Great news to share

[slwatson]

My red throated parrot finch hatchlings are running their parents to death They eat constantly! I finally got to see one of the babies last night. I saw the head sticking straight up with it's mouth gaping open, screaming to be fed first. It was such a cute thing This tiny little head and this big mouth popping up into the open hole of the nest...

I'm not sure what's happening with the parents though ...one of them will feed the babies, but when they're both on the bottom of the cage together, one chases the other around. I can't tell if it's mom chasing dad, or vice versa, but last night it happened several times.

I'm extremely proud of my yellow and blue gouldian pair. It took three tries for dad to finally figure out that he needed to help sit on the eggs. I peeked into their nest yesterday, and saw a baby with it's little mouth open too! So I have societies raising their second clutch, and now they're taking care of their own third clutch

[Sally]

Sometimes when a pair is raising babies and the one who is sitting leaves the nest, they will chase their mate around the cage if the mate doesn't immediately go into the nest. Usually this results in the mate going into the nest, taking its turn, while the other one gets a much-needed break. Often this is the hen needing a break, while the male doesn't relieve her right away. I've seen hens give their mates a screaming chase, getting them to go babysit while she has some food/drink and maybe even a bath!

[lovezebs]

slwatson

With Lovebirds, If I remember right, the males tend to be the more layed back of the two genders.

As to your Parrot Finches. I envy you your babies . My guy Alfie, I think is too old to breed, or he's shooting blanks. My new pied bird Merlin (I'm suspecting is a Marilyn) has shown no interest whatsoever in the two girls

P.S. Regarding the one chasing the other. It could be as Sally said, that the female is trying to tell hubby to get his lazy feathered butt into that nest.

Or it could be your male being overzealous, and wanting to breed again. I'd keep an eye on that, to make sure that they don't decide to start another family and abandon these chickies.

[slwatson]

Sally lovezebs

Thanks for the input! I couldn't tell who was chasing who. Hopefully it's mom going, "Help me out! These kids are killing me!" I don't know if it's the red-throated parrot finch breed, but their babies are very loud and very hungry. We can hear them throughout the house when it's feeding time

I was wondering myself if it was the male wanting to breed again. I did notice that the one who was chasing the other stopped once the other bird flew away from the food. I think it might be mom telling dad to get up there and feed the babies.

Elana, if we lived closer, I would be more than happy to give you a female or a pair

[lovezebs]

slwatson

Thanks sweetie, but the problem is, that I have two young females (for sure). One male, that should get E for effort (as in he's sex crazed aggressive , but I think is maybe too old to breed. And one pretty pied, that was supposed to be a boy, but I am strongly suspicious that he might be a she.....

Sheesh...

[Babs _Owner]

slwatson

Thanks for the nice words! I've had my failures too. I think I just have an advantage of being able to work from home and I've had this fantastic support system here on this forum

Its amazing how many questions I've had answered here that meant the world of difference for my my finches and my breeding.

And the same for you in terms of being so new and succeeding so quickly. From societies to gouldians to your parrot finches in just a few short months! You have done GREAT! I can imagine you will be added more species in the years to come.

Me? I think the only other species I would add to what I have now is only owl finches (and only one pair). I'm just about at my limit as to what I can handle (its a lot of work on cage cleaning day). And I think my love for gouldians & societies is going to be a lifelong hobby now. If I take on any more species (or even cages) I will be overwhelmed.

[lovezebs]

Babs

Keep telling yourself that, girl .
Are you trying to convince all of us, or yourself (?) Cackle Cackle Snort

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

LOL Shuuuuush you! Hahaha.

I caught myself this past weekend looking at a canary in the pet shop that had been there for months and thinking " He's so lonely. Hmmmm, would it be so lovely to hear that song in my kitchen?"

I actually said out loud "NO! You're not going to do this!" And turned to walk away.

The look on the lady's face behind me clearly read "that chick is schizophrenic and is obvious arguing with one of her invisible friends"

It probably didnt help that I was also audibly mumbling "This is just going to get outta hand " and a few other things as I forced myself to march away with my head down and shoulders slumped over.

[lovezebs]

Babs

Poor Babsi......the shopper, lol.

If anyone looks at you funny when you talk to yourself, just pretend that you have one of those new fangled phone gadgets in your ear .

Canaries, are lovely birds, and are quite content on their own... The males, are wonderful singers

[slwatson]

Babs lovezebs

Thanks Babs! I wouldn't have had any success at all without this forum, especially you, Elana, and Sally. I do see myself possibly adding more species....at the bird mart I went to last weekend, someone was selling canaries, indigo finches, napoleon waxbills, orange cheeked waxbills, a gorgeous forbes parrot finch, and too many other species to name! I kept eyeing the indigos, because they were so pretty, but I didn't realize they were parasitic, and I had promised I wouldn't come home with anything new. (even though I came home with lovebirds and a new chocolate society!!) I seem to get myself into a lot of trouble at bird marts, but they're SO FUN!

Elana, maybe one of these babies will be a male!! Sounds like that's what you need I think parrot finches are now my favorite birds. I have a friend who has sea green hatchlings right now, so I'm hoping we can swap and make new bloodlines.

[lovezebs]

slwatson

The babies in that picture, are all grown up, and yes there were some boys. Maybe I should stuff one in an envelope, and ship it off to Babs..... tee hee hee....

I know what you mean about going to bird shows and sales. It's a dangerous place for people like us.
I have to set a very strict budget limit for myself, and not bring any more money with me. No credit cards, no debit cards....
So if I get one bird for whatever my limit is, or several birds for that amount, then that's it ! At times a very tough decision, but that's the way it has to be .

This past Summer, I came home with VeeVee (my Blue Gouldian girl).
The Summer of 2014, I came home with one Gouldian male (Tiny), a pair of Shaft Tails, and two Zebras.

It's all about the Budget .