Red or Hooded Siskin Birds
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.
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
Imported to the United States and Europe for over seventy years, but the price remains very high. New birds must be placed in a roomy indoor aviary and kept at a temperature of about 25C day and a night for at least a week, later gradually reduce this to a room temperature. Once properly acclimatized they are hardy and lively birds. Thanks to this siskin the red fact6or was brought into the canary by pairing a male with a female canary. The males of the resulting offspring are, for the most part, fertile. These hybrids inherit the red from their father and are then crossed back with canaries. After the fourth generation the birds are again identical to canaries. But a real pair of siskins is worth keeping too! When they are housed in a roomy well planted aviary they will breed quite readily. The clutch consists of 3-4 bluish white eggs that have red brown markings. The incubates them.
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.
