3 day old Owl Finch

[a_gouldian]

Barbara, We are new to hand feeding and this is our third attempt. The Cordon Bleu chicks were also very tiny and a tooth pick was used. Our first two attempts with Cordon Bleus and two Gouldians were not successful, and they only lived 2 - 4 days.

[a_gouldian]

Our chick is 10 days old today. Does anyone know when it's eyes will open?

[Sally]

Eyes should be opening any day now. Handfeds often are a bit behind parent-raised babies in their development--I have no idea why. Your baby looks wonderful! The only caution I would offer is to be careful about the amount of food the baby gets at one time. A very experienced breeder once told me that a full crop should never be larger than the head.

[Barbara]

a_gouldian well it seems you have been doing good with this one.he/she is looking good very sweet little bird .keep us posted love seeing the pictures wonder when he will start looking like a little owl

[a_gouldian]

Eyes should be opening any day now. Handfeds often are a bit behind parent-raised babies in their development--I have no idea why. Your baby looks wonderful! The only caution I would offer is to be careful about the amount of food the baby gets at one time. A very experienced breeder once told me that a full crop should never be larger than the head.

Thanks Sally. I will relay the info. to "papa bird"

[a_gouldian]

At 10 days old can this chick go for about 6 hours at night between feedings? One at midnight and then at 6-7am with three hours between feedings during the day? We had been doing 2 hour feedings and just today changed to three hour feedings. This chick is always hungry!

[Sally]

I think you can definitely go 6 hours at night. Last feed at midnight, first feed at 6am, and you can gradually stretch it out to last feed at 11pm and first feed at 7am, if that works into your schedule better.

[Stuart whiting]

Yes you are definitely Wright Sally as ideally the baby birds crop shouldn't be any bigger than its head, I learnt that from a few elderly old school freinds in my early days,

I think The owl chick is looking ok and hopefully rears to maturity

[a_gouldian]

A few more pics taken today at 12 days old just after the chick was fed. The feathers are starting to grow more rapidly and it seems like we see a difference every 8 hours. the chicks eyes are half open now but because the room was bright it was keeping them closed most of the time.

[Barbara]

Ohhh my aren't you in love I am with him/her and you are the ones taking care of him.he is beautiful and very special.keep the picures coming

[a_gouldian]

Today is a milestone day for our owl chick. 2 weeks old and still doing very well

[Barbara]

Ohhh he is looking really great,it was sooooo nice to see the change in his size from the beginning to now amazing .have you named him? You should be proud parents you did a wonderful job saving this little one

[Stuart whiting]

Way to go, fantastic, yer on a role now, keep up the good work

[a_gouldian]

Barbara, We have not named the chick yet. We don't want to name chicks too early because we have no idea if they will make it and that would make it harder if they don't. We will have to think of uni-sex names because he don't know if it's a he or she

[Sally]

Baby looks wonderful! Just wait till he/she fledges and starts climbing all over you!