Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    Chet,
    
    Finches are erratic.  I had a pair of Zebras, who everyone seems to
    have luck breeding, throw their first baby out of the nest at a couple
    of days old.  Then went on and successfully reared 2 babies.
    
    I have luck in breeding the hookbills, (cockatiels, budgies,
    lovebirds,etc.) however the finches are another story.  Even finch
    fanciers have many disappointments, especially around the fancy rare
    species.
    
    Try again.
    Good Luck,
    Denise

    
    
     I still have the two pair of finches that lay
    plenty of eggs but no babies. This is bad enough
    but now get this....
    
    My friend who I have gotten into birds tells me that
    the two finches I gave him now have 5 chicks in the
    nest. And he wasn't even trying!!!!
    
    Can you say frustration boys & girls????
    
    chet
    
    
     He'd better give me the babies :-)
    

    
 > And he wasn't even trying!!!!
    
    This may be the key, Chet.  My cutthroats didn't sit or raise chicks
    until a combination of illlness/business travel caused about a month
    where they got only minimal care - food, water and mealworms daily, but
    no fancy eggfoods, no cage cleanings, none of the careful attention
    they had previously gotten.
    
    Is your friend rather less fastidious and attentive to their care than
    you are/were?  I've found that several of the more difficult species 
    require a certain level of "benign neglect" before they will breed
    successfully.  In our zeal to provide proper care for our pets we may
    inadvertently prove to be disruptive to their sucessful breeding.
    
    
    						/Rita
    
         
    

    
    
     Well tonight I found a baby hatched out!! :-)
    I hope this one does better than the last! 
    I have gotten some good advice from Gwen about 
    a better diet for the feeding parents. I hope 
    that this will make a difference.
    
    chet
    
    p.s. I have some biscut type food that you soak
         in water and feed baby tiels- do you think
         that this would be good for the parents as
         well?
    

    Well, you can certainly try.  But finches are very different birds
    from cockatiels.  I really swear by the Gerber rice cereal.  And do
    the hard boiled egg mixed with cooked rice and chopped vegetables.
    My birds really like that stuff.  And you can add either soy based
    protein powder or some dry rice cereal to dry out the mixture.  One
    of the vegetables "we" especially seem to like lately is corn.  I buy
    the frozen store brand in a large bag and just nuke it as I need it.
    And they also like broccoli and romaine lettuce or napa cabbage and
    spinach.  And of course their millet spray.  
    
    Congratulations Chet and Good Luck!
    
    gwen
    

    
     Thanks for the advice.
    
    They will not touch the baby cereal though!
    
    chet
    
    

    
    I like to use smushed-up hardboiled egg, mixed with petamine, as
    baby-food.  Depending on the species, your finches may also need or
    want live food to feed the babies.  Try teensy mealworms, wrigglers, or
    wingless fruitflies.
    
    
    						/Rita
    

    
    Well it's another sad day :-(
    
    Today I found two dead babys and one that was alive.
    As I hold zero hope for the surviving one I felt the
    need for drastic measures. I removed the baby and put 
    it in the nest occupied by my silver bills. They have
    eggs but they don't hatch. I realize that this is a long
    shot but I feel that the baby doesn't stand a chance in 
    with ite parents, (societies).
    
    I was contemplating trying to hand feed the baby myself
    but realised that would be impossible.
    
    I am considering taking the Society nest out to stop
    them from laying eggs. I'm not sure how this will work
    with the Silver Bills having their nest left in the cage. 
    
    
    chet
    
    

    Hi Chet,
    
    I'm sorry you're having so much trouble...Society finches are
    supposed to be the *best* parents there are!  I wonder if yours
    aren't old enough?  It sounds like you're giving them enough
    soft food to feed babies.
    
    And, about the baby cereal...my society finches didn't used to
    like it!  But when they have babies to feed they snarf it right
    down.  And then the babies grow up knowing about it and they 
    think it's a treat.  I have some new owl finches who look at it
    and look at me and say "what *is* this glop?!"  But the one owl
    who knows about it says "Yippiee!!!!!!" and dives right in!
    Your little silver bill hen will probably eat it too, since she
    had it at my house.
    
    I know I harp about rice...but it's a wonder grain.  Just look at
    how many cultures have thrived on it.
    
    Good luck...I hope it works out for the last baby
    
    gwen
    

    
    >I was contemplating trying to hand feed the baby myself
    >but realised that would be impossible.
    
    Not imposible, but REALLY hard - every hour, sterilized equipment,
    careful temperature control of the formula. You need to add acidophilus
    to the formula.  Most people who have handfed finches use toothpicks or
    paintbrushes.  There was a good article on this in Bird Talk a couple
    of years ago.
    
    
    >I am considering taking the Society nest out to stop
    >them from laying eggs. I'm not sure how this will work
    >with the Silver Bills having their nest left in the cage. 
    
    The societies will probably compete with the silverbills for nest
    space.   Better to just remove the eggs regularly.
    
    
    					/Rita
    
    
    
    
    

    If your societies are anything like my zebras, you'll just find eggs in
    the treat dish, on the floor, and any other place that is a potential
    nest....