Question about Owl's development

[finchmix22]

I read somewhere on the forum, but I can't recall where, that Owl hatchlings, fledges develop slower than other finch hatchlings/fledges?? If this is true, does anyone know what the time table would be for owl hatchlings to fledge? to become independent? I have two Owl hatchlings that are two weeks old and I am just wondering what to expect. Also, what about their ability to learn to eat and drink? Thanks.

[cindy]

It was me....I have a few post about it.They take a longer time to fledge, wean. The threads are recent..July I think.

[finchmix22]

Cindy,
About how long to fledge or wean, compared to other species?

[lovemyfinch]

Mine fledged at 21 days Unlike Cindy`s though he is very quiet I have yet to see or hear him begging

[L in Ontario]

My four owl babies fledged exactly on schedule (21 days) and weaned a few days early - thank goodness as I lost the father and mom is sitting on her next clutch already!!

I don't think you can generalize too much - it all depends on the individuals.

[cindy]

First flight....The ones in the large flight fledged faster, barely begged (babrely hear any begging at all) and weaned quicker. There were 5 adults in the 5 ft long flight.

Second Flight....The flight with the divider in the center...the babies took longer to wean (could factor in parenting skills...their babies are loud and beg more...I did a video of it I think it was on finchaholics), some came out early other took a while, begged loudly and often and seemed more insecure than the ones in the other flight. On the other side of the divider was the first clutch and my handfeed owl...they were constantly trying to get in with the other owls (parents and young), jumping on the side. I have since removed the divider and it seems quieter in there. I will be adding more tube nests for the young owls to sleep in since they roost in nest.

One of the biggest things I noticed about the first group mentioned is that the babies went off at night to different nest to sleep once they stopped returning to the main nest box...the parents made their rounds to those nest to feed then if they still had not weaned.

The second group mentioned in the divider cage (before the divider was removed) had the main nest box and a tube nest for the young to go to instead of being chased away from the box at night...if the young were unweaned the parents went into the tube nest to feed them. The section where the older offspring had a couple of tube nest in it for those to sleep in. It seems to work having extra nest when the young fledge and it avoids them being chased around the cage so they don't go back into the box.

I tried this with a pair of zebras and it works also. If I don't want the pair to raise another clutch while finishing off the first I take the net down then put up two mesh roosting areas one for the parents and one for the young. I have not done that with the owls just zebras. I left the nest as is, replaced some with clean ones.

[finchmix22]

O.K. my owls are 16 days today and feathered up nicely so far. i can't wait to them with the white around the face. They have the tail markings already, but they do not want to come out of that nest at all. I took them out because I heard them begging so often, I wanted to make sure the parents were feeding them still. They were so difficult to get out of the nest! They clung to the nesting material and sides of the nest with their claws like a cat might when scared. I also checked their bands and has to re-band one of them, but finally got it back over that ankle bone. Now, we wait another week and we should see them out of the nest on their own. Cool.

[cindy]

they like to really take their time sometimes!!!