A Strawberry Fledgling!

Post by **Sally** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:34 am

It left the nest today! This is the one survivor from my pair of Strawberries--they started tossing babies, and I lost three, then put this only baby in with my Society boys. They had just fledged a BCCB baby a few days before, so I didn't know how they would react to this half-grown yet tiny baby, but they took right over feeding it. They also readily took over 3 Gouldian babies less than a week later--what a wonderful pair of fosters they are! So far, they have raised 1 Society, 1 Owl, 1 BCCB, 1 Strawberry, and now 3 Gouldians. I was really worried about placing the Gouldian babies in the nest, because they beg loudly, while the Strawberry never made a sound, so I was afraid the Societies would overlook the little one. The first day, they didn't feed it as much, and I thought I would have to handfeed it, but when I checked in the evening, all four babies had stuffed crops--thank goodness!

Once this baby is weaned, I am thinking of placing it with a Strawberry pair I have that are not in breeding mode, and watch them carefully to see if they will accept it and teach it how to be a Strawberry. I am just so excited to finally have even one Strawberry baby--it is the tiniest thing!

meghann · Post by **meghann** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:09 am

Congratulations! That is exciting!

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:59 am

Uoooo.....how wonderful for you....I would Love some strawberry finches!

williep · Post by **williep** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:40 am

O Sally, that is so sick!!!! I cannot get my hands on a pair of strawberries and you just fledged one, shame on you.

All jokes aside - congrats, when can we see a pic?

Post by **Sally** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:10 am

Woohoo, my brother is giving me his old camera, so I will have pics maybe later this week! This pair of Strawberries has quite a history. The hen was a PetsMart rescue--the manager gave her to me when she became badly feather plucked. The male was a Bird Mart purchase which was so feather plucked that he is permanently bald. Last year, he stuffed both nests in the cage and did everything but stand on his head to get her attention, and she would not go near either nest. So I was very excited to have them go to nest this year. I am hoping they will have another clutch. I cleaned out the nest and returned it to the cage, but so far no action. My other pair of Strawberries are not in breeding mode.

These Strawberries will not touch a mealworm, so I quit giving them. I learned that once the eggs hatch, they really want mealworms, so maybe that is why they tossed.

FeatherHarp · Post by **FeatherHarp** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:45 am

Great Sally...can't wait for the pics!

I seem to remember reading somewhere that to get finches to eat meal worms you don't just put them on the bottom of the cage where they can see them.....you have to hide under stuff and then they will go after them? Sounds kind of strange but I know my finches won't touch them either....I am going to try the hiding technique and see if that works!

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:20 pm

Congratulations on the newest baby to fledge - that's quite a feat! Can't wait for pics.

beccafigs · Post by **beccafigs** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:00 pm

Congrats! That's so exciting for you. I would love some strawberry finches someday, too.

Fancie Flight · Post by **Fancie Flight** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:39 am

Yea Sally great news, I look forward to a picture of the lil strawberry baby

Hope · Post by **Hope** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:42 pm

Congratulations

that's awesome to have the societies feed all the different babies. I really leaning towards fostering now.

Post by **Hilary** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 12:27 am

I want those societies! I got so many fire finch and red cheek cordon bleu chicks this season - most of whom were tossed, and none were raised by my societies. Shoot! 'Grats on the strawberry fledgling! I just checked a pair after being gone on vacation, and she had TWELVE eggs in her nest! I parted them out to two pairs of societies and took the nest away - that poor girl needs a break! Don't know if any of the eggs will be fertile, though I've enjoyed watching the male court her so actively!

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:03 am

instead of giving just mealworm to the birds maybe give them a choice of mealworm and maggots. my gouldians wont eat mealworm but love maggots

Post by **Hilary** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:47 am

I tried ordering maggots via the internet once (no source near me as far as I know). I received twleve containers full of pupae, which rapidly hatched into twelve containers of flies. I wish there was a source nearby!