What's wrong with my society finches?

[lovezebs]

Icearstorm

Why the little imp.
I've had these adventures as well with tny escapees.

The best, was when I kept poking tiny Waxbills into a flight, not realizing that the door on the far side was open. Couldn't figure out for the life of me where they were all coming from

Glad you manages to fish him out.
I have never considered using ductape to catch birds with, lol.

Now you can write to the company, telling them that you have discovered yet another use for the good for all things miracle tape (maybe they'll send you a free roll ).

[Icearstorm]

They seem reluctant to take care of it unless it is in the nest box, so lately it has been going in for a few minutes and begging loudly until one of the adults comes over and feeds it. It has already shelled a few seeds on its own, so it must be a bit ahead of schedule.

[Icearstorm]

lovezebs Ricardo Ronsini Vera Shannylee

[Ricardo Ronsini]

Nice little fellow, he looks great

[lovezebs]

Icearstorm

I am assuming this youngster has already fledged, so it sounds like he's going through the weaning stage.

Before you know it, he'll be all grown up

[Vera]

What a sweetheart There is nothing sweeter than baby birds

[Icearstorm]

lovezebs
It fledged a few days ago, but still isn't eating very much on its own, so it probably will be another week or two before it is weaned.

[lovezebs]

Icearstorm

Yup, the parents will slowly begin to cut back on te feedings, forcing the chickie to start sampling different foods.

A good time to make some soft foods available where he can reach them easily, eggs, finely chopped greens, and spray millet, are favorite weaning foods, and of course a shallow dish of water.

[Shannylee]

Icearstorm, what a cutie!

[Icearstorm]

lovezebs
It seems to be flying about as well as the female gouldian now; by no means graceful, but it can still get around the whole flight. It has gone to the hopper feeder a few times to eat, but I don't think it has tried anything else yet. The other female chocolate self seems to be a pediphile. Any time the baby begs for food from her, she mounts it repeatedly until it flies away; none of my other birds do this, so I assume it's not normal...

[lovezebs]

Icearstorm

I don't think your bird is being a pedophile, lol. She's just telling him to buzz off, in her own way. A dominant behaviour, which you can often see in dogs too.

Flying has nothing really to do with weaning, but it's good to know he's getting around.

Untill you see him very clearly eating AND drinking on his own, with both parents no longer feeding him, you can't consider him weaned.

[Icearstorm]

lovezebs

She cuddles with and preens the fledgling beforehand and then makes the "I'm making babies" noise ("mek mek mekmekmekmekmekmek") that I hear from mating true pairs when they copulate, rather than being silent like most the birds that casually mount each other, so something at least a little odd seems to be going on.

I think it will be at least another three weeks before I'm confident enough to sell the baby with some of the adults, as I fear the stress of moving could cause a setback if I move it right when it weans. Now it seems the male does most of the feeding, but since I want to keep him, I figure the baby should be fully weaned before sale.