FINCHforum

When I had to handfeed a gouldian I took the opportunity to chart the growth from the day it hatched to the day it flew. Thought you'd enjoy the pictures.
newly hatched 3 days 6 days 9 days 12 days

15 days 18 days 21 days fully feathered

Fully colored And here's a picture of the brooder and feeding

Awesome pics! Thank you for recording them. It is amazing how fast they grow. I had a clutch that hatched this past Thurs/Fri and I can already see the difference in size.

I thought the chick was going to be a blue. He's beautiful!

He is a stunning blue male... He looks show quality to me.

Very nice and interesting set of pictures. Very pretty blueback gouldian. You did an excellent hand feeding job.

I like your idea of converting a fish aquarium in to brooder.

This is a great progression of photos, Debbie. Thank you for sharing them!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, DEBBIE!!! The pictures are AMAZING! And I see that the crops on your Gould baby were visible until fully feathered. That is so great to know. And your brooder!!! I can build that!!! I have everything in that picture!!! Although I pray to God that I don't need it . I must admit...I truly think that my NG/Fawn Zebra pair are going to abandon their babies very soon (7, 8 and 9 days old ). The Dad started to bury them with nest material today and was plucking other cage-mates for additional material. I very well may need a brooder by tonight ... Pray for me, please. I may be hand feeding 5 babies soon . Love that pic too .

debbie276
Hey Debbie...are there instructions on how to build your brooder?

Thank you all for your lovely comments

And your brooder!!! I can build that!!! I have everything in that picture!!! Although I pray to God that I don't need it . I must admit...I truly think that my NG/Fawn Zebra pair are going to abandon their babies very soon (7, 8 and 9 days old ). The Dad started to bury them with nest material today and was plucking other cage-mates for additional material. I very well may need a brooder by tonight ... Pray for me, please. I may be hand feeding 5 babies soon

Brooder was easy to make using things we had around the house. My husband threw it together way back in 2000 and it's held up very well after all these years. I even sold them on ebay for a time

Sending prayers to you that your zebra settles down and all is well

Ginene wrote: debbie276
Hey Debbie...are there instructions on how to build your brooder?

Nothing written on paper. Any variation will do, it's just a small tank inside of a bigger tank full of heated water. I used critter keepers when I sold them. The idea is to heat the water around the container holding the chick for a steady and even heat. The humidity created by the heated water prevents dehydration of the chicks too.

The incubator is really good. What a smart idea. The little chick turned out to be one sharp fella.

Really interesting! And educational for us newbies! Thanks for sharing. Your bird is beautiful.