Gouldian Finches - EJ AVIARY

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Owl Finches

Owls are a great addition to any aviary.  They're minute in size - only about 4 inches - but are full of personality.  Woe to he who accidently lets one of of the cage - they're acrobats in the air, and are very hard to catch!  I swear they giggle as they whiz by your head....  They are a combination of black, white, grey and brown, and with their bars and spots are very striking and provide a great contrast to the more colorful birds in an aviary (like, um, gouldians, for instance!).

Native to Australia, Owls are known by a number of names - Bicheno and Double-Bar being the other two most-used names.  There are both white-rumped and black-rumped subspecies - the white-rumped are those found here in the US.  All owls in the US are domestically-bred, since Australia has banned all exports since 1960.

Owls are not picky eaters, and enjoy a good seed mix, eggfood, mealworms, and greens (romaine, kale and collards).  I have not had luck with fruit, although some of my owls will eat cucumber slices. 

In the wild Owls live in large groups, and they do well in groups in aviaries as well (though during breeding a male will defend his nest) as well as in pairs.  They get along with most other birds, though shouldn't be housed with zebras to avoid hybridizing.  When not breeding they still love to roost in nests at night, and may all crowd together to sleep.  They are major cuddle-bugs, and love nothing better than to sit together on a perch and preen each other. 

Males and females are difficult to distinguish visually.  Many people have tricks - the amount of black over the beak, the color of the breast - but the only definite way to sex them is to separate the suspected male and wait for him to sing.  One breeder told me that the trick is to just "carry on" around the birds while waiting for the song - if all is quiet and still he's likely to refuse to sing just to annoy you (the "watched pot" syndrome).  I can vouch for that one.....

Owls should be at least 9 to 10 months old before attempting to breed them, although I subscribe to the 1 year rule.  They lay four to six eggs, and incubation takes 12 to 14 days.  Chicks fledge in 20 to 23 days, and should be separated from the parents at 5 to 6 weeks of age as the father may attack the young after that point.

All photos copyrighted-belong to EJ AVIARY-HILARY'S   BIRDS breeders of lady gouldian  finches...and should not be copied without our permission

Bird leg bands for finches