RCCB Female?????? a sad turn of events ):

[cindy]

Anna...it looks like the love bond is pretty strong...distance could not keep them apart!!! Boy I bet you wish you had a video camera on "the great escape".

[annague]

I'm sure someone watching would have thought I was very funny looking all over both cages for the spot where he escaped and then where he got in -- I taped up 1 narrowish place between the 2 halves of the flight cage but couldn't find out how he'd gotten out of my aviary cage (and no problem with escapes since!) It's got to be love. I have quite a few Cordons, too, but he went unerringly into the cage where HIS mate was. Sometimes I wonder how they can tell each other apart -- but they always know.

He was looking very smug the next morning when I saw him in there instead of the aviary cage.

Anxious to hear how yours do, Cindy -- keep us informed!!

[cindy]

Anna...this is so sad. I put her in with the male, at firs they greeted each other. I watched for a bit and she went into the nest. they seemed fine.

I went into the kitchen and was doing a few things and heard some upsetting noises from the cage...went to look and he was chasing her, she hit the bars and fell...I tried to save her, she passed away. I am heartbroken...she was such a personable little bird, friendly and so full of song.

We decided not to try again with another female. I even named her, I hardly ever name my finches. Funny I got so attached to that little bird in such a short time.

Guess this is the end of me trying RCCB's.

[lovemyfinch]

So sorry Cindy, what an awful experience

[cindy]

Thank you Janine...I think the male was so thrilled to have a girl again, he didn't mean it. Both my husband are so upset with loosing her. It is unfortunate, an accident. I removed her right away and put heat on her, stayed with her but there was nothing we could do, she went quickly.

[L in Ontario]

OMG Cindy, I'm so sorry to read this. It was an accident, pure and simple. Please give it a bit of time - never say never. I feel your pain at how fast this happened.

[cindy]

Thank you Liz, I feel kind of stuck in one spot tonight...know what I mean? I told Janine that she sang to us for such a short time but left a big mark in our hearts.

I'll miss her.

I know, you are right I should never say never....I told my husband maybe someday we can try BCCBs.

[CandoAviary]

How sad. So sorry.

[annague]

Oh my ... I am so sorry, Cindy!!

It is a regular part of their courtship (at least for mine) to do sexual chasing and in my years (about 3) of having them (I have about 14 now) I only had one die when he escaped and crashed into a window while I was trying to retrieve him. (This was when I was new and before I learned how to limit access to and cover windows when one got out.) Things just happen sometimes. Being the one at fault; I felt bad for days.

Your little guy was just being a passionate RCCB male -- no, he didn't mean it and I'm sure he is confused and wondering where his little "she" went.

I hope you will feel like trying them again one day. (( )) Hugs!

[cindy]

Thanks Anna...chasing was big with him with the other female but I think this new girl was not use to it and he is very swift.

[Sally]

Cindy, I am so sorry to hear of this--of course, it was a freak accident, but must have been so upsetting for you. I hope after some time you will feel like trying them again, you've just had a run of bad luck with them.

[cindy]

Thank you Sally. Right now I am just working with the owls and zebra mutations, going to put the RCCB situation on hold for awhile.