non flying shaft tails

James · Post by **James** » Wed May 21, 2008 6:07 pm

I have two shaft tails the do not fly, they hop from branch to branch. When I first put them in the flight cage I had all the branches setin th upper 1/3 of the cage as that is what the society finches liked. It's like being in trees, they all fly every where. The female shaft tail jumped down to the food dish. After she had eaten she tried to get back into the branches but couldn't jump that hi. After trying 3or4 times she just set on the rocks in the bottom of the cage. She jumped into my hand and let me lift her up into the branches. I have moved the branches around now so she can get back up. Then as I watched I saw that the male doesn't fly eather. James

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Wed May 21, 2008 6:58 pm

Do you know how old these birds are?

James · Post by **James** » Wed May 21, 2008 7:47 pm

Yes they are about a year old, they mated in the store, The store destroyed their eggs. they said they were not allowed to raise birds.?????????? James

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Wed May 21, 2008 7:52 pm

Were the birds flying when you bought them? It is strange that neither of them can fly.

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Wed May 21, 2008 11:49 pm

How large was the cage that they were in when you purchased them?
I suppose it's possible if the cage was very small, they didn't get a chance to strengthen their muscles enough to fly.

I had a parakeet once when I was a lot younger. The store that I bought it from clipped all it's flight feathers. When the parakeet moulted, it still was too weak to fly for several months. I rememer it would perch on my finger and I would drop my hand quickly enough for it to flap it's wings. I did that everday until it was strong enough to fly. Okay, I was a weird kid....and some things never change!

James · Post by **James** » Thu May 22, 2008 12:05 am

their cage at the store was 2' x 14" x 12" high. i don't recall them flying there ether. It stomps me they seem all right in all other respects.even when they jump down to the bottom of the cage, They don't spread their wings. they don't even try. James

James · Post by **James** » Thu May 22, 2008 9:15 pm

Hey they finaly flew!!!! I was trying to catch my zebra and they flew to get out of the way but just that one time.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Fri May 23, 2008 5:58 am

Yeah! Maybe they will build up their strengh and fly soon.

fairestfinches · Post by **fairestfinches** » Fri May 23, 2008 1:42 pm

Glad that they came around and started flying. We have seen this with a few birds when they have been introduced to our wlk in flights. The best we can figure is that they spent so much time in a cage that they did not realize that they could fly up more than 20 inches or so. Eventually they catch on, but it's bit scary when your not sure if the birds are ill or just unsure.

Sean

James · Post by **James** » Fri May 23, 2008 5:44 pm

I'm glad too, I've only had spice finches before this and they were in a 2x6x3high flight cage that I built for the with grass growing in the bottom. this is new to me as they take a lot more care when in these smaller cages back ten each pair had 6 cubic feet of spaceI'm getting a shower right now as they are taking turns in the bath. they are a trip. 1or2 will get in the water and 4or5 others will sit around the edge.

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non flying shaft tails

non flying shaft tails

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