Found out gender, females are gone :(

[Babs _Owner]

Thankyou to everyone who helped me figure out how to tell the gender of young society finches. You all were so correct.


I was very fortunate to have 6 males out of 14 surviving finches. Bill and I made a decision to downsize the large flock and were lucky enough to find a person who is practical, sensible, did her research before she called us and didnt want to breed them. So she was quite happy to take 6 of the females to add to her two rabbits, fish and a turtle that shes had for 8 years.

So this morning I went through the task of catching all 6 females from the main double flight cage (had to get up early, I knew it would be a task)........and half my babies have a wonderful home with a flight cage, and a sprite grandma she was, and in tow was her granddaughter eyes full of wonder at her new birds. Ahhh, I thought I'd be sad, but I'm not. That child's eyes lit up like mine everytime I sit on the couch and watch them.

So, I have 4 males left in a cage with CackleJax and KoJax, each of them practicing their new songs.......and CackleJax making sure they understand HE is the head male in the house. As Society Finches are, they seemed depressed then turned to each other. Within hours, they had assigned a paired partner...preening, comforting, trying to sing, even through their molt....and their loss

Now the BEST part, for those that know me............

They are ALL trying to mimick CackleJax's Song. UNLEASH THE HYENA HONKING FINCHES!!!! Oh boy, I think I may have my wish!!

I have 2 females happily in another cage (Just in case I want a wild ride of the Society-Finch-Breeding-Crazy-Train) . Who knows? One day........my hyena honking finches will RULE THE WORLD!!! muwaahahahah!

Today is a good day.

[lovezebs]

Babs

Glad to hear that your baby girls went to a good home

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

Elana, she asked all the right questions...."what do I need to buy for them that I dont have?" "Ive been doing research and what foods have they accepted?"

Then she called back later tonight and asked if they like their bathing water on the floor (they had not bathed)...I told her what bath they like and where to fasten it on the cage wall.

We went over giving them vitamins, eggs with shells and warmth for the first few days.

She already had a clown-car. And the best part was when she said "Can I call you if I have any questions?" THATS when you know you got the right person. She even wrote down our forum URL.

Breeding problem solved and a family very happy

[monotwine]

Yay! Its wonderful when you find that right person to take your birds.

I'm sure your birds will bless both of them for years to come with lots of antics.

[debbie276]

I love a happy ending
Glad you were able to find such a good home for them.

[Babs _Owner]

monotwine debbie276

And its a major relief of stress, as all the adolescents were just weeks away from breeding age. And I would watch them all mock-breed and the thought of all those eggs I'd be disposing of with both genders mixed together, the possibility of health emergencies that might cause on the hens with all the hens constantly mating, etc., was making me extremely nervous

Its nice to see the "boys" together in their big double flight cage......and just relax, knowing no breeding with occur. Now they can snuggle, sleep in their clown-car at night, practice their songs and try to out-sing each other to the remaining 2 females in the flight cage across the room.

I cant believe I ended up with 14 finches society, practically overnight. But it was a super-fun time and a HUGE learning experience.

[monotwine]

That sounds about right for a society multiplications table! What a ride.

[Babs _Owner]

monotwine

It really was a ton of fun! (with a few tears mixed in), but I wouldnt have had it any other way!