First and foremost they must have a balanced diet.
They feed very well on millet, sprouts, and fresh fruits for a varied diet.
They especially do well with seedlings though.
When it comes to fruits, they love melons, apples, oranges, and grapes.
Providing your finches with clean water is extremely crucial.
It is also very important to visit an avian veterinarian in regards to calcium-rich foods to incorporate into your zebra finches' diet; particularly the females as they are prone to having calcium deficiency.
It is essential to give vitamin supplements to your finches which can simply be added to their food and water to ensure optimum health.
The next thing to consider when breeding zebra finches is their home.
Just like people and other animals, a good diet and environment are vital for the well-being of the finches and their baby birds.
Make sure that your breeding cage is large enough for the breeders and their younglings without overcrowding.
You may even opt to separate each pair in individual cages that have sufficient space.
A number of breeders do just that.
Although zebra finches can breed in small cages and sometimes even in unnatural conditions, it is not recommended.
Finches generally need enough space to fly for exercise.
This exercise, along with proper homes and diet, will boost their health immensely.
Cage length is more important than cage height because these birds have a horizontal way of flying.
It is important not to put any sort of obstructions along their flight paths.
Toys, swings, and perches must not be placed in the middle of their space.
It is recommended to place them at the corners or sides of the cage.
Cage placement is important when breeding zebra finches.
The cage must not be placed in areas with high people/pet traffic.
Otherwise your finches might not get comfortable enough to begin mating at all.
Finches mate repeatedly, each one lasting for only a few seconds.
Because zebra finches grow and mature quickly, expect them to start mating at 11-12 weeks.
The next thing parent finches will need is a nest where the female finch can incubate her eggs and hatch their babies.
Bamboo woven nests are a common choice by zebra finch owners.
They are very inexpensive and easy to find.
Another option is the wooden nest box.
These nests allow you to easily count the number of eggs and check on your young finches while they grow.
Not to mention, that wooden nest boxes are also easier to clean.
However, zebra finches pretty much know how to build their own nests.
Anything they can lift they will use to build their younglings' home.
You may need to provide them with small strands of material like burlap/hessian that are only a couple of inches long, and probably some tissue.
Materials that are too fine might put them in danger if it gets entangled around their legs.