Taking in a Zebra Finch as a budgie owner?

[haylo]

Answers ASAP would be appreciated, but I know you can't rush these things.

Hi all, I'm a budgie owner and was out getting toys for my boys when I saw a Zebra finch for 'adoption' (chain pet store, so I found this odd) for no money. We asked why and they said he couldn't fly, and they had taken him to a vet and they didn't know if his flight was going to come back.

I have one special needs budgie, Benji, who can fly but is blind - he lives inside a 30x18x18 cage for his own good, and him and Bailey sociazlize on the occasion. Bailey is a bit of a bully, part of the bigger reasons they don't live together.

I know very little about finchs, so I'm curious if taking that little guy in is a good idea.

Would he be okay alone? (Same room, but obviously different cages to my budgies.) And, I at least for the time would only have him alone - I don't know how he'd get along with others, I guess it depends on how his wing and flight would develop?

Are there big difference between caring for a finch vs. a budgie?

Pellets + Veggies still okay for a diet? It seems a lot of people feed their finchs seed? And are things like cage setup (in terms of toys, perchs, etc.) similar?

Appreciate ANY and ALL advice, thank you so much. I don't want to rush into getting a bird but I'd hate for that boy to fall into bad care because he's free.

 

[Corkscr.ew]

Budgies and finches can coexist in a room or aviary with enough space, but they probably shouldn't be left alone for long stretches of time because a budgie can easily injure a finch if provoked. You should also give them separate food and water bowls to minimize potentially dangerous arguments.

 

[haylo]

Budgies and finches can coexist in a room or aviary with enough space, but they probably shouldn't be left alone for long stretches of time because a budgie can easily injure a finch if provoked. You should also give them separate food and water bowls to minimize potentially dangerous arguments.

Thank you. Yeah sorry, my post possibly wasn't the most obvious - I don't intend on keeping them together, seperate cages, bowls, and minimal if ANY interaction (and if they do, HEAVILY supervised.)
I more was just wondering if having budgies could give me any basis for taking good care of a finch. And, if they'd be bother living in the same room, interaction aside.

I've started on some research, but took him home to make sure he would be okay. He's making little 'meeps' which I take as an O.K sign? He's jumping around a bit, naturally afraid.
But yeah.
Thank you for the reply

 

[GaleriaGila]

Hey!
Welcome to the fold. Finch fold, that is!

Thread '"The Finch Scrapbook, 2025- updates".'

Mar 12, 2025

I have longed for more birds over the years, buttttttt...

I just don't have time/resources/space/life expectancy (lol) to take on another parrot. Plus, the Rb is so intolerant, aggressive, and evil that it just wouldn't work.

Solution? Finches! Specifically, a pair of Zebra Finch hens, discovered and obtained on impulse (long story). They're in quarantine in a far end of the condo now but... I am enchanted!

They're wonderful. Beautiful, energetic, BRDZSZSZS!
I have challenges - converting to pellets, maximizing diet, designing cage, finding toys...
But just LOOK AT THEM!

This...

• GaleriaGila
• Replies: 65
• Forum: Incredible Journeys; Bird Stories For Bird Lovers

• 
• 
• 

 

[haylo]

Hey!
Welcome to the fold. Finch fold, that is!

Thread '"The Finch Scrapbook, 2025- updates".'

Mar 12, 2025

I have longed for more birds over the years, buttttttt...

I just don't have time/resources/space/life expectancy (lol) to take on another parrot. Plus, the Rb is so intolerant, aggressive, and evil that it just wouldn't work.

Solution? Finches! Specifically, a pair of Zebra Finch hens, discovered and obtained on impulse (long story). They're in quarantine in a far end of the condo now but... I am enchanted!

They're wonderful. Beautiful, energetic, BRDZSZSZS!
I have challenges - converting to pellets, maximizing diet, designing cage, finding toys...
But just LOOK AT THEM!

This...

• GaleriaGila
• Replies: 65
• Forum: Incredible Journeys; Bird Stories For Bird Lovers

• 
• 
• 

Hi, thank you!

I am excited to look through all that, haha, thank you so much.

 

[bug_n_flock]

Speaking as someone who read the title of the thread only, IDK. Owning a budgie is a lot of responsibility, are you sure the finch can handle it?

Now having read the thread, thanks for taking him in! Welcome home little guy!! Do they know what caused him to be unable to fly?

 

[haylo]

Speaking as someone who read the title of the thread only, IDK. Owning a budgie is a lot of responsibility, are you sure the finch can handle it?

Now having read the thread, thanks for taking him in! Welcome home little guy!! Do they know what caused him to be unable to fly?

Loll that is a fair misread!!

Happy too! I've always hoped if I came across another special needs bird and had the resources to help, I'd take it home, and there he was!!

They don't know, but from my thoughts possibly a wing clip gone wrong unfortunately? I don't really know, but it appears to be primarily just the one wing and looks pretty botched, the poor baby, so that's my first guess.

Below is his first day home picture.

Also might give y'all a look at his wing. But yeah!!
This is Beaker. (Named after the muppet because of the way finches "meep" which was new to us!! Made my dad think of Beaker immediately and I like my 'B' names.)
Thank you all again!

 

[GaleriaGila]

"Dreaming of that hot zebra boy!"