Society chicks - all banded (updated 10/15)

[annague]

Liz, cleaning out the nest doesn't bother the parents too much?? I've never done that -- I guess I just thought I was supposed to wait until the babies fledged .

Do you just move the babies and slide in some new nesting material or do you totally remove all nesting material and replace?

[L in Ontario]

Anna - these Socs are very good to me. I bred the mother and bought the father a couple of years ago when I began with Gouldians. They have accepted just about every chick I've given them including: Goulds, Stars, RCCB's, Zebras, Blue-faced Parrot Finches and their own in between. They are very tolerant of me.

For cleaning the nest - I first give the parents a dish of fresh eggfood so they are both eating while I am cleaning the nest. I actually removed the nestbox to a few feet away and I put all the chicks into a large seedcup lined with papertowel while I clean out the nest. I just lift up all the material that comes out easily - the messy stuff. Underneath is more nesting material but it's all clean. If it is not sufficient I add more and then place the chicks back in and then put the nestbox back on the cage.

HTH

[annague]

Thanks for the info, Liz. I'm going to do that with my societies next clutch -- I hate all that stinky mess!

I have a question about your soc's -- do you keep them separate from all your other birds or are they in with some of your pairs? Your female is SO cute... I love her crest!

[L in Ontario]

Thank you re the hens crest. Some of each clutch have been crested as well.

I do not keep them with any other birds (never did). I have 4 Socs - 3 males and 1 female. I keep two males (one is her brother) in a breeding cage beside them and this pair in a breeding cage also.

[annague]

Does keeping them separately in a smaller cage help with the fostering process?

[L in Ontario]

I keep all my breeding birds in separate breeding cages. No fights, no wondering who the parents are, no disruptions in the nests... I have 23 breeding cages 30x18x18 plus 4 single flights and 1 double flight cages. Then I have 4 parrots in their separate cages.

[annague]

Sounds like you have a lot of space!

I was wondering if it would be better to have the societies in their own cage for purposes of fostering?

All of my birds are in large community flight cages or an aviary-size cage but sometimes I think they forget that their babies are down on the bottom when the cage is so large... Do you think my Societies would do better at fostering if they had their own space?

[L in Ontario]

Yes I do think that. Less disruptions when they are separated. They basically have to concentrate on the chicks... at least much more so than when in a large flight or aviary where you have no control.

[annague]

Thanks. I will move them into their own cage. I'll bet they do better as fosters -- so far mine haven't been too hot.

[L in Ontario]

If they are first timers - it can take them time to learn as well. Good luck!

[annague]

They have raised their own and helped in general feed other chicks in the mixed flight but I am not 100% sure what to do to get them caring for other chicks almost exclusively... I will look for other information on starting fosters in this forum and on the net.
Knowing to put them in their own cage is a good start so I appreciate you helping me out -- I would like to be much more successful than I am with my little finches. Thank you!

[monotwine]

Cute babies Liz. I think its a toss up between Soc's, Zebras and Parrot finches as to who is the dirtiest! Zebbies can also be such poop machines.

[L in Ontario]

Good luck, Anna. Maybe start up a thread and tell what issues you're having with your Societies. I'm sure you'll get plenty of specific answers.

Thank you Monique. Very true about Zebras also being 'good' poopers!

[L in Ontario]

Well it's now 9 days later and some of the chicks should be fledging any day now - the younger ones still need about 4 days, I'm thinking. I have cleaned out the nestbox twice already and it may need to be swaped out once more before they are all out. It appears that three of the chicks will be plain heads and three will be double-crested.

[lovemyfinch]

They are simply adorable Liz. I just love those little crested babies