When can I remove the nest after the babies leave?

livinonaprayer · Post by **livinonaprayer** » Tue May 13, 2008 12:30 pm

Sally wrote:One thing to watch out for with this male, since he is so in breeding mode right now, he may start feather-plucking the babies for nesting material, even without a nest in the cage. Just keep an eye on him.

Uh-Oh.....guess what he's been doing?
I thought he was just preening them.
WHAT DO I DO NOW????

Post by **Sally** » Tue May 13, 2008 10:34 pm

You may have to remove him. Is the hen feeding them at all? The parents usually both feed, though I had a Star hen who was happy to let her mate do all the work.

livinonaprayer · Post by **livinonaprayer** » Tue May 13, 2008 11:34 pm

The chicks are actually starting to eat seed. One more than the other.
In between they both look for handouts from the parents.
At first the father did most of the feeding. Now mom's joining in.
The chicks are growing so fast.

Should I give daddy dearest a couple of strips of paper to keep him busy?
He has nowhere to put any sort of nesting material.
Or just separate him until.....when?

Is he ever going to stop trying?????

This little guy must think he's the Brad Pitt of Finchtown.

Post by **Sally** » Wed May 14, 2008 11:39 am

You can try giving him distractions, it may work or it may just reinforce his need to make a nest. The babies will soon be at weaning age, but if you leave him in the cage, you will need to keep a close eye on him, he can strip those babies very fast.

livinonaprayer · Post by **livinonaprayer** » Wed May 14, 2008 2:41 pm

Well, I must be honest here. I did take him out for a short time but he's back in. I just couldn't do it. That's what comes from thinking with your heart and not your head. Not always the best thing.

I think I'll try the little distraction and see how that goes.

I'm definitely keeping a close eye on him.

When is he going to stop, or get out of that mood?

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Wed May 14, 2008 3:22 pm

WHAT?! So all this time you've been asking everyone for advice just so you can do the opposite?! I'm so offended!

There are lot of very experienced people on here: Sally, Poohbear, Williep, Mickp, L in Ontario, etc. and some of them have given you great advice. Sometimes it's just easier to make the mistakes yourself and learn from it.

livinonaprayer · Post by **livinonaprayer** » Wed May 14, 2008 3:53 pm

I don't blame you guys for being mad and offended. I feel terrible about that. I'm very sorry.

Fact is, I wanted to keep him seperated for a while. My husband put him back. I took the heat myself because I didn't want to mention a family argument over it. We've been arguing all along about too many perches too.
I wanted to take the nest out as soon as I could. He wanted to keep it in.
Well, at least the nest is out. One for me.

I've been trying to pass along to him all this wonderful help I'm getting from everyone but what can I do if he won't take my advice as I get it from you.

This makes me very sad.
I'd like to thank everyone for all the help and advice I've received. I won't forget it, and I'm still going to do my best to do what's right for these little guys.

Post by **Sally** » Wed May 14, 2008 4:07 pm

Livinonaprayer, nobody's mad and nobody's offended.

We're all here just to enjoy and share our birds. We all have different setups, sizes of cages or aviaries, diets, species of birds, and combinations of birds, not to mention the individual personalities of each bird. There are no hard and fast rules, because we ARE dealing with living creatures. What works for me may not work for you at all. You do what you can. Relax and enjoy your birds.

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Wed May 14, 2008 4:37 pm

I was only kidding. I'm not offended. No one seems to get my sense of humor!! AUGH!

livinonaprayer · Post by **livinonaprayer** » Wed May 14, 2008 7:49 pm

I feel pretty stupid right now.

-atarasi...I thought you were just kidding but then I guess I started feeling bad about the birds because I really want to do the right thing for them.
I'm really having a difficult time trying to get my point across to my husband. I guess I'm just getting frustrated. Know what I mean

-Sally...I am just going to enjoy these little guys. They're actually a welcome break from the two crazy budgies we have.

I'll just have to see how things go. Hopefully once the chicks are a little more grown they'll all settle in as one big happy family.

Thanks for understanding.

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Wed May 14, 2008 11:11 pm

I can tell you're wanting to do the right thing.....that's obvious.
Just explain to your husband that the "experts" on the internet, who've had finches for a long time know better than he does!

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Thu May 15, 2008 6:43 am

no matter how long any of us have had birds or how many books and articles we read not one of us will ever know everything about our birds. we are all learning as we go. some of us have learnt the hard way - by making mistakes, now thanks to the internet we are able to try and help those who are just starting with this great hobby of being kept by birds.
not that I know anything, all I do is use a dictionary pick out some big words that soung good and try to bluff my way through lol
my skin is to thick to take offense at anything

livinonaprayer · Post by **livinonaprayer** » Thu May 15, 2008 1:21 pm

mickp wrote:...not that I know anything, all I do is use a dictionary pick out some big words that soung good and try to bluff my way through lol
my skin is to thick to take offense at anything

This is funny.
And thanks for the vote of confidence.