Owl Update

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 1:43 pm

Oh no!

I was hoping things would go well with this clutch. I was looking forward to seeing pics of your little owls posted in the gallery.

Sally H · Post by **Sally H** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:04 pm

Very sad. My owl pair fixed up their nest but haven't laid any eggs yet. I saw an egg in the zebs nest 3 days ago and today they started taking turns incubating.

Carmen · Post by **Carmen** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 5:10 am

I really like to read al your experiences with your Owls, sad that things go wrong

Now I have a question for you. I never ever had young birds before, so I need a little help.

It's about my Owls, they had four eggs, but last weekend I was on a short holiday and when I came back two eggs were completely gone, I haven't found any shells or something.

The hen layed one egg after the weekend so now they have three eggs and the hen already started incubation...

The problem is that I'm going on holiday for two weeks so I don't know what to do. The birds are in a cage on the attic and I have to remove them downstairs while I'm gone. Will the Owls stop incubate?
And there is a big chance the hen has to lay more eggs, shall that go well whith the stress of removing them?

OK, I know it's stupid that they have eggs while I'm going on holiday, but I really couldn't stop it. The hen just kept laying eggs on the ground.

Could anyone give me some advise, please?

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 6:56 am

My guess is, they are eating the eggs due to a lack of calcium. Are you providing them with egg shell or oyster shell? IF not, do so and they should stop eating their own eggs. Sometimes an egg is accidently broken and this will prompt them to begin eating the eggs.

As for moving them while you are on holiday....

I'm assuming you can move the cage they are in, down from the attic, not that you must catch them and move them to another cage downstairs. If it is the former then I forsee no problems. Just keep everything as normal and calm as possible. Covering the cage may help keep them unaware.

If you must catch them and move them to another cage, then yes, this may cause them to abandon the nest.

Also, make certain they have sufficient food and water to last the two weeks you will be away. Of course I know you will do so.

Carmen · Post by **Carmen** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 4:15 am

Thank you Tammie!
I give the Owls enough calcium, they get grit special for birds. So probably the eggs were broken. Is it also a possibility that the eggs were infertile? That they noticed that? (I've no idea a bird can know that

)

I don't have to catch the birds for removing them, they are in a breeding cage. I've thought it over once again if I want to take the risk, but I think it's best to leave them where they are.
It's their very first nest so I don't know how they will react.

Is it enough to feed the young birds two times a day with eggfood and soaked seed?

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 8:52 am

Outdoor pair still hasn't started laying any eggs, but indoor pair has 5 fertile eggs in their clutch which are due to hatch around 7/11/06 (this upcoming Tuesday).

I don't plan on peeking in the nest, just checking the floor of the cage and providing lots of boiled egg and bug mixes. Wish them luck!

Post by **Hilary** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 8:29 pm

So they got back the live baby as well? Hope the live food does the trick! Seems like nobody is having any luck right now. I lost my owl chick, and just got back from vacation to find all 3 gould chicks dead as well (had a neighbor taking care of them while I was gone).

Hilary

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 9:08 pm

Any idea what happened? :/ Sorry to hear about that.

Post by **Hilary** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 10:22 pm

Not a clue. They were 1-2 days old when I left, had food in their crops, and were with great fosters. I don't know if the neighbor didn't follow my instructions, or ....? I had given the societies Ronivet, so that shouldn't have been the problem. I haven't had a chance to speak with her yet, so don't know if anything specific happened. Sigh. I had moved the nest with unhatched eggs to the societies when I had to move the goulds out of a flooded basement and they refused to go back to the nest. I have a nest out for them for one last try before they molt. Hope your owls are sitting tight!

Hilary

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 1:52 pm

Ok I have owl babies in the indoor nest. Not sure how many (don't want to disturb the parents too much), but I think I only saw one egg (there were 4 fertile eggs), so I am guessing there are 3 babies and the egg. I can't be positive though. I didn't see any babies or eggs on the floor.

The outdoor pair is also incubating 3 eggs. Their clutch was fertile last time so I'm going to assume it is fertile this time, too. Expected hatch date for the outdoor babies will be around the 25th of this month. I will be scanning the floor of the cage only each morning as I provide live food and egg for the day.

Hopefully things will continue to work this time around, and I'll have some chicks to band in about 10 days.

Post by **Hilary** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 1:55 pm

I've got my fingers crossed for you!!!

Hilary

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 3:41 pm

Best wishes Crystal!

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 10:32 am

I think I heard some very soft begging noises in the nest today. Both parents are in there almost 24/7 brooding the chicks. No babies on the floor still so that is a very good sign! The parents seem to like the egg food more than the live food.

The male is particularly adorable because he will sit in the nest and sing and sing and sing. Must be a proud father!

Sally H · Post by **Sally H** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 12:39 pm

Awww! I read somewhere about the male owl's lullaby. I have just the two eggs...don't know if they're fertile and I'm guessing about the 27th for hatch dates. They never ate mealworms, I hope the eggfood is enough protein for them to raise any hatchlings.

ps. My zeb's have a baby already..10 days from when I frist noticed them sitting. Could it be this hot weather and humidity? I could be off by a day...maybe 2..but still it hatched early.

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 5:10 pm

Some sources cite 12 days as being the zebra incubation period. Some say it's closer to 14 days.