Daddy is really picking on the babies at age 24 DAYS. They can fly and I have seen them eating. But can I remove them from the cage and put them in a different cage at this age? Or do I let them fight for themselves for a few more days? The parents are still feeding them some too - but I feel bad for the babies that are getting picked on.
Thanks in advance.
Day 24 - Daddy Finch picking on Babies - QUESTION FOR YOU
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HepburnShoeMee
- Hatchling
- Posts: 58
- Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2008 11:41 pm
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FeatherHarp
I don't know what kind of finches you are referring to but I remember reading about Owl finches and they have to be removed around 28 to 30 days or so because the Dad will start attacking them so maybe this is something similar to other finches. Maybe the Dad should be removed and the Mother can just keep feeding them.
Hang in there somebody will answer soon...I will be curious to find out too! I hope the babies will be ok.
Hang in there somebody will answer soon...I will be curious to find out too! I hope the babies will be ok.
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HepburnShoeMee
- Hatchling
- Posts: 58
- Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2008 11:41 pm
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FeatherHarp
I found this little tidbit of info in the Finch Info Center....even though it doesn't exactly answer your question.
Chick Weaning
Weaning age varies with species, but usually occurs at about 4-6 weeks of age. Normal weaning takes place as the parent birds feed their begging chicks less and less, encouraging them to eat foods on their own instead. In some cases, the parents may begin to chase their young, a sign that the parents want to breed again and therefore want the chicks out of the cage. Once all of the chicks have been seen eating and drinking on their own, they should be removed to their own enclosure, separate from the parents. After the chicks are placed in their own cage, you may wish to allow the parents to breed again; however, limit breeding pairs to only 2-3 clutches per year.
More info in the Species Section of Finch Info Center:
Both cock and hen will build the nest and incubate the clutch, even sleeping in the nest together at night. Interestingly, in the wild, if environmental temperatures exceed 100.4°F (38°C), birds will leave their eggs uncovered during the day. Once the eggs hatch, both sexes rear the chicks together. Provide egg food for the parents to feed to the young and make sure a cuttle bone is available at all times. The young hatch with fuzzy down. After they fledge, young may return to the nest to roost at night. Once they are eating on their own, the juveniles should be removed to their own cage so that the parents do not pick on them. Pairs will often want to continue producing clutch after clutch, so they must be restricted to 2-3 clutches per year to limit reproductive stress.
Life Cycle
Clutch size: 4-6 eggs
Incubation date: After the third or fourth egg is laid
Hatch date: After 12-14 days of incubation
Fledge date: At 18-22 days of age
Wean date: Around 30 days of age
Begin molt: 5-8 weeks of age
Complete molt: 2-3 months of age
Sexual maturity: Although Zebra Finches may become sexually mature around 3 months of age, many breeders recommend waiting until the birds are at least 6-9 months of age before breeding them
Chick Weaning
Weaning age varies with species, but usually occurs at about 4-6 weeks of age. Normal weaning takes place as the parent birds feed their begging chicks less and less, encouraging them to eat foods on their own instead. In some cases, the parents may begin to chase their young, a sign that the parents want to breed again and therefore want the chicks out of the cage. Once all of the chicks have been seen eating and drinking on their own, they should be removed to their own enclosure, separate from the parents. After the chicks are placed in their own cage, you may wish to allow the parents to breed again; however, limit breeding pairs to only 2-3 clutches per year.
More info in the Species Section of Finch Info Center:
Both cock and hen will build the nest and incubate the clutch, even sleeping in the nest together at night. Interestingly, in the wild, if environmental temperatures exceed 100.4°F (38°C), birds will leave their eggs uncovered during the day. Once the eggs hatch, both sexes rear the chicks together. Provide egg food for the parents to feed to the young and make sure a cuttle bone is available at all times. The young hatch with fuzzy down. After they fledge, young may return to the nest to roost at night. Once they are eating on their own, the juveniles should be removed to their own cage so that the parents do not pick on them. Pairs will often want to continue producing clutch after clutch, so they must be restricted to 2-3 clutches per year to limit reproductive stress.
Life Cycle
Clutch size: 4-6 eggs
Incubation date: After the third or fourth egg is laid
Hatch date: After 12-14 days of incubation
Fledge date: At 18-22 days of age
Wean date: Around 30 days of age
Begin molt: 5-8 weeks of age
Complete molt: 2-3 months of age
Sexual maturity: Although Zebra Finches may become sexually mature around 3 months of age, many breeders recommend waiting until the birds are at least 6-9 months of age before breeding them
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williep
- 1 Egg Laid
- Posts: 685
- Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:42 am
- Location: South Africa