3 Bicheno (Owl Finches)

BREEDS & THEIR NEEDS
BICHENOS
(Owl Finch)
Australian Grass Finch
Article & Photos by Alison Robertshaw

Bicheno Finch

• The Bicheno Finch originates from Northern and Eastern regions of Australia.

• It is also known as an Owl Finch or Double – Barred Finch.

• The Bicheno is one of the smallest Australian finches being approximately 4 inches in size.

• It is an attractive, distinctively marked bird.

• The average lifespan is 5 – 7 years.
   

Knowledge and Care Needed

• They need a bit more looking after than the Hecks Grassfinch

• So, I would suggest Bicheno's are suited to more experienced bird keepers.

• They need extra heat in colder conditions

  • Probably on similar lines to keeping Gouldians,

    • as they also need extra warmth and extra care than just the basics.
       

  • + you will need more awareness for potential problems when breeding

  • so, it would be an ideal Finch to move onto after you have started out and gained experience and knowledge with Bengalese or Hecks.

Diet

• Diet consists of foreign finch seed mix   ►

• They readily take eggfood ( which I mix with cous cous )

• They tend to not eat many greens.

• Occasionally a spray of millet.

• Always supply cuttlefish bone and oystershell grit.
   

Courtship display

• Having observed the cock bird displaying to the hen

  • he held a piece of coconut fibre in his beak and jumped up and down many times,
    both feet leaving the floor.

• They often do a lot of wiping their beak on the perch then sing turned towards the hen.
   

Housing

• Can be housed in cages or indoor flights.

• During Summer they may have access to an aviary.

• During frosty conditions heating is required for the Birdroom.

• They should not be exposed to cold, draughty, wet conditions.
  
                                                                                             3 Bichenos + Cherry finch ►

Compatibility

• The Bicheno is a social, peaceful bird.

• It is compatible with other similar natured finches

  • eg. Star finches, Cherry finches, Bengalese, Gouldians etc.
                                                                                         3 Bichenos + Bengalese ►

Sexing

• Can sometimes be difficult to sex visually.

• Hens tend to have slightly narrower breast bands and a more of a creamy colour than white on the face compared to the cock.

• Cocks seem to have wider black feathering above the beak.

• If in doubt go by the cocks’ song.
   

Breeding

• I prefer to have them breeding during May – September.

• Prior to breeding I feed them eggfood mixed with cous cous.

• Provide them with a finch nest box or domed nest basket with coconut fibre as nest material.

• Normally 4 - 6 eggs in a clutch.
   

Nesting Materials

• 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.

Incubation

• They do not incubate the eggs until the 3^rd or 4^th egg is laid.

• Both parents incubate the eggs, taking turns or both occupying the nest together.

• Incubation 12 – 14 days
   

Feeding Parents to feed chicks

• Provide eggfood

• or eggfood mixed with cous cous and mini mealworms.

• At 9 – 10 days of age the parents no longer brood the chicks during the day.
   

Peculiarities / Observations

• They do not particularly tolerate nest–checks.

• Sometimes foster parents are required,

  • ideally Bengalese finches.
     

• In some cases the Bichenos fail to rear their young.

  • I experienced my Bichenos successfully feeding 3 chicks for 2 weeks

  • then to my dismay on entering the birdroom one day I found all 3 chicks dead on the floor
    of the indoor flight.

  • My guess is that they threw the young from the nest to concentrate on incubating further eggs,
    which had been laid.

Fledging

• The young normally fledge between 22 – 26 days of age.

• I continue with providing Egg Food with cous cous,

  • slowly reducing the amount
     

• I also offer spray millet and foreign finch seed mix.
   

Weaning the Chicks

• Providing they are feeding themselves efficiently, they can be removed from their parents
  at 5 – 6 weeks of age.
   

• Bicheno’s can breed from the age of 9 months

  • but it is advised to wait until they are older

  • as the hen could run into difficulties with egg–binding if not fully matured.

Ring sizes

• Plastic split – XF

• Closed and split aluminium - A

• Closed Rings can be fitted at approximately 10 days

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