Owl Update

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 7:32 am

Once I placed all 4 owls into the outdoor flight, one male immediately picked out a nest and began stuffing material into it. But then over the next few days, he lost interest in nest construction as all four were too busy socializing to breed, I suppose. They all four shared the nest for roosting, etc.

So I decided to move one pair indoors into their own box style breeding cage. The male in that pair immediately began stuffing his nest with material, and the male outdoors began construction on his nest again a few days later.

This morning the pair in the indoor breeding cage was doing their mating "dance" (though this is the first time I have witnessed an owl courtship): the hen was squatting on the floor of the cage vibrating her tail as the male owl was singing and hopping around her in circles, then he finally mounted her. From all that I had read, I was expecting to see them both on a perch and for the male owl to sing and perform a lot of beak wiping on the perch, so I was a little surprised. Whatever works though! I am not complaining, just waiting for eggs now.

I took some advice from you guys and purchased a dental (laryngeal) mirror on E-bay to make nest checks inside of these oval bamboo nests easier. That is the hope, anyway.

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:30 am

So far the owl pair indoors has laid 3 eggs (they started laying on 6/9/06). They seemed interested in incubating even when only 2 eggs were in the nest (I wasn't expecting any eggs this early, but the nearly constant presence of at least one of the two birds in the nest alerted me to peek inside yesterday).

The owls outdoors have laid their first egg today (6/11/06).

I'm going to try keeping track of when I think true incubation occurs and so forth. I hope chicks are on their way! I never did witness the outdoor pair mating.

JeannetteD · Post by **JeannetteD** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 7:28 pm

I'm crossing my fingers for ya, Crystal!!!

Jeannette

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 1:22 pm

Thanks, Jeannette!

The indoor pair seems to have begun truly incubating today with 5 eggs in the nest. I'm not sure if they are done laying yet, though.

The outdoor pair has 3 eggs, but no incubation yet. They likely are not done laying.

I'm glad tropical storm Alberto did not strike this area (it's just been a little breezy and drizzly out today). If any bigger storms come through, I'll have to bring the outdoor pair inside to safety, and keep my fingers crossed that the move doesn't cause them to abandon their breeding efforts.

JeannetteD · Post by **JeannetteD** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:18 pm

Yeah, you're kind of caught in between a rock and hard place. If you move the cage indoors, they might abandon the nest..and if you leave them outside and they get nervous about the storm (or even just the outskirts of the storm) they might abandon the nest...

Can you wrap anything around the outside of the cage to protect it from winds and rain?

Jeannette

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:30 pm

Actually, I was thinking about wrapping a clear shower curtain around the front of the flight and stapling it in place... but if a real hurricane comes through with winds of say, 140mph.... that shower curtain is toast. I would not dare risk the wellbeing of my owls by leaving them outside in that kind of weather, but if my area only sees minor storms without much wind, I'm sure the shower curtain will suffice nicely.

JeannetteD · Post by **JeannetteD** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 9:04 pm

Well, hopefully you'll have enough warning to decide whether or not you're going to bring them in before any major winds strike.

I saw in another thread that you'd wished you put wheels on.. it's not too late.. Next time you clean/empty out the gravel put on a set of caster wheels!
LOL

Jeannette

p.s. I THINK I'm going to have an aviary soon myself. The boyfriend is beginning plans and cost projections. LOL

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 10:58 pm

p.s. I THINK I'm going to have an aviary soon myself. The boyfriend is beginning plans and cost projections. LOL

I highly recommend the screen door or panel type aviary/flight cage. It definitely cuts down on some of the work and looks great painted or stained.

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:01 pm

Speakkkkkkkking of which, Tammie, I have started the "visitor aviaries" page with your aviary featured--

http://www.finchinfo.com/visitor_aviaries.php

Tell me what you think or if you want anything changed?

This goes for Winston, too! :)

Thanks guys.

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:08 pm

Hey Crystal,

Looks great! Only wish my photos were clearer. I've tried to take some better ones but it is impossible as I have to stand outside the little birdroom and shoot through the screendoor.

Post by **Hilary** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:14 pm

Ooh ooh ooh - Great, Crystal! I'm actually starting to plan my indoor aviary, so am looking for design ideas. Thanks for adding this!

Hilary

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 8:53 am

The final tally so far appears to be 5 eggs in both nests.

Indoor pair began incubation around 6/13, and outdoor pair began incubation around 6/17.

Incubation length for owl finches is roughly 12 days.

So expected hatch dates (if the eggs are fertile) are 6/25 for the indoor pair and 6/29 for the outdoor pair. I won't be surprised if chicks start hatching a day or two earlier than expected since I could be wrong about the true start of incubation date.

I am debating whether I should candle eggs since this is both pairs' first clutch. I will probably hold off on it and candle any eggs that did not hatch by the first week of July, to see if any suffered from embryonic death.

Hopefully I'll have some happy updates in 2 weeks!

Post by **Hilary** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 11:30 am

I candled the eggs I moved under the societies - they'll tolerate anything (boy, I love those little guys!). Three developing eggs! Day 12 for me is actually tomorrow........

Hilary

Sally H · Post by **Sally H** » Sat Jun 17, 2006 11:50 pm

Good luck, both of you! I know I said I was going to put the owls and zebs in the big flight cage as soon as my house was tented but...I was toying with the idea of leaving them in their breeding cage and giving them another shot at raising a clutch now instead of waiting for fall. It's been about 2 months since I took the nest away (6 unhatched eggs) so they've had time to get in better shape and get better acquainted with us.

I think I HAVE to let them stay in their current setup cause I might be picking up another pair and I would like to introduce them to the flight cage all at the same time. Plus 6 birds are supposedly better than 4 birds housed together no matter what size cage.

Not that I need too many excuses to breed them now

alwaysfullofjoy · Post by **alwaysfullofjoy** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 8:37 pm

Good luck with the owls. Can't wait to see the out come. How exciting.

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