Hand Feeding 14 Day Old Gouldian

[debbie276]

He's coming along nicely!
best of luck

[Chris103]

Thanks Debbie and wildbird! I'm starting to get attached to the little guy now that I think he'll make it.

@wildbird: I Do raise English Sparrows! I had two pair last year that had several clutches successfuly resulting in 16 chicks. My friend was very interested in raising him so I gave him the whole flock. I just caught a pair of first year birds last month or so. I keep them in a small cage outside in a high traffic area, and spend time sitting by them to calm them down. After they are medicated for EVERYTHING possible twice, I put them in my outdoor aviary with the Zebras and Quail. They Do alright with the Zebras, I just have to use nest that only the Zebs can fit otherwise there will be lots of nest stealing. I use Cockatiel or Budgie boxes for the Sparrows. They are interesting to have, the males are really quite beautiful in breeding plumage!

Side note, I HATE wild English Sparrows! They're highly invasive and have killed hundreds of Eastern Bluebirds and that's just on my Bluebird trail of 50 boxes I have set up and monitor. I can't imagine how many native species they've killed in the state alone! Most of you will Not like this but I Do trap and humanely kill Sparrows in my backyard. Many Ornithologist and Biologist agree that it Is helpful to native species. I have personally seen a huge increase in the number of Blue bird chicks fledged...since they aren't being murdered by Sparrows. Waaaaaaay off topic, and I'll probably make some people hate me with that post but I know what I'm doing Is helping our native birds bounce back.

[Chris103]

Just a photo update of the chick. He's (I call it a he) Is doing so well and growing fast, as you can see! Eating 1.5ml of formula every two or three hours! He'll be stuffed and still begging for more! 18 days old today and in the photos.


I can see a few dark pin feathers that appear they will be green (can't see them in the pics). His mother Is YB but has random green feathers too. I guess its genetic or coincidence?

[Chris103]

This Is my first time hand feeding a Finch but I can already see that they develope more slowly Than when parent raised, as some have said. I haven't found that to be the case with parrots I've HF. Wonder why?

[debbie276]

He is absolutely adorable!!!

[Ginene]

Cutie-pa-tootie!!!

[Chris103]

Thanks everyone ! I'm conflicted about bonding with him to make him more like a pet, or keeping my distance (other than feeding of course) in hopes that He could be used for breeding down the road. Is it even possible to breed a HF Finch? I have done it with parrotlets before and they made wonderful breeders because they were so calm. But again, this Is my first HF Finch experience.

[debbie276]

Every one of the chicks I hand fed would fly to me in the aviary to eat. Once they could eat on their own they acted like they never knew me. I never had a problem with them not being able to breed successfully.

[lovezebs]

Had the same experience with Lovebirds. Hand fed them for forever it seemed like, every two hours 24/7. In the end, rather than bonding with me as I had hoped, they avoided me like the plague. Go figure, sigh...

[Chris103]

Thanks again guys! Its so helpful to hear from your experiences! It's very much appreciated
I supose I'll just raise him until weaned and put him in my female flight so He can learn how to be a Gouldian.

Almost had an accident today Earlier when I went to feed the little guy, I looked down and He wasn't in the brooder!!! My heart sank, I was so afraid someone had stepped on him or that I wouldn't be able to find him! Luckily He was just a few feet away hidden behind a box! Thank God He didn't fall three feet off the table onto wooden floors! Time to put a cover on the brooder lol, I just didn't think He was strong enough to climb all the way out. Obviously He proved otherwise!

[finchmix22]

Glad you found him. I lost a baby because I underestimated how much they could move and one fell into a water dish. I learned not to keep a water dish for humidity and use a sponge instead. Now, I move the handfeds to a small cage sooner.

[Zebrafincher]

What a cutie! How much noise do they make when hungry?


Zebrafincher
Proud owner of:
“Kevin the King”, groutchy, cranky canary – 12 years
Beaky the Zebbie – 9 months old – a real, real cutie!!!
Merlin “Merl” the Starfinch – 2 years – and “bossy as anything for such a small fry!”

[Chris103]

finchmix22
Ahh Thanks for that tip! Running to get a sponge now! Sorry, sad way to lose a chick
@Zebrafincher
He Is quite loud when He knows its feeding time! Nothing annoying, I think its cute! I make a whistle everytime I feed him, so if I whistle accross the room, He respondes with his feeding call.

[finchmix22]

How cute! They are adorable when they beg. Good Luck with him.

[Chris103]

Thanks Deborah, I think so too! I'll post pics tomorrow, he's already grown since the last ones!