I read things like this hoping I'll take one or two things I didn't previously know away from the experience. I learned a few things: like male songbirds usually only sing to their mates. This makes me think I should change my gouldian finch's name to Narcissus because I've only ever seen him sing to his reflection in the mirror. I also learned all my finches are from the same finch family which is really remarkable since they vary so much (I have one gouldian, a zebra, and a mated pair of red-eared waxbills.)

Several times the author of this book tells the reader to clean things with bleach, which is the primary reason I give it 1 star. I shudder at how many delicate little finches out there maybe have perished after their owners took this advice. Please, only ever clean your finch's toys, perches, food/water dishes, or cage with diluted vinegar water, they have really fragile respiratory systems and any amount of bleach or bleach residue will kill them. I'm surprised this book got away with something that flagrantly wrong, especially since this book was only just published in 2007.

Spinach is listed on the list of foods that finch's can eat, then also listed on the list that they cannot eat. Hm.

Also, there is a mention about the good ol' grit controversy with the book first saying that grit is necessary for proper digestion, but a few chapters later saying that grit is bad for the bird and could result in bloody droppings. :-/

Avian lighting is only briefly touched on, that sucks.

Also, I think the author of this book must have been writing 'Budgies for Dummies' at the same time as this book because several times throughout this finch book I came across sentences that said, "How to know your parakeet is..." Or "What to do with your parakeet when..."

It doesn't look like a very popular book so hopefully not too many people will stumble upon it and inadvertently do something that will get their finches maimed, or killed.

[Min · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a long-time owner of finches, this is the greatest book about their care I have ever read. This book covers every essential one needs to know about the care of finches beginning with how to be an excellent caretaker and discovering if finches suit one's lifestyle. There is very little space wasted in this compact tome on the myriad of species in this class of bird as that is worth volumes. The author chooses wisely to only very briefly discuss the most commonly available birds with the easiest care. It is much more important to be aware of how best to care for them than it is to have a lesson in the various breeds, other books teach the minimum.
The book is careful to constantly maintain the focus on the bird's well-being thus discusses where is the best places to find healthy birds, their housing, food, drinks, enrichment, medical care, maintenance needs and their common behaviors. The book offers a few recipes to make treats, and a few DIY toys. The lists of the fresh fruits, vegetables, and insects that keep the birds at their healthiest is a welcome addition to a beginner's book because that is the question I hear most often, after cage size needs. The checklist for the hospital cage and first-aid kit is amazing! It covers nearly every single need, including keeping a good avian vet's number and recommendations about finding an avian vet to reach optimum health and happiness for the birds.
A sad truth but one any companion caregiver will face is the loss of that beloved friend. The book even covers potential ways to handle the remains. That is not a topic I have seen addressed before.
The clear love and care that the author feels for birds is palpable. I am very happy I found this book.

[Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very basic.