EGGS, EGGS, GLORIOUS EGGS!!!!!!!

[cindy]

Plump/full, not fluffed. She bathed and looked great. She may come out when I leave the room but she is sitting tight. I did notice prior to her sitting they had eaten more seed and dried egg than usual.

[cindy]

Spoke to soon, she just came out and she is pigging out, the male took over for her. I'm ok, she is fine. Breathe!!!!!

[MLaRue]

Spoke to soon, she just came out and she is pigging out, the male took over for her. I'm ok, she is fine. Breath!!!!!

I'm happy to hear that!

[Sally]

Congrats, cindy! I think I will move this thread to 'Breeding', since it seems that is what they are doing.

[cindy]

Thanks Sally,

The Shaftail cage is next to my desk, these are one sweet and calm couple. They are a little nosey and come to the edge of the cage to see me, especially the male. I think he is bored a little since the female is not out and about with him.

I was going to give him a swing but I am afraid to fuss to much with the cage other than feeding and changing the tray.

[dfcauley]

Shaftails ... calm?????? Wow.... I can't imagine that.

Mine drive me crazy.

[cindy]

Donna even my daughter says that they are unusually calm, their cage is near me, if I walk by the don't flutter or scatter like the other finches do. The other calm pair (not as calm as the shaftail) are the RCCB. They move to a perch and wait until my hand leaves the cage. They are from the same breeder I don't know if they are used to hands and people but my shaftails are almost to calm.

(I have one owl hen that has been in the nest all morning...do they spend a lot of time in their before they actually lay eggs, sort of like preparimg the baby room? Shall I get out that handy dandy mirror?)

[dfcauley]

My owl pair is a little strange. They are very bonded and she lays eggs, but half of them are not even fertile.

I just tossed four eggs from their nest last week that they had been incubating. None were fertile. I thought they were having another go at it, but they just seem to like sitting in a nest. Go figure.....

I know my pair sleeps in a nest every night.

[pattiej]

Congrats!! can't wait to see those babies!

[cindy]

From the day my owls arrive home with us they have slept in a keet box and bamboo nest. They just love taking their time to create offspring!!!

Hurry up owls give me eggs PLLLLEEEAAASSSEEE!!! your killin' me waiting

[cindy]

Well the shaftail have been sitting on eggs since around November 3rd. The female comes out to eat, feed, bathe and preen. The male has been taking over for her as soon as she leaves the box.

I have not been able to see in the box to count eggs or whether they are fertile or not since there is always a bird in there.

I estimate that around the 17th we should here little chirps. Time will tell.

[cindy]

Just a quick question for those shaftail owners...

Are the chicks normally loud when first born? Both parents are tending to the eggs but I noticed the female for the last two day has come out to eat and preen more while the father sits for her. I estimate either today or tomorrow they should star hatching.

[lovemyfinch]

Cindy. they are usually very loud. But not for the first few days. I would even say that mine were even louder than my zebras.

[cindy]

Well Janine, then in that case I should hear them quiet nicely since their cage is near my desk and computer. My zebras I can hear across the house (wood floors).

On the weekends I get up and take the dogs out, turn on the bird lights and sometimes go back to bed for a little bit. The owls all start chirping all at once and the zebras join in, it travels through the house. They announce loudly they are up. I just smile, my finches are saying good morning!