Some of This Year's Kids Coloring up

[Babs _Owner]

Pairs Brat & Ricco as well as Bubbles & Jet have given me some robust & healthy babies this year. They are finally getting their molt-on! Two completely molted.

And I'm happy to say all in this picture were parent raised, and I have a few in another 5 foot flight as well that haven't begun to molt.

Thankfully only four chicks total (3 being in my brooder now) had to be hand raised. A HUGE change from all hand feeding I did last breeding season.

These babies are going to make great parents! I can't wait to choose which ones will be paired off for next year.

[GouldianGuy]

Awesome! Keep the parentage skills going!

[Babs _Owner]

GouldianGuy

Thanks! This is a huge victory for me! The goal was parent raised this year and they did it! Happy dance!!

[lem2bert]

Babs

Congratulations !!! The parents did a great job !! Parent raised babies, do they tend to be better parents themselves ??

[lovezebs]

Babs

Looking great, sweetie .
How many babies all together?

[lovezebs]

lem2bert

Parent raised babies, learn parenting skills from their parents while in the nest. So yes, they do tend to make better parents.

[Babs _Owner]

lem2bert

Yes parents raised create better parents! Although my hand raised female Bubbles is my best hen, Her parent-raised mate Jet is a sharp and protective male and showed her the ropes and helped her along.

lovezebslovezebs

Between the two pairs we have 18 kids (if you count the 3 in the brooder).

Lolli and Storm (the new pastel male) are just getting their party started after both molted in December, then the other finished molting in February . They also had to get to know one another better. She should be laying anytime now. So summer babies on the way!

[lovezebs]

Babs

POPULATION EXPLOSION ALERT!!!

That's amazing Babsi.
You and your kids are doing an absolutely amazing job

[Chrismurdoch3]

Wow very awesome congrats on the babies they seem to be coloring up nicely.

[Shannylee]

Congratulations on all of the kids and parent-raised...even better!

My gouldians are molting too. They look a mess! LOL!

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs Chrismurdoch3 Shannylee

Thanks gang!

Elana, thankfully Bill got me a 2nd double-flight. Hammy and Merlin are in the other flight cage with the newer juveniles and having a blast swinging off the hanging millet and Hammy flying in figure 8 patterns. Merlin trying to teach the juvie boys my lame whistle. No aggression at all from them. Merlin seems to be enjoying himself.

So about 11 birds per double flight. As the kids molt and are rehomed, the breeding pairs (now no longer breeding) will go back into one doubleflight to exercise for the summer until next winter.

Chris, yeah they are molting much quicker this year.

Sharon, Yep they are a hot mess with all the pin feathers. My floor is filled with feathers. But thats always a cause for celebration! Molting time is like watching a butterfly emerge.....only painfully SLOWER. LOL

[Shannylee]

Sharon, Yep they are a hot mess with all the pin feathers. My floor is filled with feathers. But thats always a cause for celebration! Molting time is like watching a butterfly emerge.....only painfully SLOWER. LOL

Ain't that the truth??!! I asked my white ringneck dove if she exploded today. LOL! There are white feathers EVERYWHERE! Collecting them up and giving them to the aviary birds that like to line their nests with white feathers. Recycling!!

[Babs _Owner]

Shannylee

Way to utilize resources. HIgh-FIVE! Thats what Im talkin' about! ;)