The Zebra Finch

by Matthew M. Vriends

This is our sixth set of Happy, Healthy Pet titles. These latest titles will bring our series up to fifty titles, and like the others, they are books pet owners can turn to for the essential information they need to raise a healthy pet. All books contain information on c feeding c housing c grooming c health care c what to expect from the pet c basic training As our series expands and focuses on different kinds of pets, the emphasis remains on making the pet a companion. In addition, owners of more unusual pets will particularly appreciate the expert advice in these books because professional care for their animals may be difficult to come by. As always, the instruction is from experts people who know their pet intimately, but also remember what it was like to have one for the first time. Happy, Healthy Pet guides are rich with professional quality color photos and are designed to be enjoyable and easy to learn from.

128 pages, Hardcover

First published July 28, 1997

About the author

Matthew M. Vriends Ph.D.

Reviews

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to be a freelance writer, and very occasionally got assignments on zebra finches. This was one of the resources I used for those articles, so the book paid for itself.

However, I have never been owned by a pet bird, let alone a zebra finch. So, I haven't actually used this book in a pet parent kind of situation.

As a reading experience, it's pretty good. There are plenty of color photos to break up the text. This is a Zebra Finch 101 book, but the author lists further resources and recommended reading in the back. He was smart enough not to include websites, since they come and go like pop music fads.

There is a section on bird shows, which hasn't aged well. Bird shows are known to be great places to spread bird diseases. If you love your pet bird, don't drag them to shows.

There is another section on breeding. The average person should not be breeding birds ... intentionally. Granted, accidents happen. But backyards breeders are why we have an extreme pet overpopulation problem.

Please don't buy a bird. Rescue one, provided you have access to an avian veterinarian. Since this book was published, the population of vets in America has plummeted, let alone avian or exotic pet vets.

If there was ever a bird species that will survive the next couple of centuries of humanity's cruelty and destruction, it'll be the zebra finch. They are about the only wild bird that has thrived in captivity.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy reading this, and learning about Zebra Finches. The majority of the text is more of a how-to book. I would like to have Zebra Finches in my home one day, though.

[Rahnesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good guide for beginning finch owners.