Double-barred Finch

(Poephila Bichenovii)















                                                            
Contents of this Page: ( Push at the subject)
About  Double-barred Finch
How to take care
Breeding

                                                          




















Original Country:
    


In Nature Double-barred Finch lives in North-Eastern Australia. It lives at the Steppes, the Savannahs, where it prefers Grassy Woodlands and Scrublands, Open Forests and Farmlands. It is never far from Water. In East-Australia they seeks in to houses , often in Gardens and Parks.





Newcastle Waters


New Castle Waters




Double-barred Finch belongs to the group of real Grassfinch, in which there are 5 types in Australia.
                                         
1) Zebra Finch
2) Timor Zebra Finch
3) Long-Tailed Grassfinch
4) Black-Throated Grassfinch
5) Masked Finch
Poephila guttata castanotis
Poephila guttata guttata
Poeghila acuticauda acuticauda
Poephila cincta cincta
Poephhila personata		                             


Male


It is a long-tailed Grass.Finch, who has Brown-black White spots Head Back and upper Wings. The upper Rump and Tail are Black and the lower Rump and Undertail-coverts are White. The underparts and face are cream, with the face surrounded by a black ring. there is also another black bar across the lower breast





Female


The colours at the Female are like the Male´s colours but just more weak, but have you a couple infront of you, is it not difficult to see the different, whereas it can be difficult to se if it is a Male or Female when you only have one Double-barred Finch.




                                           
Size: Double-barred Finch is about 10 cm long                                        


























How to take care:


It is a bird, who rather likes temperatures over 20º . It can be kept in a large cage, but a Double-barred Finch is much more comfortable in an planted Aviary with mixed species.
The Bird climbs very agily, but often it is on the Ground. It is a peacefully Bird, who easily can be together with other Birds. Only during the Breedingtime it is aggressive opposite other Birds,  if they come near the Nest.
Double-barred Finch sleeps overnight in the Nest.
The Food must consist of different sorts of Millet, especially  sprouted Millet, halfriped Grass-seed and small Meal-Worms.



Senegal Millet

Meal Worms




Japanese-Millet
                 Finch Seed







































Breeding:


Double-barred Finch can be used for breeding at around 9 Months. Normally they breeds very reliable and for the most part built their Nest in a dense Shrubbery. The Nesting material  consists of Coconut Fibres, dried Grass and tiny Twigs. It is very rarely seen that this Bird want a Nest Boxe.
The Female lays 4 to 6 Eggs and she will begin to incubate after th 4 th Egg is laid. The parent Birds will take turns incubating the eggs for 12 days with both remaining in the Nest together during the Night. The Fledglings leave the Nest in a age of 3 weeks, and they are independent 2 to 3 weeks later. . At 5 to 6 weeks of age they are fully weaned and can be removed from the parent Birds. At 3 to 4  Months old Chicks will display full adult Plumage
A couple of Double-barred Finch should not have more than 3 litters each Year,since it will give weak Birds, who don´t will be feeded properly.
It will bring the best result if a Double-barred Finch is at least 9 months old before it begins incubation


Double Barred Finch incubates
3 to 4 days old
14 to 16 days old






Mouth marking


Fledgling


Young Bird, who is not coloured up yet.



Adult Double Barred Finch