FINCHforum

This guy just fledged today. S/he hatched on Nov 28th so is about 1 week over due for fledging but as you can see in the pics s/he has not fully developed his feathers yet. He is active and can perch fine.

I took him away from his LG parents as they tossed 3 which I was too late to save. So he would have died too if I didn't take him and give him to my Societies. They have been great parents and are still feeding him outside the nestbox as they should.

I'm a little concerned about his feathers taking sooooo long to develop. I've never had a bird leave the nest this late or with feathers so underdeveloped. I have put a heatlamp ontop of the cage for him and he does bask under it most of the time but not 100%.

Hi Liz,

I have had birds that looked like that before. I had some owls that were
bald on their heads one time. They say that if they stay in the nest a little longer there is a reason for this. Perhap it just needs a little extra time.

I would soak some millet sprays and then sprinkle some feather fast on that. Maybe that would help. Keep us posted.

Thanks Donna. I did add some Feather Up to their Herb Salad along with some Nutri Start. I've never soaked millet sprays before. How long do you soak one for? 1/2 hour? 2 hours?

L in Ontario wrote:Thanks Donna. I did add some Feather Up to their Herb Salad along with some Nutri Start. I've never soaked millet sprays before. How long do you soak one for? 1/2 hour? 2 hours?

I usually soak them overnight. It makes the seeds softer for the babies and also you can add the feather up and know they are getting it because they never turn down millet. Is it eating at all yet?

Is that baby a yellow back?

Yes he's a yellowback and he was on the floor pecking a bit. I haven't been watching a lot as I didn't want to disturb them but the Societies have been feeding him on the perch.

The Societies have all gone back into their nestboxes for the night now and he is still out on the perch as most Gouldians do (though I have had Gouldians go back into the nest when fostered). Looks like this guy is well enough to stay out on his own. He perches on the highest perch, moves around and flies quite well.

Thanks Donna, I'll soak some millet spray now and leave it overnight to offer it in addition to their usual soak seed and hardboiled egg.

Liz, how is this little baby doing?

Ah - thanks for asking Donna, I meant to give an update on this guy. He is doing FABULOUSLY!! Starting to eat on his own though still begging some. I've seen him eat from the millet spray (soaked overnight and sprinkled with Feather Up), the seed hopper and pecking on the ground naturally. I just would like to see him drinking from the water dish soon. His feathers are really coming in very nicely, though not quite a nice yellow like my other YB Gouldian babies. He's doing so much better each day and the Societies are still feeding him. Yay!

Great News!!! I love a success story.

Thanks Donna - me too! Here's pics of him just a few minutes ago. Doesn't he look great now?!

He looks a lot different from the last pictures he has grown up some more, he looks very pretty.