FINCHforum

It seems like a miracle. A fledgling Fire Finch came out of their nest box today. It looks healthy and fully feathered. We don't know if there are any more chicks in the nest, but since the nest was always quiet, maybe not. Three weeks ago I found a newly tossed chick in the meal worm dish on the bottom of the cage that was still alive and put it back in the nest. Maybe this is that chick. I hope the fledgling does well. This is our first fledgling raised by the parents.

The father is really a squawker when we go near the cage so we are trying to give them some space although I did have to change the water this evening. We have other birds in that room so I hope they get over the alarm stage pretty quickly. It was just the father but it also frightened the little fledgling who started flying around the cage.

It's been a trying year with this being our first year with finches so I am happy that something is starting to go right. We also have Societies in another room fostering 3 owl finch chicks that are now 11 days old and looking good. They are feeding them well and the chicks have really started to grow the last few days.

Andy

Congrats on your new baby! I currently have a nest with only one baby in it and another nest of different parents, but I don't dare go near. My Fires are very skittish so I don't go near the nest when I see that they are setting. Best of luck with your new friend !!!

Jen wrote: Congrats on your new baby! I currently have a nest with only one baby in it and another nest of different parents, but I don't dare go near. My Fires are very skittish so I don't go near the nest when I see that they are setting. Best of luck with your new friend !!!

Thanks Jen. Our Fire Finches are also skittish. They are also very secretive. Once the egg(s) hatched we never saw them go in to feed the chick or maybe chicks. Tonight, just before the lights went out in the bird room we were watching from the side of the room and saw her looking at the nest box opening from just outside the nest and started to wonder if there are any more chicks in there. In the next few days I guess we will find out if any more fledge.

a_gouldian

Great news! Send pictures when the little guy gets bigger

Congratulations and best of luck

Two more were fledged this morning so we have three fledglings! Not sure if there are any more but it's amazing they fit in that little nest box and were so quiet. This is so exciting!

Here is a pic of one of the fledglings. They usually perch on the high branches together but the way the cage is set up at the moment it's not possible to get a good pic of the three of them together on a branch. Will try to put in a lower branch this week.

Too cute!! Congrats!!!

Madcat wrote: Too cute!! Congrats!!!

Thanks Madcat. It is easy to spend hours a day watching them. One of them has started to pick on the millet stalk we put in the branches where they perch which surprised us since it has only been two days since they fledged.

a_gouldian

Yay! It's fun to watch fledglings learn & explore. Enjoy!