FINCHforum

Has anyone ever noticed their finch sing to eggs and nestlings of other birds? Not Finch. Mine have been singing to the baby pigeons nesting near their enclosures and even feeding them. Despite the presence of the parents and their own nesting behaviors I caught this behavior only recently.

Are those feral pigeons?
If so, it might be best to get rid of them, they carry all kinds of nasty avian diseases.

They're tamed. Brought from a responsible breeder.

Moon, my Bronze Winged Mannikin hens helped feed the canary babies that just fledged. I watched them close to make sure that they weren't trying to hurt the babies because Mannikins can be little monsters. They fed them and would "babysit" on the rare occasions when the canary mom left the nest.

That's interesting. Very interesting. Thank you. I know my birds were able to breed and co-habituate in their original enclosures. I've even got a large breed rooster who stalks me til I feed all the other birds before he'll eat...

He's terrified of my indoor birds though. Falls off the outside enclosures anytime they're out there.

Moon

That's hilarious!
You should make a video of that.

Birds, are interesting creatures when it comes to baby birds.
They can be amazingly vicious at times and rip babies apart, dump them out of the nest, maim them, drown them, starve them, etc.

And other times, they will adopt orphan eggs, raise unwanted chicks of other species, sing to other babies, feed other babies, keep them warm, and so on.

Go figure.....

Shannylee wrote: Moon, my Bronze Winged Mannikin hens helped feed the canary babies that just fledged. I watched them close to make sure that they weren't trying to hurt the babies because Mannikins can be little monsters. They fed them and would "babysit" on the rare occasions when the canary mom left the nest.

Bengalese/societies are descended from the white-rumped mannikin/munia. SUPER friendly calm finches who frequently foster other species' chicks.

Maybe its a trait of the genus.