Are they supposed to look this bad just before they fledge?

[charisma]

Fingers are crossed for you!! You're doing all that you can and
that's wonderful! Lucky little birds

[dfcauley]

How are the babies doing? So sorry for your difficulties.
I hope they are doing better.

[lstyles]

Thanks for asking about my little ones. They are both still with us and seem to be slowly improving every day. I have seen the bigger one eat seed from floor and he seems to be filling out nicely. Here he is:



The smaller one is also improving but is still small and I wonder if he is being outcompeted for food from Mom. I have started making up some hand feed formula to consistency of applesauce and he nibbles it off the toothpick. Hard to tell how much he is getting but he gets some. I am planning on doing this a couple of times a day to supplement him. Here he is:
.
Hopefully he will start to eat seed off floor too.
Lori

[lovemyfinch]

They are definately looking much better

[JohnBoy]

Looking good!

[dfcauley]

Yes!! They look much better!!!

[nelloyello11]

What a difference! That's wonderful, Lori!

[lstyles]

thanks for the encouragement!
Lori

[finchmix22]

Yeah! They do look much better and healthier. Congrats on a good job saving those little ones.

[6finchfriends]

They look so much better Lori! You're doing a wonderful job with these little babies! I'm so happy for you and them. Does their poo still stink or are they better there too? Keep up the good work!

[debbie276]

WOW, they look much better, great job Lori

[lstyles]

Just a quick update and question. Both fledglings continue to do well and are eating their own seed and drinking from waterer. I think I may be out of the woods in terms of whatever it was that was going on before. The birds are now about 5 weeks old. How long do you keep them with the parents. The parents continue to feed them and there is no aggression towards any of them by the parents. Dad seems ready to move on as he is now singing again and doesnt feed the chicks as much.
thanks,
Lori

[dfcauley]

I would not be in any hurry to move them away from their parents. They have much to learn from them. So happy to hear they are doing so well. Good job!!!

[debbie276]

I wouldn't be in a hurry to remove them from the parents, nor would I be in a hurry to breed the parents again so quickly with the problems they had. Might be a good idea to give them a rest, maybe even remove them from your breeding program till next season.