NOT AGAIN......

DRESDEN · Post by **DRESDEN** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 1:05 am

HELLO, HERE IS MY PROBLEM. I HAVE A PAIR OF SOCIETY FINCHES THAT ALL FOUR OF THEIR BABIES DIED THEIR FIRST TRY. THEY WERE ABOUT A WEEK OLD. THE PARENTS WERE ACTIVELY FEEDING AND CARING FOR THEM. I BLAMED IT ON THE EGGS. WELL NOW THEY HAD SIX BABIES ALL BEING FED AND CARED FOR. I WAS CHANGING THE EGGS AND WATER EVERY TWO HOURS HOPING EVERYTHING WOULD BE FINE. THEY HAVE GREENS, SEEDS, PETAMINE BREEDING AND NESTLING FOOD.ALSO, FRESH EGGS AND DRIED EGG FOOD. EVERYTHING IS AS CLEAN AS POSSIBLE. I AM NOW GIVING ONE DROP OF BLEACH PER OUNCE OF WATER FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS. A FINCH EXPERT NAMED ROBERT BLACK SAYS IT WORKS VERY WELL IF IT IS BACTERIAL. HAS THIS EVER HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE. THESE BIRDS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE MY FOSTER PARENTS FOR THE GOULDS, BUT I REALLY LIKE THEM AND HATE TO SEE THEIR BABIES DIE. OH, ON A HAPPIER NOTE LAST YEAR A PAIR OF GOULDS HAD ONE BABY HATCH OUT OF FOUR EGGS. THEY RAISED IT AND HAD HELP FROM A GODFATHER NAMED"VINNY". WHEN THE BABY WAS ABOUT TEN DAYS OLD I SAW HIM IN THE NEST WITH THE FATHER AND OF COURSE PANICKED. I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO KILL THE BABY.WELL LATER I SAW HIM FEEDING IT. ISN'T THAT STRANGE? HE REALLY HELPED RAISE IT, HE WAS ALWAYS FEEDING IT. THE PARENTS NEVER GOT UPSET HE WAS IN THE NEST. WELL ANYWAY, A MONTH OR SO LATER THE SAME PAIR HAD TWO BABIES AND ONCE AGAIN VINNY WAS A GREAT PARENT. ALL THREE FED AND CARED FOR THEM. ONE OF THE BABIES STOPPED DEVELOPING AND DIED. BEFORE IT PASSED AWAY THE HEALTHY ONE HAD LEFT THE NEST. VINNY STAYED WITH THE BABY UNTIL IT DIED. HE IS MY FAVORITE FINCH. I'M TRYING TO COLONY BREED THE GOULDS. EVERYTIME I TRIED SEPARATING THEM NOTHING HAPPENED OR PITCHED BABIES. THEIR CAGE IS NINE FEED LONG THREE FEET DEEP AND SIX FEET HIGH. THEY ALL HAVE THEIR OWN SWINGS FOR NIGHT SLEEPING. THEY REALLY LIKE THEM. I HOPE THIS YEAR I HAVE LUCK WITH THE GOULDS. I WOULD NEVER SELL THEM I JUST WANT THEM TO REPLACE THEMELVES. SOME ARE FIVE AND I AM SURE THEY DON'T LIVE THAT LONG. I HOPE TOMORROW THE THREE SOCIETY BABIES ARE STILL ALIVE. LAST TIME THEY ALL DIED WITHIN TWO DAYS. ALSO THE GOULDS ARE NOT RELATED. I HOPE SOMEONE THAT HELP ME WITH WHY THE BABY BIRDS ARE DYING. MARY

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:28 am

Hello Dresden....welcome to the Forum!

I am new to finches myself so can't offer any good advice on your problem but hang in there the more experienced breeders will come along and give you some help.

Fancie Flight · Post by **Fancie Flight** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 1:39 pm

The ONLY advice I can say first off is STOP changing everything every 2 hours, lol really once a day would be fine, and your birds would SERIOUSLY LIKE there privacy or can abandon or kill there offspring thinking its NOT safe,.

are the parent birds looking happy,. and a drop of bleach to an ounce of water truly seems like ALOT>.. i would question that besides your babies arent drinking that water,

williep · Post by **williep** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:46 am

I'm with Sally, the bleach solutions seems a bit strong and besides it kills the good bacteria as well which the birds need to maintain a healthy immune system. Other than that I think you're doing fine.

chrischris · Post by **chrischris** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:50 pm

I have never used bleach and it seems like a lot. Would you drink water with bleach in it.

As to the pair don't bother them too much. If you are afraid the egg food is brewing bacteria for them than use a comercial made egg food that will last longer without having to remove it every so often.

Parent finches need their privacy to care for their chicks.

Chris

Post by **Sally** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:51 am

I agree with the others, you are disturbing the birds too much. Even Societies like some privacy. You mention Robert Black advising 1 drop of bleach to 1 oz of water if bacterial. Is this a recommended treatment for a bacterial infection? The first clutch died of unknown causes, is the second clutch still alive? I don't think you need to treat for a bacterial infection unless you know you have one.