. Java finch
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- Scientific Name: Padda oryzivora
(Click on photo to enlarge)
- Common Name/s: JAVA
FINCH, JAVA SPARROW, RICE BIRD.
- Sub Species in country / area of origin:
None
- Origin / Distribution: Java & Bali
- Habitat In Wild: Open
grasslands and lightly wooded areas. Have adapted to living in
and around rice fields.
- Status In Wild: Secure but
numbers are decreasing
- Status In (Australian) Captivity:
Common and secure
- Age To Sexual Maturity: ?
- Lifespan (estimate): approx 7
- 9 years
- Sexing: Monomorphic
/ Dimorphic ( Some subtle differences)
- Mutations: Yes. Many
well established colours.
- Availability: Pet shops and bird
dealers
- Temperament: Perfect beginners
bird. Unless ill or moulting, this bird always presents with
perfect plumage. Can be housed with larger finches in a mixed finch and small
parrot collection. Generally aggressive to smaller finches.
Breed well in canary style cages.
- Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: -
Normal colour (Approx.) $30
- Description Of Adults: One of
the larger of the Non Australian finches.
- Length: Approx 130 - 150 mm (or approx 5
- 6 inches)
- Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer
photo top right.
(Click on above photo to enlarge)
- Weight: Approx 25 gms (or almost 1 oz)
Aviary Notes:
Read notes
on "Finches - Non Australian" web page
and use in conjunction with details
outlined on this page.
Level Of Knowledge Required:
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced / Specialist Breeders Only.
Government Regulations &
By-Laws: Refer to "Government Laws"
web page.
Housing Requirements:
Click on "Housing birds"
web page for general details on the housing
of Non Australian Finches or read on for specific details for this finch.
The seem perfectly happy in a parrot
style aviary devoid of plants or shrubs. Java finches will quickly
de-leaf a shrub or leafy plant. They are active birds in an aviary
and the provision of branches at both ends of the aviary will allow them
to exercise their flight skills and keep fit.
Can be bred indoors in a budgie / canary
breeder size cage as well as an outdoor aviary. Can be housed as a
colony in a suitably sized aviary.
They can be bred in a Canary style
breeder cage of about 900mm long x 400mm high x 400mm deep (36 x 16 x 16
inches). Only one breeding pair per cage.
Diet / Feeding:
Click on "Feeding birds"
web page for general details on the
nutrition of Non Australian Finches or read on for specific details for this
finch.
One of the easiest species of birds to
feed. They require a good quality finch mix and some seeding
grasses to produce a successful clutch. They will eat some fruits
(e.g. apple) and vegetables. Live foods are not
essential for successful breeding of Java finches but will be beneficial
and provide a more balanced protein diet. Mealworms are commonly
used.
Basic seed mix should include Canary
seed, White French Millet, Japanese Millet, and Yellow and Red Panicum.
Nesting:
A basic overview only.
- Roosting nest:
Yes / No
- Nesting months: May
breed year round but spring to autumn are the preferred months.
- Nesting receptacles:
Most people provide artificial nests such as enclosed wooden nest
boxes with a round entrance hole (similar to a large budgie nest
box), a half open nest box, hollow logs and a wide variety of
commercially available nests. Java finches are large finches
and built a substantial nest so it is important to provide a
suitable large nest facility. Hinged lid nest boxes are good
to allow inspections and for cleaning the old nests.
- Nest: Will make a nest from grasses, coconut fibre,
moss and soft materials. Nest is lined
with feathers and soft fine grasses.
- Who incubates the eggs:
Hen at night.
Both share during
the day.
In a colony, nests should be well
separated to minimize the potential for aggression.
More details on finch nests
and a selection of finch nest photos
can be located on the "nests", "finch nests"
and "finch nest photos"
web pages. Click on "Up" then "nests" then
"finch nests" and "finch nests photos" in
the navigation bars.
Breeding:
Egg Colour White. Clutch/s
per year 3. Eggs per nest 4 - 7. Incubation
approx. 14 days. Fledge approx. 28 days.
Independent approx. another 4 weeks.
Parents are generally tolerant of nest
inspections and generally allow the owners to leg ring the young.
Java young are in the nest for a longer duration of time than other
species of finches and emerge as a large bird with good ability to fly.
The young will return to the nest at night. Generally safe to
leave the young in the aviary after the parent birds start another
clutch. If young are left in the aviary with the parent birds care
has to be taken to avoid the possibility of overcrowding. Javas
are often prolific breeders. Pair bonds are not strong and
re-pairing is easy and quick.
Can be bred in cages to produce a
particular coloured young and to more easily know the genetic background
of each bird.
Young birds (when they become fully independent) must be removed when
bred in a cage. Generally safe to remove the young from the parent birds
4 weeks after they have left the nest.
Artificial incubation, hand rearing or fostering will not be
covered on this web site. It is too complex and diverse in nature to be
attempted here. Refer "Specific References" as listed below and
"General References" listings.
Health Issues:
Refer "Avian Health Issues"
web page for information and references.
- Worming and parasite control and Quarantine
requirements of new birds or sick birds are considered to
require veterinary advice and therefore not covered on this web
site. Refer above option - "Avian Health Issues"
web page.
- Avian medicine is advancing at a rapid pace. Keep
updating your knowledge and skills.
General References:
Refer to references listed on "Book
References" web page.
Specific References:
- Australian Aviculture
- A/A Vol 57 No. 12 Dec 2003 Page 275-276
- A/A Vol 57 No. 10 Oct 2003 Page 231-232
- A/A Vol 57 No. 1 Jan 2003 Page 18-19.
- A/A Vol 53 No. 7 July 1999 Page 143-144
- A/A Vol 53 No. 4 Apr 1999 Page 73-75 (Inc photo)
- A/A Vol 41 No. 6 Jun 1987 Page 146-148
- A/A Vol 36 No. 10 Oct 1982 Page 211-212
- A/A Vol 34 No. 6 Jun 1980 Page 104-106
- A/A Vol 32 No. 1 Jan 1978 Page 2
- A/A Vol 28 No. 4 Apr 1974 Page 59
- A/A Vol 21 No. 9 Sept 1967 Page126-127.
- A/A Vol 13 No 2 Feb 1959 Page 27-28.
- A/A Vol 12 No 6 Jun 1958 Page 80-83.
- A/A Vol 12 No 5 May 1958 Page 68-71.
- A/A Vol 3 No 5 May 1949 Page 46.
- Australian Birdkeeper
- ABK Vol 7 Issue 6. Dec-Jan 1995 Page 267-270
- ABK Vol 2 Issue 9. Jun-July 1989 Page 339-341
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