Round 2, Ding Ding Ding

[KarenB]

Yeah, sometimes I really do wonder how those eggs travel like they do. They always seem to end up on the opposite end somehow. I'm thinking spy camera setup.

My guys never did anything with the unfertile eggs, but I removed them and replaced them with plastic ones early on.

[Sheather]

KarenB - So cute! This is my favorite age for them, I handle them a lot at this age.

I had a really bad go this time around, though. No new babies coming soon for me.

The one clutch of four eggs ended up being all infertile this time, so I went in to toss them. When I did this, I was a bumbling buffoon and knocked the second nest right off its holdings, rolling out each and every egg to the floor. It was heartbreaking, the six eggs in this one all appeared fertile and only days from hatching. I should have just left it all alone.

The parents, at least, didn't seem excessively bothered, and I took it as an opportunity to re-arrange things and clean out all the nests. The two groups have gone back and re-filled their nests, and I think they are going to try again, as they've been courting and mating again. The new nests are now hung securely on the walls of the room itself with clamps and won't be easily knocked down.

I do have a pair of Java finches on eggs, though no idea if they're fertile. First time around produced all duds, but they are just a year old now, so not too unexpected. I also have two silverbills whom I think are going to have eggs any day now.

[lovezebs]

MiaCarter
Hi Mia.
Haven't you ever heared of the midnight soccer game? They are stronger and smarter than we give them credit.
I'm still trying to figure out, how whom ever grabbed one of my babies out of the very well protected snuggy/tent thingie and carried him all the way to the the large communaty bath only to drop him in the water to drown.

[KarenB]

Sheather, Oh, how heartbreaking to lose an entire clutch that way. So sad. Darn it all. Well, at least there is a next time, and it sounds like it won't be long before there is another batch of eggs cooking. Hopefully the Javas and spice finches will get down to business soon, as well.

I currently have gold-breasted waxbills, red-billed firefinches and the cordon bleus sitting on eggs. I dare not go near any of them, so I have no idea how many or if any are fertile. I have been dumping lots of live food, but they are still sitting tight and they don't appear to be feeding babies yet. I'm not really even sure when any of the eggs would be due to hatch. I figure if I see any babies, or hear any, that it will be a tiny miracle.

I so much want to take those society babies out and just cuddle them, but I'm not sure they or their parents would be real thrilled about that. But they are so cute I can't stand it.

[MiaCarter]

Definitely need a spy camera setup!

What's funny is they didn't boot those eggs until it was necessary (babies are getting big!) AND obvious that they wouldn't hatch. Smarties!

@lovezebs -- Actually, I've never really had this happen before!
I've always either pulled the duds or they were all fertile. So this was a new one for me!

@Sheather -- What a huge bummer on the loss of that clutch. I'm sorry to hear that.
My guys have inexplicably unhooked nests from the cage walls. So long ago, I took to securing them with a little bit of craft wire. I'll loop the wire around the metal hook and around the vertical bar in the corner, then twist so they can't get knocked down.

[KarenB]

I just caught Beans, the only survivor of these parents' first clutch - and now 8 1/2 weeks old - feeding the babies. He has such a serious look to his face just now. He looks all grown up. I kind of miss his cutie cutie face with the pin feathers sticking out everywhere.

[MiaCarter]

KarenB - Aw, that's kind of upsetting. What happened to baby Beans?!

Photo please!

[KarenB]

Nothing happened to him. He just went from having that cute baby face to an adult face, but he is only 8 weeks old. He was feeding his nestling siblings, and he just looked so serious doing it, as if he were one of the parents with all this responsibility.

But at the same time it is kind of sweet that he would be helping the parents take care of the six babies. I think it shows what a good set of parents he does have, as far as setting the example for when they raised him. .

[MiaCarter]

KarenB -- Aw, he grew up! That's what happened to him!
He was just a baby. How on earth did that happen?!

It's very sweet that he'd help feed siblings. I saw Squeepers doing that and it was just so darn adorable!

[KarenB]

Look who's fledged so far

Apollo


Aella


Adonis (snuggling with Annie)

[afinch]

I didn't think I'd find societies cute, but some of their babies really are. This one definitely being the case. I really like the last pic with the owly.

[MiaCarter]

Oh my goodness! That last photo is just so precious!
He looks so scruffy and little and cute next to the beautiful owlie. (Is that miss Annie? I only see one foot and I know you mentioned she sits low on the perch.)

He has a super adorable awkwardness. I think it's is slightly pigeon toed stance. So cute!

[KarenB]

MiaCarter, Yes, that is Annie in the last photo, as I have it indicated above the photo

I thought Annie was being very sweet as Adonis inched over towards her and they kind of leaned on each other there for a second.

@afinch, I never thought I'd be so taken with the societies, but they are very endearing, to say the least. I won't tame them, but I did have one on my hand for a little while. It was nice to be able to handle it before it realized I'm the big bad human.

[MiaCarter]

Annie looks great!

Ah, yes. Now I see it. Right above the photo. The "cuddling with Annie" bit on the description.
I've had a looong day. LOL (Though in my defense, I always tend to look for photo captions below the photo; this site always throws me since it places them above! LOL)

[KarenB]

MiaCarter, I definitely know about looooong days.

Hoot and Annie are currently sitting on a clutch of eggs, and it just happened to be Hoot's turn to go in and sit and give Annie a break. She had only been out for a couple minutes when I caught the baby snuggling up to her. It was a real "awww" moment