No peeking!

[cindy]

Oh boy! caught my RCCBs mating!

Hope this time will have a better outcome.

[ac12]

Cindy
You have to install a nestcam.
That way you can peek all you want w/o disturbing the birds.
BUT....that can also be a time sink as you just sit and watch and watch and ......

[JohnBoy]

Cindy, mine are still in the nest all the time and I still don't hear anything. I have no clue as to what is happening.

[cindy]

Hey John...hope all is good with you. I think that the RCCs are one of the most puzzling finches I own. They abandoned the nest they took over, after tossing 4 chicks, one a week old. They have now moved onto a tube nest at the top of the flight.

Prior to mating I heard a very long piercing song, very different from the courting song. Once he stopped singing they mated. Now they are resting on the complete opposite side of the flight.

If they have young it will be a miracle.

[Queen_Bee]

Fingers crossed that they will lay a clutch for you. I will be excited if and when my own do so too!

[solo_birdlover]

Mine have been sitting in the nest for the past month or so. No eggs in the nest. They just sit and sit and sit for most of the day especially the male. I was puzzled because they looked as if they were incubating though there were no eggs. I dont know but maybe they want to breed. Last time -around 1 1/2 month ago or so- their first clutch of eggs was infertile. Well, lately they've been mating and I'm thinking maybe this time they'll have fertile eggs.

I know even if they do lay fertile eggs and they do hatch I shouldn't hold my breath. I know these finches are picky when it comes to feeding their babies. Would a steady supply of mealworms be enough or do I have to provide them with other live insects ? What other insects can I give them ?

[L in Ontario]

Mealworms (lots of them) should be sufficient. Good luck!

[annague]

Cindy my RC males make those piercing noises often when they are trying to "clear" a new nesting site -- at least that's what I think they are doing?!

[cindy]

Lately the only loud noises from this pair are right before mating so we shall see!!!!

[JohnBoy]

Cindy, So far my BC's threw 2 babies out the nest. I found one in the bath dish and the other on the cage floor. They still have babies in the nest but I don't know how many. They are ignoring the live food. After this is all over I am putting them in the aviary.

[CandoAviary]

Cindy,
Sure hope you have CB chicks soon Sure sounds like they are whooping and hollering with the pre nesting part

[cindy]

John, so sorry about the two little chicks...hope they continue to take good care of the ones in the nest.

Thank you Candace...this is what is going on in the flight right now, 2 pairs of Gold Breast sitting, female RCCB sitting I am unsure if they have eggs or not but I don't see her out as much, the male is busy stuffing his face a lot! He then sits guard in front of the new nest they picked at the very top of the flight.

I may have owls on eggs, not sure...saw them mating and the one female has been in a nest lately.

I am trying not to fuss with the flight to much, feed, water and I change papers very quietly. I can hope but won't count on to much.

[JohnBoy]

Cindy, So far my RC's threw 2 babies out the nest. I found one in the bath dish and the other on the cage floor. They still have babies in the nest but I don't know how many. They are ignoring the live food. After this is all over I am putting them in the aviary.

I corrected this post to be my red cheek not blue caps. It's called brain rot in my old age.