Mystery & a dilemma

[Mortisha]

I bought a pair of Red cheeked Cordons a while ago but it turned out the ’hen” was just a young male.
Anyhow they set a up a roosting nest which is fine by me as it gets so cold here a night it is a great way for them to stay warm.

I was taking a sticky beak in the nest today and found a 3 to 4 day old finch in there!
They seem to be feeding it and keeping it warm! What the hell?

The actual hens in this mixed aviary are a painted (paired) & a single Cuban.

I don’t know what to do with this little chick – should I pull it and hand raise it?
I have all the gear & technology for hand rearing.

I’ll have to take a photo to try to ID it.

[vettepilot_6]

maybe young "male" cordon is a hermathradite??? Lol

[Mortisha]

Actually checked again and its crop was empty so i figured it's chances - though small'- might be better with me, the incubator & regular feeds.
Plus there is some bossy zebs in that cage that like to interfere with nests.


a blurry photo

young something.jpg

[Tiaris]

I reckon its a young Painted.

[Mortisha]

Think you might be right Tiaris.
It is in the egg incubator now with a full crop - hopefully it will survive.

[matcho]

Mortisha,

I would have left it considering it was 3 to 4 days old and seemed to be fed. Have had Stars raise Gould chicks no worries because they laid in the Stars nest. Quite funny to watch them actually when they fledge. I have tried the hand raise thing with painteds and goulds, tried hard but end result was always the same. Heartbreak. Hope you do better. Good luck

Ken.