It's been a while since I updated you on the bird room! I'm pleased to say there are MORE babies.
Having successfully raised three chicks on her own after the father died, Sunny began another clutch. She laid five eggs in total. I first I tried fostering under Venus, but after a few hours Venus obviously decided she didn't like it and promptly used it as breakfast!
So, Sunny incubated four for a couple of weeks and the first hatched last week. I candled the two remaining earlier today and they were clear so I threw them out, leaving her with two chicks.
I'm actually kind of glad about this. Raising chicks is a strain on the body for any birdie parents, let alone a single mum who has to incubate, brood, feed and make time for herself too. Four chicks would have been just too many. With two, there's a much better hope of a positive outcome for all concerned.
As soon as she's finished, I'll be removing the nestboxes from the flight and letting her rest for the remainder of the year. I'm also heading to the Bird Keepers' Association show on Sunday 18th February in hopes of buying some more budgies..and possibly finches too!
Thanks for reading,
Geoff
Nice, interesting that they are still very pinkish after a week.
Yeah, they're blind and naked up to about 10 days!
Congratulations!! ♥
Good luck!
Thanks! They're so cute!
Oooh, buy some for me too please! <3
Wonderful Sunny, such a good mum. :)
Do you have any photos of the older chicks as they look now?
She really is. I'll have to get some updated photos...I need to work out what sexes they are too before I go to the birdshow next week.
She's been an amazing mom and she did such a good job with three to look after the first time, that two this go round should be easier for her.
Much easier I hope. Then a well deserved rest.
I'm so glad I checked the discord homesteading bulletin board! I would have missed this! I'm so glad your momma bird is doing so great. How long does it take for the babies to get their feathers and fledge?
They're normally out the nest by 5 weeks. And first feathers start coming through at about 3, so a couple of weeks to go before we can see their colours.
Congratulations @brimwoodfarm! You have completed some achievement on Steemit and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
Click on any badge to view your own Board of Honor on SteemitBoard.
For more information about SteemitBoard, click here
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPCongrats. She's done well. Wishing them all the best 💯🐒
Thanks. They're growing fast so no problems so far. :)
It’s really crazy how different these babies are compared to chicken chicks! I guess the chicken chicks would need to be all fluffy feathered out in order to forage with their moms? Hmmmm.
How long is the incubation period for these guys?