Another baby

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 6:49 pm

This one is the only survivor from my normal split to blue male (first clutch) and my orange headed yellow female. Eleven days old today. If you squint, you can just make out the green band that I put on his left leg 4 days ago.

jamezyboo21 · Post by **jamezyboo21** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 8:11 pm

Congrats on the lucky survivor!!

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 8:13 pm

Yes he is lucky....and just look at that crop....it is so full it almost looks like a neck warmer!

bonnies_gouldians · Post by **bonnies_gouldians** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 9:26 pm

Is that what those nasty looking yellow things are on the necks of the chicks?! I thought it was but I still think it looks gross.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 9:57 pm

Gross? Okay. I guess you get used to it when you see them often enough. I think it's amazing that their crops are see-through! You can see the seed and other foods in there!! Nature is amazing (to me)!

bonnies_gouldians · Post by **bonnies_gouldians** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:00 pm

I'm all about nature, just never realized that that is how the baby birds were fed.I figured it went straight to their stomachs like mammals do.I guess it's not really gross, just weird looking, and I am glad to know that is seed I am seeing, again just very new and strange to me. I look forward to seeing my own little birds with full crops so maybe in person it wont look so weird!

Post by **Sally** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:41 am

There's nothing more wonderful than seeing a full crop on a baby--means all is well! Congrats on the newest baby!

bonnies_gouldians · Post by **bonnies_gouldians** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 6:54 pm

LOL. Very good point. A new saying I shall have to get on a plaque to put over my future bird aviary "nothing says love like a full crop"

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:45 pm

I love to see those full crops too. I worry when they aren't. Liz,
just curious why you did not remove the unhatched eggs.

Also are the parents feeding this baby? I had heard that sometimes they won't feed if there is only one.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 8:08 pm

I was sort of waiting for someone to ask - the parents tossed the first three babies and they died. I removed this last one from the nest and gave it to my Societies. The other eggs in the nest are the Societies own eggs only due to hatch today (Dec 10th) but I don't think they will hatch now as they are spread out too much to allow proper incubation.

Back to the Gouldian parents - the hen is a proven parent for me but it's only his second clutch. He tossed the others from this clutch when they were 2 days old. I believe this one hatched last and I removed it when it was 2 days old. He did let these babies get a bit older before tossing (he tossed from the first clutch as soon as they were hatched) so he is still learning and I'm sure he'll get it right eventually.

Here's a pic of another nest with babies that will fledge next week ~Dec 15th. These 5 are with their Gouldian parents - the hen is on her second ever clutch and doing beautifully and the cock is a great father every time!

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 8:31 pm

Adorable photo Liz! I love the soft muted colors coming in....almost like they were sprinkled with pastel chalk dust.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 8:36 pm

Thank you Deborah. The parents are -

cock = red head split to black, white breast, single factor yellow
hen = black head split to orange, white breast, green back

According to the genetic forecaster - offspring of either gender can be green or yellow. So I won't be able to tell which is which until they sing.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:20 am

That looks like one of my coutches Liz. Yellows and greens. Maybe you have some dilutes in there.

I thought that lone baby looked like a society was feeding it.

Beautiful babies!

bonnies_gouldians · Post by **bonnies_gouldians** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 12:39 pm

how cute!! I love the photo of the little gouldians. I hope I can share one just like it one day