It's all too much!

readingfc · Post by **readingfc** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 5:09 pm

I've decided that once all these new babies have fledged that is definitely it for me! Don't worry, I'm not getting rid of my birds, it's just the babies - I get so worried about them. Today we were out most of the day and its been real nasty weather - raining and cold even though its our summer! Anyway, when we got home I checked in on the aviary and there was a society on the floor, still with about a week to go before properly fledging. The poor little thing looked so cold and helpless but I popped it back into the nest, only for one of the others to fly out and land on the floor! It was ages before one of the parents went back into the nest and I wondered whether something was wrong with the baby and was ejected from the nest on purpose! Obviously I don't know how long it was out on the floor but can't face disturbing them again to check until tomorrow. All this going on, plus my baby zeb's not flying properly, then getting attacked by the doves - it's all too much - no more babies for me for a long long time!

Rue · Post by **Rue** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 12:54 pm

...I don't blame you...I have no desire to breed birds...at least in any number...

...might let a batch or two of chickens happen...if my chicken coop ever gets finished...

readingfc · Post by **readingfc** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 5:12 pm

I've seen it all now. Just when I thought it was all going ok - had a good today - banded the new society babies who look like they'll be ready to fledge in about a week or so, went out for a nice dinner with the family, returned to find the single finch baby that my bengal's have been raising on the aviary floor peeping away. I thought the poor thing had fell out of the nest box so promptly put it back only for it's real mother fly into the nest box, pick the baby up and throw it out. That was it - I was seeing red!!! Nobody throws a baby out and gets away with it. I caught her quite easily in a big net we've bought and swiftly removed her to a cage for some solitary!! I tried to catch her mate as he was calling for her but didn't want to stress all the others out too much so will try again tomorrow! She is going to stay in there until this baby has fledged properly - I know its nature but to actually witness it really made my blood boil!

Rue · Post by **Rue** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 10:08 pm

I don't like messing with Moms...I figure they must know more about their babies than I do...

...but you could hand feed the baby yourself...I know it's been done successfully...

readingfc · Post by **readingfc** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 1:08 pm

Thing is even though she laid the egg, one of my society's has raised this baby for her. She's staying in the cage until the baby has fledged.

Rue · Post by **Rue** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 3:35 pm

Let me know how she and the baby do!

readingfc · Post by **readingfc** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:49 pm

There is a happy ending with this zebra baby that's been brought up by the societies. It is a perfect little zeb baby, fully fledged and flying around, feeding itself plus begging for food from his real dad and the society, at one point he had both dads each side of him.... I say him - I don't know if its a female or male yet - time and beak colour will tell

The other side to the story is that I lost one of my baby societies in the week. I now have 4 society babies left, one of them that looks a bit behind the others. He's quite small but manages to get around the aviary ok but seems to get tired quite easily and I end up having to put him up high at night to sleep. I have taken out all the nests now and all my birds are getting along great. This little fella seems to have a damaged eye. It looks like its been squashed a bit or something. I've nicknamed him winky - bless him. He seems to be a real fighter, and I feel so sorry for him - I just hope he makes it. Thing is when I pick him up he doesn't want to get off of my finger. Will keep you posted on his progress.

Post by **Hilary** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 12:00 am

Congrats on the success with the zeb baby, and hope Winky gets stronger. Some of those chicks I lose, and some do catch up. Sorry to hear about the society chick!

readingfc · Post by **readingfc** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 3:33 pm

Just an update - Winky is still going strong - managing to fly about quite a bit now - all with one good eye! I saw him eating by himself today. Each day I expect to see him on the floor but have a good look and he's usually huddled real close to one of the others! He's getting louder now and manages to beg food off all the other societies. I will try and get a picture of him to put on here