As a class, the finch birds are omnivores, animals whose normal diet includes both plants and animals. In the case of finches, their primary diet in the wild consists of plant seeds, mostly grasses, supplemented by insect larvae, as well as some flying and crawling adult insects. Not only are they omnivorous, but they are also omnivorous, gluttonous, and voracious eaters. Each adult finch will consume half to three quarters of its body weight every day to stay healthy and happy.
Like domesticated birds, their diet does not change. However, the overall quality of the diet must be regulated by us as owners, since finches cannot regulate it on their own. As a general rule, the diets of captive finches consist mainly of seeds supplemented with animal protein mainly in the form of insect larvae.
However, feeding your birds a mixture of small seeds does not provide your finch birds with a balanced diet. That is why commercial finch seed mixes are almost always supplemented with vitamin and mineral pellets. Feeding your birds a commercially prepared seed mix is a good start to providing them with a healthy and nutritious diet. But it’s not enough to really make your finches happy.
Supplements to a finch’s diet include a number of different foods.
- Green leafy vegetables: Fresh baby spinach, green lettuce (avoiding the iceberg) cut into bite-size pieces is a treat for your birds. Put some in their cage in the morning and remove any that haven’t been eaten by mid-afternoon.
- fresh sprouts: Available at most supermarkets, fresh sprouts make a wonderful treat for your finch birds. Larger sprouts, such as bean sprouts, should be avoided as they are too large for your finch to eat properly. Like leafy greens, sprouts should be offered in the morning and, if any remain, removed by mid-afternoon.
- Millet twigs: Dried millet sprigs can be found at any pet store. These treats hang from twig clips that attach to the top of the cage. Your finches will go crazy over this deliciousness. Because it’s high in sugar and oils, your birds treat it like a candy bar.
- insect larva: Finches thrive on insect protein. In captivity, one of the best sources of insect protein is mealworms. These treats quickly disappear every time you introduce them into your finch’s cage. Purchased live from your pet store, they stay mostly dormant in the refrigerator until you’re ready to feed them to your birds. You can also buy dried mealworms, however if your finches are picky eaters they won’t reach for the dried variety as easily.
A completely balanced finch bird diet consists of seeds, vitamin and mineral supplements, green leafy vegetables, fresh sprouts, millet, and live insect larvae. Feed all of this to your finches and they will be happy, healthy birds that will live 15-20 years in your care.