My 1st eggs in ~12 years! :D

[Lacybug]

Just this guy's feathers seem a little thicker than the others, and I can tell him apart in every pic, haha. It's so cute!

[WrenNAustinTX]

Lacybug Keep an eye on him, and we'll see what he turns out to be

[WrenNAustinTX]

Took oldest baby out today for 10 seconds of photo time. My phone did not want to focus on him, so the pictures aren't great but, its so interesting to see the little fellas up close Waterbottle cap for scale.

[WrenNAustinTX]

Same baby, extra time to grow! We have pin feathers on the wings and if you look close, his eyes are just starting to open

[afinch]

He seems to be perfectly on schedule

[WrenNAustinTX]

afinch Everything this pair does is right on schedule. You'd think they were German lol

[afinch]

afinch Everything this pair does is right on schedule. You'd think they were German lol

Have you been to Japan?

[Jen]

Sooooo cute! I LOVE babies!!!! Enjoy!

[WrenNAustinTX]

afinch I have not been to Japan, but I hear good things about their train schedules lol

[WrenNAustinTX]

So we close banded this morning. No pictures, because I wanted to go as fast as possible. Oldest one is 8 days old, youngest one is 4 days old. Band was almost too small for the oldest chick (had to put his foot in my mouth to get the band to slide over his ankle), and big enough on the youngest one that it could possibly slide up to his thigh, so I'll keep an eye on that.

As for the actual closed banding, I took the first four out (who all had pinfeathers on their wings) lined them up biggest to smallest, and banded their right legs. Youngest one I saved for last, and banded him quick and put him back in. Was easier than I thought it would be, actually

[afinch]

So why band? Planning to expand?

[WrenNAustinTX]

afinch Best permanent record keeping, and people can always trace my birds back to me to get Info for their own programs. Also, its peace of mind for people who want to be assured they are buying young birds.

Once they fledge they will also carry 2 narrow split bands, one color for each parent, and another split narrow band on the closed band leg to ID which chick in the clutch they are (yellow is #1, blue is #2 etc) so I can document behavior in juviniles that all look the same without having to guess or constantly catch and check the closed band #.

The goal is that, at a glance into a 5ft flight cage, I'll be able to see the year the chick was born (color of the closed band on right keg), what parents they came from (split narrow bands on left leg), and which chick they are from that clutch (split narrow band right leg). You know, in case Orange from Henry and Anne's '14 clutch plucks other finch's feathers, or hates kale, or hurt his foot and needs to be checked in on, or is being held for my breeding program, or gets sold, etc

[afinch]

You're so responsible I love it

[WrenNAustinTX]

It's all about the data, brother

[WrenNAustinTX]

Oookay lol Chick 4 and Chick 5 kicked their band off overnight. Found band 4, but band 5 is no where to be found lol so Chick 5 is now wearing band 6, the little scoundrel.

Got a pic after he got retagged.