SEXING
The blue of the face is more extensive and more lustrous in the male. Females are slightly smaller with rounder heads.  In addition, only the male emits the  trilling song.

HOUSING
The Blue faced Parrot finch is a very active bird that needs room to fly.  I use a four foot cage for breeding and house them in large aviaries when not breeding.  They get along well with other birds and do well in a mixed aviary.  If kept in a colony situation, be sure to house 3 or more pair together.  Two pair of the same species tend to fight. This bird Is a VERY active bather.  They don't just splash in the water, they drench themselves!  Very comical to watch.  They do best with temperatures above 65.  The Blue faced Parrot finch likes to sleep on the perch rather than the nest.

DIET
Provide a basic finch seed, greens, cuttlebone. oyster shell, charcoal and fresh water.  During breeding your bird will appreciate large amounts of sprouted seed, Feast Insectivoure food and meal worms.  They also eat grass seed heads and greens and fruit like dates, oranges and soaked raisins.  When serving greens, remember, the darker green the better.   Because this is such an active bird, they will benefit from a daily avian vitamin .  Vitamins can be added to either their water or their soft foods.  I prefer to add vitamins to the soft foods.  I serve Daily essentials 3 on their softfood daily and calcivet 2x/week.  During breeding, increase the calcivet to 5 times per week and add Proboost supermax to the softfoods to provide the increased protein needed.

BREEDING
Blue faced Parrot finches will build their nest in a 4-5" nest box, large nest basket or in a small shrub.  They fill the nest receptacle with  nesting material that consists of  course grasses and line the nest with burlap, soft fine grasses and occasionally feathers. The Blue faced Parrot finch is a good breeder.  It is often times necessary to separate your pairs in order to give the female a rest.  The female lays 4-6 eggs and both parents begin incubating after the 4th egg is laid.  The eggs hatch after 13 -14 days.  The chicks fledge after about 21 days and are independent 14 days later.  It is best to not remove them from their parents for 3 weeks however.  Blue faced Parrot finches are quick to mature and are usually sexually mature at about 3 months.  It is best however, not to breed them until they are 6-9 months old.