By Bill Goodwin

Finches are one of the largest groups of birds kept in captivity! And to keep them healthy we must provide them with a diet that is complete. This is a good seed mix; which should contain mix of smaller varieties of millet type seeds, Like white and yellow millet, panicum, Japanese millet and canary seed, Millet on the spray. Along with the different supplements that are required by some different species. These dietary supplements can consist of special types of seeds and grains, greens, grits, insectile mix, sprouted seed or boiled seed, fruits and more in some cases. One must do a little research about the species before choosing the proper seed mix due to some species requiring more Niger, canary seed or other type seed in the diet.

This modification to the diet can be simple and even mixed for you by your local feed store of seed vendor.

Goldfinches and some other of the European types of Finch need a lot of greens, every day. Standard greens like broccoli, Kale, Spinach Mustard Greens or bok choy work. They can't get enough dandelions just make sure they have not been sprayed with any insecticide or poison. They also eat some spruce or pine. They love spring tree buds, especially elm and willow.
Goldfinches also like a lot of egg food, as do most birds. Commercial egg food is fine, but if you have time, you can make your own and it will be healthier.
They must have a seed mixture that has a lot of Niger as well as sunflower hearts. You can buy wild bird thistle from many stores, from petshops to stores that sell wild bird supplies. You can add hulled oats, hemp, weed seeds of many kinds, spray millet, etc.

Regular Finch or canary seed is not sufficient to keep the goldfinch and other European type finch alive and healthy.

Grit, small ground-up gravel, is used primarily to aid a bird in digesting its food. However, for birds such as finch, which do not eat any hard foods in their diet, grit is unnecessary. It provides no additional nutrition; it does not contain any vitamins or minerals. Also, a consumption of too much grit can lead to digestive disorders

All Food and water should be positioned near the center of the cage so that they cannot be fouled from the birds when perching.