Red Crested Cardinal
Characteristics
Although most pet owners are content to observe their birds, with patience and perseverance it is possible to finger tame them. They can be messy eaters and it is wise to place their cage in an area that can be easily cleaned up. These are perching and songbirds.
Social Behaviors
Although individual birds are peaceful, a couple might cause a little trouble with other birds during the breeding season.
Housing
Finch, canary, bird of paradise, lyrebird, starling, wren, warbler, or bunting, they will need the largest cage you can afford; since they are not usually finger-tamed and spend most of their time in their cage, they need plenty of room. Cage width and depth are more important than height. Make sure the cage is zinc-safe and lead-free, with appropriate bar size and spacing. Natural hardwood branches make the best perches; sandpaper perches should never be used. Choose a variety of non-toxic wood or acrylic toys to keep your bird busy, and rotate them to avoid boredom.
Diet
These birds should be fed a variety of foods, including vitamin-fortified seed mix, dark green, leafy vegetables, yams, carrots, hard boiled eggs, and some fruit. Grit, gravel, and oyster shells should never be given. Fresh, clean water should be available at all times. Vitamin supplements are not needed with this diet.
Cleaning
Tray liners should be replaced every day and the cage bottom, fittings and dishes regularly washed with hot water and soap. Once a month, disinfect the cage with diluted bleach; be sure to rinse thoroughly. Line the tray with black and white newspaper or paper towels. It is unsafe to use pine/cedar shavings, corn cob or walnut bedding.
Fertility
This species prefer to build their nest in dense bushes, putting it together with twigs, blades of grass and leaf veins, and lining the interior with horsehair. They naturally like to be higher up, so that low aviaries do not suit them very well. Their nest is usually 2 to 4 meters from the ground. Their clutch consists of 3-4 white eggs which are spotted gray at the blunt end. The birds make grateful use of any woven nest basket or half open nest boxes hung at least 1 1/2 meters from the ground. Cock and hen take turns sitting on the eggs for about 2 weeks. Both will also feed the young which leave the nest after about 14 days. They will be fed by the cock for at least another 2 weeks.
Warnings
Finch, canary, bird of paradise, lyrebird, starling, wren, warbler, or bunting, they have very sensitive respiratory systems and should not be exposed to cigarette smoke, aerosols, harsh cleaning products, or other toxic fumes.
