I went out this morning to change the water etc and found this one on the floor.
Very much alive and squirming around looking for food.
Is there any chance of hand rearing it? I am unsure as to who it belongs to as i know my Gouldians, Africans, Orange breasted and maybe the Owls all have nests.
Unfortunately it was over half a meter from the nearest nest.
Help! Abandoned?
- TomDeGraaff
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- Posts: 1024
- Joined: 25 Jul 2012, 11:04
- Location: Melbourne
Three ideas for you:
Spanna oferred to help people. His topic is Has Anyone Handreared Diamonds?
Find one of your nests with babies and put it in there.
Put some warm water into it, keep it warm in a plastic container lined with tissue and await further advice.
Warmth and a drop of water are essential imo.
Never handreared finches so can't help there.
Good Luck
Tom
Spanna oferred to help people. His topic is Has Anyone Handreared Diamonds?
Find one of your nests with babies and put it in there.
Put some warm water into it, keep it warm in a plastic container lined with tissue and await further advice.
Warmth and a drop of water are essential imo.
Never handreared finches so can't help there.
Good Luck
Tom
- TomDeGraaff
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- Posts: 1024
- Joined: 25 Jul 2012, 11:04
- Location: Melbourne
Being active is a very good sign.
I'm hopeless at identification, I'm afraid.
If you found it well away from nests, it may have been drgged out by accident. Nonetheless, keep you eyes open for any more.
I'm sorry I can't help much more.
I found Spanna's offer by searching the forum for handrearing. I suggest doing likewise to find a recipe for finches.
Hopefully, others more experienced and knowledgeable will come online soon to help.
Keep it warm and hydrated meanwhile
I'm hopeless at identification, I'm afraid.
If you found it well away from nests, it may have been drgged out by accident. Nonetheless, keep you eyes open for any more.
I'm sorry I can't help much more.
I found Spanna's offer by searching the forum for handrearing. I suggest doing likewise to find a recipe for finches.
Hopefully, others more experienced and knowledgeable will come online soon to help.
Keep it warm and hydrated meanwhile

- TomDeGraaff
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- Posts: 1024
- Joined: 25 Jul 2012, 11:04
- Location: Melbourne
A topic called Handraising Baby Finches used egg and biscuit at first, the responses suggested a commercial formula would be better. When feeding, it is important to warm the food in a bath of hot water. Test it as being ok by touching your lip with it. You will probably mix a lot compared to how much it eats! Don't kepp it. Throw it out each time unless someone experienced comes online to suggest otherwise.
Good Luck
Good Luck

- Diane
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- Joined: 05 Apr 2009, 14:23
- Location: Northern 'burbs of Adelaide
- Location: Northern 'burbs of Adelaide
Looking at the white feathers they remind me of OB babies.
Passwells do a Finch rearing powder, and it can be kept in the freezer. Uraeginthus is right, throw each lot away after trying to feed. Keep everything as clean as possible.
Ive only ever managed to raise 3 gouldians from one clutch, but they were older than your baby. However I have lost others when parents abandoned them or tossed them out.
Lots of good youtube videos to watch to give you ideas. Let us know how you get on.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... ng+finches
Passwells do a Finch rearing powder, and it can be kept in the freezer. Uraeginthus is right, throw each lot away after trying to feed. Keep everything as clean as possible.
Ive only ever managed to raise 3 gouldians from one clutch, but they were older than your baby. However I have lost others when parents abandoned them or tossed them out.
Lots of good youtube videos to watch to give you ideas. Let us know how you get on.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... ng+finches
Diane
The difference between Genius and Stupidity is, Genius has it’s limits
The difference between Genius and Stupidity is, Genius has it’s limits
- Nova
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- Posts: 191
- Joined: 13 Mar 2014, 22:48
- Location: Perth(sor)
Unfortunately it has passed away. I left it alone for 5 minutes and when i returned found that it had vomited and died. Unsure if how i fed it or what i fed it did this
If anyone can ID it that would be great.
Those nodules are white with no other hint of colour. Two per side with one per 'lip'.

If anyone can ID it that would be great.
Those nodules are white with no other hint of colour. Two per side with one per 'lip'.
- iaos
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- Location: Newcastle, NSW
- Location: Newcastle, NSW
- Nova
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- Posts: 191
- Joined: 13 Mar 2014, 22:48
- Location: Perth(sor)
Ian thanks for the referral.
Out of all the birds shown the only one that had those nodules were the gouldian, but mine definitely had no blue. Interesting that the article said "The pearlescent nodules in the corner of the mouth reflect light so the gaping mouth is easy to see in the dark nest. Parrot finches are the only other estrildids to have these". I have BFPF but they have a young one flying around for the last week so i doubt they would have a second chick that young. I did not realise that the internal mouth markings were so varied. Unfortunately I have disposed of the chick so i cannot look.
I don't have any of the other birds mentioned so i will google around and see if there is anything showing the markings of those that I have.
Out of all the birds shown the only one that had those nodules were the gouldian, but mine definitely had no blue. Interesting that the article said "The pearlescent nodules in the corner of the mouth reflect light so the gaping mouth is easy to see in the dark nest. Parrot finches are the only other estrildids to have these". I have BFPF but they have a young one flying around for the last week so i doubt they would have a second chick that young. I did not realise that the internal mouth markings were so varied. Unfortunately I have disposed of the chick so i cannot look.
I don't have any of the other birds mentioned so i will google around and see if there is anything showing the markings of those that I have.
- Bmac27
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- Joined: 19 Feb 2013, 07:19
- Location: Perth WA
Hi Nova , I've been umming and ahhhing over this most of the day since we spoke
. I'm now thinking its an African fire chick .
I've done a bit of searching and found several pics similar to that of the chick in your post ... I never had any success with AFs when I started out and consequently move on from them ... your one step ahead of me , mine turfed eggs !
Fingers crossed it doesn't continue , but if it does you might need to consider my txts and take the necessary steps to eliminate the reason for the turfings .
Good luck mate , will talk soon

I've done a bit of searching and found several pics similar to that of the chick in your post ... I never had any success with AFs when I started out and consequently move on from them ... your one step ahead of me , mine turfed eggs !
Fingers crossed it doesn't continue , but if it does you might need to consider my txts and take the necessary steps to eliminate the reason for the turfings .
Good luck mate , will talk soon