I Went To 'Look' At A Baby Parrot Finch Today...

[lovezebs]

finchmix22
Thanks Deborah.
I was begining to wonder if the poor little fella was suffering from OCD . I'm glad to hear that they all do that.

[KarenB]

lovezebs
PF's LOVE their baths! They usually live near water and so they preen and bathe and bathe and preen. I have to change their water three times a day because they use it all for baths! LOL.

I could change out my PF's water five times a day, and five times they would bathe. I keep a tube for drinking and four bowls for bathing, which get cleaned out a couple times daily. Right now mine are going from juvenile to adult-ish molt, and they are always bathing, and I am finding lots of little green feathers. I should start a collection.

[lovezebs]

KarenB
I guess my little fella is at the same stage of development. He is still little and doesn't have his true colours as yet.

[delray]

He's really cute tho lovezebs , can't wait to see him all colored up.

[lovezebs]

delray
Me too Brian. I'm guessing it's going to take him a while yet though. He is a cutie though, even if he is shy and flighty.

[delray]

lovezebs well aren't parrot finches like gouldians with their color development?? Hopefully his personality will come out.

[lovezebs]

KarenB
Hi.
I notice that my baby boy's flying is not the greatest. It's the same with the baby Stars. Any ideas why that might be? Is it just because they're young, or could there be other reasons?
The breeder told me that he has an Aviary in his home, so it couldn't be for lack of practice. Unless he kept the young ones in small cages.

[lovezebs]

delray
I guess they are similar to the Goulds. I suppose he will have to go through his adult moult whenever that happens, and then.... He will be gorgeous.

[delray]

lovezebs it will be worth the wait I'm sure. Parrot finches are definitely a breed I would like to have eventually, but then again, I say that with many other species, lol. Better get them all then lol ;)

[lovezebs]

delray
Then you will have to get the wings and cape, and become 'Super Bird Man'.

[KarenB]

These are my three PF babies. They are now 9 weeks old. They have been molting and there are little green feathers EVERYWHERE!





Not sure why your PF would not be flying well by now. Mine all fledged the same hour and were flying around within 24 hours. If he is molting flight feathers, that might be an issue, but they don't usually molt those all at once. I would check for injuries.

[delray]

lovezebs we can come to the rescue together, save the world. Lol

[lovezebs]

KarenB
Mine must be younger then, cause he doesn't have as much red on him yet and Is not yet moulting. The breeder told me 3 months, which would make him 12 wks, but I don't think so. Don't you hate it when people lie? Ah well, I guess his molt is probably just around the corner, then I'll be covered in green feathers as well

[lovezebs]

delray
I'll leave that to you my boy. Saving the world is a job for the young.

[KarenB]

It's really hard to say the age, since there is a large window of time that it takes for them to molt sometimes. Mine came out of the nest with red on them already. It could be diet related. Mine get Feather Fast and Hearty Bird (not at the same time, though) with their soft food. Don't know if it makes much of a difference in their feathering or not. Could be temperature, environment, diet, not wanting to grow up - wait, that's me.