Help with Painted hen
Posted: 30 May 2017, 17:27
Hey guys,
I have a pair of Painted finches that have a clutch in the aviary (2mts (L) X 1.5 mts (W) X 2 mts (h)). Together with a pair of Stars. The Stars have fledged a clutch of 4 little ones around 2weeks out of the nest now. The Painted babies are around a week to two weeks old as I can now hear them chirping when being fed. All was going well until yesterday when the hen was looking a bit frazzled (feathers fluffed up a bit) but she was eating (and drinking) right up to almost sunset.
Overnight, we had one of the most coldest nights and this morning! All day today the female was nowhere to be seen. The male has been feeding the babies several times today.
Both usually come right close to my feed door when I put in their daily greens and live food (maggots and mini meal worms).
I'm hoping she hasn't died and even worse died in the nest.
My dilemma now is how do I check if she's died in the nest. If she has died in the nest, will this make the clutch eventually smell and rot? Do i need to get in and check where she is?
This aviary was my "do not disturb / enter" aviary as the I know both breeds are light nesters and any disturbance may make them dessert the nest??!! It's also a small aviary to get into without disturbing them... My Stars have even made another nest and I'm sure are sitting on eggs at the moment.
Any suggestions would be appreciated please??
Cheers,
Hao
Anna Bay
I have a pair of Painted finches that have a clutch in the aviary (2mts (L) X 1.5 mts (W) X 2 mts (h)). Together with a pair of Stars. The Stars have fledged a clutch of 4 little ones around 2weeks out of the nest now. The Painted babies are around a week to two weeks old as I can now hear them chirping when being fed. All was going well until yesterday when the hen was looking a bit frazzled (feathers fluffed up a bit) but she was eating (and drinking) right up to almost sunset.
Overnight, we had one of the most coldest nights and this morning! All day today the female was nowhere to be seen. The male has been feeding the babies several times today.
Both usually come right close to my feed door when I put in their daily greens and live food (maggots and mini meal worms).
I'm hoping she hasn't died and even worse died in the nest.
My dilemma now is how do I check if she's died in the nest. If she has died in the nest, will this make the clutch eventually smell and rot? Do i need to get in and check where she is?
This aviary was my "do not disturb / enter" aviary as the I know both breeds are light nesters and any disturbance may make them dessert the nest??!! It's also a small aviary to get into without disturbing them... My Stars have even made another nest and I'm sure are sitting on eggs at the moment.
Any suggestions would be appreciated please??
Cheers,
Hao
Anna Bay