Well... my baby has one eye and a crossed beak.

[Angeldov222]

from what I can see of him..........he is a cutie!! he'll be fine..

[fhgwgads]

My baby learned how to eat seeds!!! At first he started biting and pulling at the millet but he didn't really know what the deal was so he was biting parts that had no seeds. Then after doing that quite a few times he started biting off huge mouthfuls of seeds, haha. But once he realized that there is food in there he figured it out. I am so proud of him!! And I guess he decided he's a big boy now because he pushed Dad out of the nest to go to sleep. Dad eventually went back in but now all three of them are in there together!

Going to get some more pictures tomorrow and I will post them. I want to make sure I get some before he's all grown up and isn't my fat little fluff ball anymore!!

[Lithium]

Congratulations!

[Zebrafincher]

Sounds like your little pirate has adapted and is doing well! We'd love to see some pictures of him!

[debbie276]

That's great news!
cant wait for pics

[fhgwgads]

Well it happened just in time! Dad started attacking today.. and I don't mean little tufts of feathers pulled out I mean full on "I'm gonna chase you down and peck you!!". I guess it's time for baby to come out for good... even though he still whines for food. At least he is eating on his own! Hopefully he doesn't cry for food though. Will he stop once he is separated? I can't bear to hear him crying again in starvation!!

Once I get him a better cage later I will post the pictures!

[Lithium]

He should be fine once you separate him. I've read about some babies still begging for food from their parents even after they can feed themselves. Now would be a good time to take out the nest, too, unless you want them to raise another clutch.

[fhgwgads]

I just read your response after I posted another topic in desperation! Haha... I will leave it up to see if I get more ideas though.. I am just concerned because he it only eating a few seeds here and there.

I already removed the nest the other day after the whole ordeal with putting Dad back in to feed the baby. But Dad is still picking on him... I don't know if it's because Mom is there, because he has one eye, or if it's because today is the FIRST day my sweet little baby was practicing his singing! The only noises he had made before that were his usual "meeps" and the begging for food. But today he sat there on the perch looking out the window trying to sing for a good 20 minutes. It was the sweetest more adorable thing I have ever seen or heard!! I wish he would continue but right now he is still upset and calling back and forth to Mom. Poor little sweetheart! I hope he will be ok!

[Lithium]

To make the transition easier on the baby you could move him to where he can't see or hear his parents. It might help him realize that his parents aren't gonna feed him again. But, I'd wait to see what other people say, my Zebras are only on their first clutch. It's due to hatch sometime around June 25th.

[fhgwgads]

Well I currently live in a studio apartment so moving him where they can't hear each other is impossible. I already have him moved out of view though.

[Nanajennie]

fhgwgads IMHO I would take dad out and leave baby with mom. If he is still begging, he is still hungry. You need to make sure the cross beak can eat more than millet, millet is soft and easy to eat but not very nutritious. Try soft foods like cuc's and eggfood and chopped romaine Favorite for my cross beak is corn on the cob (cooked and split in have) I really would not allow it to rely on it's own devices to eat enough seed yet. My old lady still struggles with seed.

Good luck and pics would be a blast! I have a soft spot for mine too.. and I didn't even hatch her! LOL

[beachbird]

I had a zebra finch with a deformed leg. The petshop gave her to me and she was the most wonderful mother. Very healthy in every other way. I think your little guy will be just fine. You didn,t, do anything wrong. These things happen to the best of parents. You sound like a very loving person. I think you are both going to be fine. He is adorable.

[Vargur]

wow, I read the whole thing, what a big finch drama!
all the process was normal, the chick being in the nest for 20 days is
normal, sometimes they fledge sooner or later.
Dad plucking because he wants to breed again,
mom laying eggs before the chick fledge is normal.
Them trying to ignore him, is just part of the process,
trying to let him be more independence and eat on his own
so they can start a new brood.
Him being one eyed, not sure, could have happened inside the egg.
He is gonna be fine.
(I hope I am not forgetting something..)
I saw a pick of him in another thread,
fluffing up is a sign he is hungry and he is trying to stay warm.
Give him hard boiled eggs, millet and soaked seed, if he cant eat normal seeds.
Good luck