Bengalese / Society Finch
Common Names: Society Finch, Bengalese Finch
Description: In the normal form (Chocolate Self) Society Finches very much resemble Sharp-tailed Munias. They have an upper mandible which is black and a lower mandible which is normaly a lighter tint or grey-black. The back and tail are chocolate brown with light highlights throughout. The face mask is normaly solid chocolate brown while the neck has scallops and highlights which proceed down the chest. The belly is a mottled shade of white, brown, and black. Both sexes look alike but only the male sings.
Size: These finches range from 4-5 inches (10-13cm). Some of the German and European breeds can be larger.
Origin: Society Finches are strickly a domesticated breed and can not be found in the wild. It is believed they decend from Sharp-tailed or White-backed Mannikins. They were first bred in China and were introduced to Japan about 260 years ago then imported into Europe. Today Society Finches are widley spread throughout the U.S and many other countries.
Mutations/Sub-species: There are many various mutations of Society (Begalese) Finches. Below are photos of some mutations we own. The photos of the Red-Brown, European Black-Brown, Creamino, and Chocolate Self Societies were taken by me on a recent visit to Garrie Landry's Acadiana Aviaries in Franklin, Louisianna. To see other photos taken by me of Acadiana Aviaries ---) click here. Click the button below to go to Garrie Landry's webpage with more mutation photos.
Diet: A good Society Finch diet must include a mixture of millets, cereal seeds and canary grass seeds. Fresh water, cuttlebone and grit should be supplied at all times. Lettuce, Spinach, Chickweed, Spray Millet, Eggfood, Brocolli tops and Carrot tops can also be offered on a regular basis. Livefood is not nessacary for the specie.
General Care: These birds require routine nail trimming. Provide bath water daily.
Compatibility: As the name insist Society (Bengalese) Finches are very social by nature and will get along together or with other bird species. Just be careful not to put them with other species that might be agressive towards them.
Housing: Many Societies are house in individual breeding cages much like Canaries. However, they will thrive in a large planted aviary with plenty of room to fly, sing and socialize. The best temperature to maintain is around 75 degrees as Societies do not do well in cold temperatures. If your Socities are for breeding or fostering purposes you will need to house them in individual breeding cages after they have been sexed. Same sex Socities can be paired in breeding cages and conditioned so that they will foster other exotic finch eggs. A lot of people use two males together in the same cage. This way there are no other eggs laid as in the case of two hens placed together. I prefer male-female pairs so they can raise their own young and if need be I can use them as foster parents.
Song: The male Society Finch has a boisterously loud song. He will puff out his feathers and stand tall while he quickly hops from side to side singing. They will sing to hens and other males. The hens do not sing but do make clicking or warning sounds.
Breeding: Bengalese are free breeders and are used to foster other exotic finches. They are not picky about a nesting site. They will adopt finch nest or finch boxes. You can supply dry grasses, sisal, coconut fiber or mosses as nesting material. In order to breed it is best to have them paired in individual breeding cages. They will breed in a colony setting but they are so social that 6 or more will try to squeeze together in one nest which results in offspring being crushed. Many times I have seen Society Finches feed each others offspring through cage bars. I have also seen them take over raising other species in a mixed flight. The average clutch consist of 4-8 eggs which the parents take turns incubating for 12-14 days. The time young Society fledge varies as some of ours fledge much earlier than others but on average they will fledge from 2-4 weeks. After the young fledge it is another 2 weeks before they are completely independent. Society Finches will cross breed with other finches.
Common Names: Society Finch, Bengalese Finch
Description: In the normal form (Chocolate Self) Society Finches very much resemble Sharp-tailed Munias. They have an upper mandible which is black and a lower mandible which is normaly a lighter tint or grey-black. The back and tail are chocolate brown with light highlights throughout. The face mask is normaly solid chocolate brown while the neck has scallops and highlights which proceed down the chest. The belly is a mottled shade of white, brown, and black. Both sexes look alike but only the male sings.
Size: These finches range from 4-5 inches (10-13cm). Some of the German and European breeds can be larger.
Origin: Society Finches are strickly a domesticated breed and can not be found in the wild. It is believed they decend from Sharp-tailed or White-backed Mannikins. They were first bred in China and were introduced to Japan about 260 years ago then imported into Europe. Today Society Finches are widley spread throughout the U.S and many other countries.
Mutations/Sub-species: There are many various mutations of Society (Begalese) Finches. Below are photos of some mutations we own. The photos of the Red-Brown, European Black-Brown, Creamino, and Chocolate Self Societies were taken by me on a recent visit to Garrie Landry's Acadiana Aviaries in Franklin, Louisianna. To see other photos taken by me of Acadiana Aviaries ---) click here. Click the button below to go to Garrie Landry's webpage with more mutation photos.
Diet: A good Society Finch diet must include a mixture of millets, cereal seeds and canary grass seeds. Fresh water, cuttlebone and grit should be supplied at all times. Lettuce, Spinach, Chickweed, Spray Millet, Eggfood, Brocolli tops and Carrot tops can also be offered on a regular basis. Livefood is not nessacary for the specie.
General Care: These birds require routine nail trimming. Provide bath water daily.
Compatibility: As the name insist Society (Bengalese) Finches are very social by nature and will get along together or with other bird species. Just be careful not to put them with other species that might be agressive towards them.
Housing: Many Societies are house in individual breeding cages much like Canaries. However, they will thrive in a large planted aviary with plenty of room to fly, sing and socialize. The best temperature to maintain is around 75 degrees as Societies do not do well in cold temperatures. If your Socities are for breeding or fostering purposes you will need to house them in individual breeding cages after they have been sexed. Same sex Socities can be paired in breeding cages and conditioned so that they will foster other exotic finch eggs. A lot of people use two males together in the same cage. This way there are no other eggs laid as in the case of two hens placed together. I prefer male-female pairs so they can raise their own young and if need be I can use them as foster parents.
Song: The male Society Finch has a boisterously loud song. He will puff out his feathers and stand tall while he quickly hops from side to side singing. They will sing to hens and other males. The hens do not sing but do make clicking or warning sounds.
Breeding: Bengalese are free breeders and are used to foster other exotic finches. They are not picky about a nesting site. They will adopt finch nest or finch boxes. You can supply dry grasses, sisal, coconut fiber or mosses as nesting material. In order to breed it is best to have them paired in individual breeding cages. They will breed in a colony setting but they are so social that 6 or more will try to squeeze together in one nest which results in offspring being crushed. Many times I have seen Society Finches feed each others offspring through cage bars. I have also seen them take over raising other species in a mixed flight. The average clutch consist of 4-8 eggs which the parents take turns incubating for 12-14 days. The time young Society fledge varies as some of ours fledge much earlier than others but on average they will fledge from 2-4 weeks. After the young fledge it is another 2 weeks before they are completely independent. Society Finches will cross breed with other finches.