Can I handle the babies?

Sawyer · Post by **Sawyer** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 12:55 am

One day when I get finches (and canaries) I plan on letting them have 1 clutch for each species. But if the parents aren't tame will it be bad to handle the babies? I'll want the babies to be tame so I would want to handle them.

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 5:54 am

having never had canaries I cant comment on how the parents would react. but if you have finches and are continuously at the nest disturbing them then a very high percentage of adult finches will abandon the nest completely, the age of the babies in the nest makes no diference to them either. with finches there is what could be considered an unwritten rule once they commence nesting, that is to keep your nose/eyes/fingers and whatever else you may consider sticking into the nest out.
as Hilary said in another post, feed them and leave them.
maybe after the young have fledged and are feeding without parent help you could try to tame one.

poohbear · Post by **poohbear** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 9:45 am

You want a tame bird?....get a parrot. Finches have been tamed but they are not the best choice.

chrischris · Post by **chrischris** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:00 am

Even a handfed br reverts to it's wild state quickly when left alone for a while.

Chris

Sawyer · Post by **Sawyer** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 6:11 pm

I do have parrots. I have 15 budgies, 4 cockatiels, and 2 lovebirds.

But I wouldn't want to risk the babies lives so I guess I won't handle them.

FinchezRule · Post by **FinchezRule** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 9:44 pm

Finches are so flighty by nature that even a "tame" one might get freaked out and fly into something that they shouldn't

....It's probably best to enjoy them behind bars unfortunately