Bicheno Finch
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The Bicheno Finch originates from Northern and
Eastern regions of Australia.
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It is also known as an Owl Finch or Double –
Barred Finch.
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The Bicheno is one of the smallest Australian
finches being approximately 4 inches in size.
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It is an attractive, distinctively marked bird.
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The average lifespan is 5 – 7 years.
Knowledge and
Care Needed
Diet
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Diet consists of foreign finch seed mix
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They readily take eggfood ( which I mix with cous
cous )
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They tend to not eat many greens.
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Occasionally a spray of millet.
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Always supply cuttlefish bone and oystershell
grit.
Courtship display
Housing
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Can be housed in cages or indoor flights.
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During Summer they may have access to an aviary.
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During frosty conditions heating is required for
the Birdroom.
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They should not be exposed to cold, draughty, wet
conditions.
3 Bichenos + Cherry
finch
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Compatibility
Sexing
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Can sometimes be difficult to sex visually.
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Hens tend to have slightly narrower breast bands
and a more of a creamy colour than white on the face compared to
the cock.
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Cocks seem to have wider black feathering above
the beak.
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If in doubt go by the cocks’ song.
Breeding
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I prefer to have them breeding during May –
September.
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Prior to breeding I feed them eggfood mixed with
cous cous.
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Provide them with a finch nest box or domed nest
basket with coconut fibre as nest material.
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Normally 4 - 6 eggs in a clutch.
Nesting Materials
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I put some jute nesting
material inside the nest basket before putting the nest in
indoor flight /cage,
- then put the coconut fibre on
the floor
- The birds then weave the
coconut fibre round and round, lining the Nest basket.
- Try to put the nest in high
position and away from the cage front for more privacy.
Incubation
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They do not incubate the eggs until the 3rd
or 4th egg is laid.
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Both parents incubate the eggs, taking turns or
both occupying the nest together.
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Incubation 12 – 14 days
Feeding Parents
to feed chicks
Peculiarities /
Observations
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They do not particularly tolerate nest–checks.
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Sometimes foster parents are required,
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In some cases the Bichenos fail to rear their
young.
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I experienced my Bichenos successfully
feeding 3 chicks for 2 weeks
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then to my dismay on entering the birdroom
one day I found all 3 chicks dead on the floor
of the indoor flight.
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My guess is that they threw the young from
the nest to concentrate on incubating further eggs,
which had been laid.
Fledging
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The young normally fledge between 22 – 26 days of
age.
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I continue with providing Egg Food with cous cous,
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I also
offer spray
millet and foreign finch seed mix.
Weaning the
Chicks
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Providing they are feeding themselves
efficiently, they can be removed from their parents
at 5 – 6 weeks of age.
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Bicheno’s can breed from the age of 9 months
Ring sizes
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