Hand feeding out a baby owl and penguin

[cindy]

Sounds ike a zoo story....The little injured baby penguin zebra is doing well and adjusting to his righ leg not working well. Handfeeding was slow until two days ago when it decided to open it's mouth and bite off food from the tool. Now it can't get enough and has started calling me. I ca pet him and he snuggles in my hand. I think he will do well.

The little owl is the baby the zebras fostered (they did not stay with feeding it untio weaned like my Black cheek do). I heard begging a lot yesterday, they fed it some but ignored it today. He was down on the bottom puffed up. So I took him into the kitchen and started to hand feed him, he must have been hungry because he readily took the food but is extremely sleepy. After a good meal and falling asleep in my hand I put him in with the little penguin who has cuddled up to him. There is a lamp on them so I am hoping with food and warmth the little owl will bounce back, he is very weak and did not struggle much for me. I'll give him a little more food in about two hours.

Given the time frame, how old he is and the fact he is weak but taking food....do you think he will do well? He was bouncing around yesterday with his zebra siblings.

[L in Ontario]

I think with your care he will most likely bounce back fairly quickly. Best wishes for them both.

BTW - what a lovely avatar you have Cindy!

[cindy]

Thank you Liz...I just check on both of them. The little owl was puffed, head tucked but now the head isn't tucked and he is sleeping with his new roomy who is beeping away at me! The trick will be weaning them.

Thank you for the comment in regards to the avatar.

[Leel]

They sound so sweet, best of luck with the feeding and hope the owl perks up!

[cindy]

Thank you...hope so to. His eyes are open and he is sitting up but still a little weak...poor things, they are so dependant.

[lovemyfinch]

Glad you caught it in time Cindy.
For a speedy full recovery

[cindy]

Thank you Janine...Hopefully he can join the other little owls soon.

[annague]

Cindy, I had the same thing happen with my little blackbellied Firefinch (Rose Red). The Soc's were feeding great -- then all of a sudden they stopped. It was like they realized it wasn't a Soc chick as it grew older. Frustrating!

Anyway, it sounds good with your owl baby so far. And, I think a friend is always a good thing if they don't have nestmates -- it seems to help them.

[cindy]

just a little update...both are doing really well and are best buds. The penguin baby is getting better, the leg seems to be healing, he hops on it but still has trouble perching. He flies well I covered the grate and in one corner put Cozy Comfort to make a soft spot for it to roost in. The owl baby sleeps with him there. They follow each other around the bottom of the cage and are eating pellets, dried eggfood and seed. The owl has perches and a nest box to sit in but prefers to perch on the the perch on the front of the box...most of the time it is with the penguin.

They sit face to face and chirp at each other...so cute. I put my hand in to feed and water and neither are frightened, the owl lands on me. I am checking crops since they are refusing handfeeding. Both are taking food in and the owl I have seen drinking. I have low dishes of water in different spots for them to get to. The seed and pellets/eggfoods are in a pile on clean paper towels. They make a bit of a mess of it but they are eating.

They are doing pretty good.

[CandoAviary]

Just caught this post. Good job on the save It is always so touch and go when the chicks are older like that because they have that bit of fear, if you can get them to trust you enough to eat well then they will usually be fine. Again, good job
I am always amazed at how the young of different species could care less who their nest mates are, they will just snuggle up with about anything

[cindy]

Candace they do remind me of little children, they love everyone....it isn't till they get older when they start being selective!!!

I am thinking of putting one just weaned normal zebra in with them so they get the hang out of eating, maybe use the little one as a role model.

My next challenge is possibly breaking the pair up but for now they can be roomies.

[annague]

Such good news! That is so sweet.... take us another photo when you have time (IF) you have time.

Gotta love the little hand-feds!

[cindy]

I will....I am very pleased the little penguin is using his leg. The little owl is so cute, if the penguin is poking around at pellets the owl runs over look at what the penguin is doing it is so adorable. Neither will get flighty when you go near the cage.

[cindy]

Well they are weaned, our little survivors...eating on their own and best buddies!! They aren't as scared as normal chicks and while cleaning out the cage and putting fresh paper towels and bedding, food and water down the little penguin chick is hoping, fluttering about and lands on my hand, so adorable beeping about. The owl chick runs as fast as a road runner and sits in the corner until I am finished.

If I put new food in or put some pellets or eggfood down the penguin is the first to run and check it out while I am still setting it down.

Eventually they are going to go their separate ways, the owl will join the rest of the owl young in their flight....unrelated to him.

The little penguin will have a new friend given to him, one of Patches grandchildren...a pretty little fawn female.

[lovemyfinch]

Congrats on a job well done Cindy They are adorable