Breaking up the 'society' family- which is the mother?

redtess · Post by **redtess** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 4:46 pm

Hi all!
Okay, so I am about to split up a newly fledged family.
Back at the end of November the crew of 5 started hatching...with the 40 days(or so) to allow them to fledge and self-feed, next weekend I was thinking of taking 4 of the 5 back to the petstore(deal I made when I bought the obviously producing pair). At the time I bought the pair, I also bought the remaining fledgling that was born in the petstore (nothing like keeping family together to make for a better move). With the new clutch, however, we produced a strawberry blonde feathered baby that I want to keep, thus, I will return the oldest fledgling with the remaining clutch.
My dilemma? The mother and the fledgling look the same except (i thought ) the mother had more white on her head. They are both pi.
So now, I am afraid to take the wrong one, for fear I will never hear the father sing again as he does to the mother if I take the wrong one back.
Thoughts, inputs?

Post by **Hilary** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 6:47 pm

Yikes! Don't worry - dad will continue to sing even if you accidently return the mom. The problem is that he'd be singing to his own daughter - NOT a good idea. If you're not sure I'd either take both fledgling and mom back and get a new wife for dad, or keep the one that you think is the mom and get both mom and dad new mates. I wouldn't take any chances of accidently breeding dad to daughter.

redtess · Post by **redtess** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 7:15 pm

Thanks for that...I don't want any more breedings. I am happy with 3 birds, Dad, Mom and the new fledgling.
Is there any chance that the Mom and Dad are the only ones feeding the new babies still? Or does the oldest fledgling also feed them?
Thanks,
Tess

Post by **Hilary** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 7:29 pm

I've heard of older siblings feeding the younger ones, and even of larger chicks from the same clutch feeding their smaller sisters and brothers. So sorry, that won't help!

fairestfinches · Post by **fairestfinches** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 12:41 am

I would take the dad back and keep the hens you like. Then there are no worries about breeding, and the hens will be enough to keep them fromm getting lonely.

Sean

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Breaking up the 'society' family- which is the mother?

Breaking up the 'society' family- which is the mother?

Yeah, but...