SISKIN CROSSES

4 to 6 eggs they hatch when they have been sat for 12 days the young leave the nest at approximately 13 to 17 days and are self supporting at approximately 24 days

COLOUR VARIANT SISKINS   CLICK HERE

Status and distribution Generally common in much of range but numbers highly variable. Breeds in Ireland and Scotland, northern & western England, throughout Scandinavia except the extreme north and from the Massif Central and Vosges in France east across Europe to the Urals, reaching north to the White Sea in Russia. In the south breeds discontinuously in the Pyrenees, Alps and Apennines, Sardinia, the Balkans, western Turkey and the Caucasus.

Northernmost birds are migratory, elsewhere a partial migrant or resident. Autumn movements take place Sep-early Nov, spring return in late Mar-early May. Occasionally irruptive in winters of severe food shortage. Winter range extends south to the north Mediterranean coast and larger islands, North-West Africa, throughout Turkey and the Middle East south to Nile Valley in Egypt.

Vagrants recorded in Iceland (where has bred).

Habitat Coniferous forest, especially in spruce, also larch and has adapted to living in comercial plantations in some areas. Also feeds in alder and birch, especially in winter. As well as forest also found in more open woodland and heaths with scattered trees. In parts of Western Europe has become a regular visitor to garden feeders.

BREEDING PAGES CLICK HERE

Lovely cross this one well worth breeding better colour fed this one,  crossed with the Norwich Canary makes a good steady and nice show bird. The bird on the left was shown by Terry Roberts at Staffordshire BB & MC show 2003

The bird on the right is a blue siskin x Canary this is bred using a white canary this mule should not be colourfed, (bred by Paulo Almeida from Sintra , Portugal)

SISKIN X GREENFINCH

A nice hybrid I prefer these birds not colour fed both birds being green they have an excellent body colour and texture of feather showing both parentage to the full, very tame and accommodating easier bred this way round

SISKIN X LINNET

This bird carries the distinct penciling and markings of both parents but the green of the Siskin is masked by the brown or ash - grey of the linnet which makes this cross uninteresting

Both Pictures left and right are of a Cock Siskin x Linnet bred by Gary Naughton in 2012

SISKIN X  REDPOLL

As the Redpoll x Linnet nothing to recommend this cross other than colour variant hens and to gain experience

The picture on the right Is a Siskin X Hoary Redpol Hybrid Cock Non Colour fed (thanks for the picture Mojmir Brazdil Czech Republic)

SISKIN X GOLDFINCH ( thanks for the picture Charlie )

Not as colourful as one would expect but very friendly and easy to breed

The picture on the right Is a Hen Bird Non Colour fed (thanks for the picture Mojmir Brazdil Czech Republic)

SISKIN FEEDING TECHNIQUES  

SEED: good British finch mix, including a very small amount of hemp, stripped sunflower,                                                                             niger, pine nuts, maw and perilla also a good multi vitamin with added probiotic.                                                                     

REARING: soaked seed, egg food, plentiful supply of  green food and small amounts of                                                                           mealworms, fresh water daily and mineralized grit with a small amount of charcoal added.