Ask Lafeber

finch in food bowl

why does my make finch sleep in the food bowl when i placed a wooden house in the cage. the female died about two months ago.

Hi Maria,

Finches aren’t the type bird to use a bird house. Normally he would have a woven nest. He probably misses his mate and without her to sit next to, he is sleeping in the bowl. Since he is a male, it’s OK to let him do this. If you have a female, sleeping in something can cause her to lay eggs and in some cases not stop. But as long as he is alone, let him sleep where he wants and just add another cup for food if you need to. If you get him another mate, then do not give them a house or a nest except if you want to breed them. They should not have a nest in the cage all the time. Once they breed and chicks are weaned, you take the nest out for a few months and then give it back if you want them to breed again.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda