Owl Finches

Post by **Hilary** » Wed May 24, 2006 9:36 pm

My kids are easy (even without peeking at the bands!). My male has a wide white face, and the female has a much grayer face. I guess as long as THEY can tell!!

Hilary

Sally H · Post by **Sally H** » Wed May 24, 2006 10:11 pm

My pair are almost identical. They do have different color leg bands but now my husband and I have different opinions on which one is which. Today I heard them singing and calling and fluttering but when I moved so I could see their bands and if they were truly mating, they saw me and clammed up. They make alot of different noises but the male rarely sings. They are supposed to move into the flight cage within a month and will be sharing the space with a zebra pair so no nesting or breeding planned. But if they're in the mood...it sure is tempting to try for a clutch.

Post by **Hilary** » Wed May 24, 2006 10:41 pm

Knowing that my memory ain't what it used to be I write down the bands as soon as I bring birds home!

Think how cute baby owls would be! And you know that they can certainly lay eggs!

Hilary

Carmen · Post by **Carmen** » Fri May 26, 2006 8:34 am

The difference between my two Owls is very clear. Just as Hilary's my female is less white in the face, more grey. And the male his rings around his belly and neck are wider.

Here it's normal to give only the male an extra band, than it's easier to see.

I told some weeks ago I put the pair outside, well, I promised myself to keep my eyes on them, to avoid nestling and laying, but I failed. I saw them sometimes with grass in their beak, but all my birds do that so I thought 'no big deal'.
The hen sits now inside after I found her trying to get rid of an egg. She is definetely too young

Inside she laid two eggs and now she's calling for her male all the time.

The cock sits outside and sings all the time or jumps up and down with grass in his beak...
Later today (or tomorrow) I can hopefully rejoin them in a new builded breeding cage.

So Sally, if hou have a strong pair, it's maybe an idea to put them one by one in your flight cage? If you wait a day or so before putting them together you can easily find out which one is singing.

PS I added two pics of my Owls at the gallery

Post by **Hilary** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 9:59 pm

Well, I hope I actually have a true pair! Found an egg on the bottom of the cage, gave them a nest, and now have SIX eggs. What's your guess - one more egg and I definitely have two females? The breeder said she sexed them - maybe my girl is just prolific? (Cross your fingers)

Hilary

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 10:40 pm

Do you ever hear singing? I don't think 6 eggs is terribly unreasonable... if you get 8 or more I'd start to worry ;)

Post by **Hilary** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:02 pm

You mean like my zebs, who regularly have a nest (with 2 hens) of 20+ eggs?

I'll give her a couple more eggs, then! Of course, the next worry will be whether she'll decide to start sitting on the darn things! I was just about to put them in a community flight, too. Of course, I certainly wouldn't complain about some owl chicks!

Hilary

Post by **Hilary** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 11:46 pm

OK, now that I took the nest away (I could almost see them say "whew!!") and moved them into a community flight cage the male is singing his little heart out! Too funny. With eggs and singing, there's now no question at all about their sexes! Now we'll just have to see if the societies get a nest full of little owls!

Hilary

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 10:50 pm

As promised...

Post by **Hilary** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 11:04 pm

Hee hee! We were all wrong! Thanks for sharing, Crystal, and glad they're doing well!

Hilary

MadHatter · Post by **MadHatter** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 1:57 am

Shooot... I was waaaay off.

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 2:11 am

To be fair, it's not the best picture.