Ask Lafeber

Nesting materials for my zebra finches

My question is what kind of nesting materials should I use for my zebra finches. I am also wondering if 100% cotton is a good nesting material. Thank you!!

Hi Lina,

I would recommend buying nesting material that is sold for finches. It will be clean and should be safe. Avoid anything with really long threads. Do not use cotton – the fine fibers can wrap around a toe, foot or leg and cause it to lose circulation and fall off. Do not use grasses or hay because they can have deadly mold. A commercial nesting material is the safest.

Also, when breeding birds, you can only have one pair of birds per cage. Do not try to breed birds if you have several pairs in the same cage. You will end up with fighting, some birds may get killed, and the birds will raid each others nests to destroy eggs or kill chicks. Never give nests to  non-breeding birds or to birds in a cage with multiple birds. Always remove the nest as soon as the chicks leave it, and remove the chicks as soon as they are weaned. Rest a pair, with no nest in the cage, for 4-6 months after each clutch. And never allow related birds to breed. It’s best to give chicks away, and only same sex – do not give males & females to the same home because they should not be allowed to breed.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda