The Mystery Of The Missing Owl...

[lovezebs]

Hello Finch Mystery Lovers...

No end to the mysteries when it comes to my pair of Owl Finches.
First they apparently laid eggs in a nest, which my two Star Finches, incubated, hatched, and are now raising as their own, shrug-shrug. It's only as of today (a few minutes ago in fact) that I was finally able to conclude without a doubt, that these two fat little pinkies, are actually 'OWL' babies .

So now, to another mystery.....

In the last few days, one of my Owls appears to have disappeared. ... I am seeing one (but not sure which one, or if it's the same one) but not the other.

Seeing as there are several nests in the back of the flight, I am wondering, if someone might be sitting on eggs in one of those nests (?)

Now seeing as I have Stars sitting on Owl babies, would it be too far fetched to consider the possibility, that maybe one of my Owls, is sitting on Star eggs somewhere in my flight???

[SocietyBird]

lovezebs
I know next to nothing about Owl Finches - other than getting a pair is definitely on our wish list! They sure do sound like curious and mischievous little characters! lol I've watched their antics in a mixed flight and instantly fell in love with them! Good luck with everything and I hope your mystery gets solved and ends with a clutch of delightful little surprises! Sure sounds as though these little guys enjoy keeping you on your toes!!!

[lovezebs]

SocietyBird

For some reason, they appear to think that I enjoy mysteries, and seem to have a quirky sense of humor .

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

Ahhh, there's the mystery. Well it will be fun to see the conversation between the daddy's.

"Hey man, we gotta have a talk. You been seeing my wife?"

"Now hold up! I was going to ask you the same thing!"

The hens.....

[Smurf]

Your owls certainly seem determined to have a family, btw congrats on the 2 owl chicks and solving 1 mystery only to discover another mystery, they most likely have a new nest and are incubating a new owl clutch, don't go looking for nest as they are very prone to abandoning eggs/young chicks if nest is disturbed.

You should get into the habit of putting different coloured split rings on pairs so you can tell them apart easily

[lovezebs]

Babs

Tee hee hee!
Just love it ♡. Sure gave me a chuckle this a.m. girlie.

[lovezebs]

Smurf

Hi Padraic,

Determined they are (one way or another).
I have a good idea where these little tricksters are (as of this morning). Mr Owl, flies over to an old deep Easter Basket that's hanging in the back corner, sits on the ledge of it, looking very proud of himself ;)

As to colour banding them. I would if I could, but they are always too busy building nests and laying eggs. I guess I'll wait until these upcoming infants are old enough to be banded, then scoop the whole lot of them and stick rings on them.

By the way, what's a good age to band Owl chicks?

[Arama]

lovezebs

The plot thickens. Your going to be swimming in owl chicks

[Smurf]

Elana, i band them at 6-8 days old with size A but i wouldn't attempt this when parent rearing other than when using double breeders which allow parents to be segregated from nest for unseen nest inspections.

[lovezebs]

Smurf

I should be able to band the two little sausages that are being raised by the Stars. I will just colour band, to know who's who.

[lovezebs]

Arama

Swimming in Owl babies . I'm ok with that!

[slwatson]

lovezebs

They were owl babies! That's so exciting! Mystery finally solved I have two pairs of owls in their own breeding cages with nests, and today, I did a nest check and found one tiny baby in each nest I've had such terrible luck with the gouldians lately, I was very surprised to see the babies, and super happy. One of the males had been getting out of his cage several times a day, and I finally solved that problem, and used zip-ties to reinforce the cage. We've nicknamed him Houdini....he was a little devil to catch too!

I'm hoping the babies do well...one of the pairs still has three other eggs they're sitting on with the baby, and the second pair just has one baby and no other eggs. I've noticed the second pair are not spending a ton of time in the nest with the baby though, but I'm hoping that's normal. It already has some feathers growing on it, so maybe it's old enough to not need them all of the time. Not sure what to think about that....

[lovezebs]

slwatson

Hi Stacie.

According to Padraic (who raises tons of Owls) one shouldn't do nest checks on Owls, or they will abandon nest, chicks, and all. So that's something to keep in mind.

I honestly know next to nothing about this species (this is my first pair, and I haven't had them all this long), so if you have any questions, please ask some of the other memebers who have these guys. I know Padraic has them, and Debbie, and Cindy, and Poobear....

So happy to hear that we both have Owl babies at the same time . Good luck.

[Spreckles]

Elana
WHAT do you do with all your babies? YOU are the bird whisperer, midwife, chef and adviser....Owl finches are so CUTE. All finches are cute.

[lovezebs]

Spreckles

Hi Karen.

Some of my babies I keep, some I sell, offering other people the opportunity to enjoy Finches as well.

I am not the bird whisperer, nor a midwife, and definitely not a chef (haven't cooked any of them lately ). I just enjoy birds at the best of times, and they've given me a reason to go on living at the worst of times...