My nests runneth over!! Update

Post by **Sally** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 2:03 pm

After such a long spell, success at last! My BCCB that was fostered by the Societies fledged a few days ago. Then yesterday, a Goldbreast waxbill baby fledged. I was sure I heard more peeps from the nest, but they are so quiet, it is hard to tell. Today, four more Goldbreasts fledged, for a total of five! When I went out to count heads just now, in one of my Star cages, four babies just fledged! Two more Gouldian babies are nearing fledging, to add to the other four fledglings, and the other nest has at least 6 brand-new hatchlings. Two more pairs of Stars are sitting, and one pair of Goldbreasts, but who knows what is going on in their nests--I don't dare peek. The BCCB pair have been sitting tight, I calculate that their eggs should have hatched, but I will just have to wait it out.

On the down side, my Strawberry pair haven't got it down yet. Last week, I found a very tiny hatchling dead on the floor of the cage, and yesterday, I saw mama tossing an older baby all over the floor--it was cold and dead already, so don't know if she is dragging these out of the nest accidentally, or tossing. They are still staying close to the nest, so I can only hope there might be a survivor inside.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 2:10 pm

That's a LOT of new babies you have there Sally - Congratulations! What will you do with them all?

Sorry to hear of the Strawberrys - they'll get it right one of these times.

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 2:29 pm

Congrats Sally.....I suppose you are busily naming all your new feathered grandkids!

Post by **Sally** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:22 pm

Update on the Strawberries--I found another dead baby on the floor of their cage this afternoon. I decided I'd better take the nest out and check it. There was one more baby in the nest, very much alive, but I don't trust these two to take care of it. After all, they have tossed 3 babies in a little over a week. I really don't want to handfeed if I can help it, so I put it in the Society nest. Those poor Society boys--I have been working their behinds off! They just got the BCCB fledged, but it won't be weaned for a while yet, so they have that one to feed. I had placed 3 Goldbreast eggs in the nest just before the BCCB fledged, though I don't think they have been consistent enough with sitting on them to save them--I will candle them tomorrow and see if I can tell anything. And now I hand them a Strawberry baby that is about 7-10 days old! If it makes it thru the night, and has a full crop in the morning, then maybe they will raise it.

L - you asked what I will do with all these babies. We have a local Bird Mart twice a year, so in September, I will probably need to get a table and try to sell some of these. If my other Goldbreasts will reproduce, I will be able to make up unrelated pairs, same with the Stars. The Gouldians are all in one flight cage, living like in a commune, so all the babies will have to be sold as related, whether they really are or not, I will have no way of telling.

Post by **Sally** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 5:23 pm

The Goldbreast and Star fledglings seem to be doing fine--they return to the nest for naps during the day, and to sleep at night. I had peeked at the nest in the Star cage and thought it was empty, but this morning, a fifth Star baby fledged.

The Strawberry hatchling made it thru the night in the Society nest. I have checked several times, and its crop is full each time, so those boys are feeding it. I am so lucky to have those two male Societies--they take whatever I throw at them! I hated to take the Strawberry away from its parents, but didn't know if they would feed this last one. The Societies are eating dry insectivorous mix, plus some mealworms, so they are getting the kind of diet that baby needs. I took the nest away from the Strawberries, but will put it back after a day or two to see if they want to try again.

The Gouldians started tossing babies--I posted that info in another thread.

Kiko · Post by **Kiko** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 9:51 pm

I can't imagine how interesting, wonderful, exciting and sometimes sad it must be to have an aviary full of nesting birds. I wish I lived close enough to watch the happenings.

I adore tiny goldbreasts and wish I could see their even tinier babies!

Congratulations on all your babies!

Fancie Flight · Post by **Fancie Flight** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 4:54 am

I'd say you definately have your hands full at the moment, lol

I have no babies yet this season, but 2 gould pairs have eggs and 1 pair WAS sitting until my 2 lovebirds go tlose and scared the tar outta everyone, HOPEFULLY they got back to sitting ,

good luck with all your group.

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 9:55 am

FF...you have lovebirds too? What kind do you have?

Fancie Flight · Post by **Fancie Flight** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 3:28 pm

I do Feather I do, lol um I'm not sure what Pa is hes green and the peach face, Ma is yellow w peach face.

In horse world she would be a cremello in bird world a breeder said shes something similar i forget the word, Shes NOT a lutino i know that lol