Red Siskins - Perth

[STUART WHITING]

3 or 4 young in nest about to fledge from 2nd year breeding pr.

Well done mate, keep us posted

Thanks for sharing

[BONE]

3 or 4 young in nest about to fledge from 2nd year breeding pr.

Make that 4 healthy young fledged . All on high perches and none on ground

[STUART WHITING]

3 or 4 young in nest about to fledge from 2nd year breeding pr.

Make that 4 healthy young fledged . All on high perches and none on ground

Brilliant fella, well done

Sounds like there all gonna be ok,

Thanks for sharing

[finchbreeder]

Great news. Congratulations on good birds and husbandry.
LML

[Greg41]

It would appear that the main problem with getting young on the perch is the weather conditions.
Once you have their food and nesting requirements sorted there is no trouble in them nesting although
they do like to nest in the most open positions.Our weather so far this year is most erratic with cool nights,
our days are now warming up and can only hope that the young and warmer weather coincide.
Cheers

[Tiaris]

Fledging is a massive turning point for young Red Siskins. For many other species this would be a time which adds extra challenges that can reduce survival rates, but for captive Red Siskin juveniles the opposite is true - Juvenile mortality before fledging is relatively common, but after fledging is so rare that it is almost something that just doesn't happen. I don't know of another finch species where this is such a clear-cut phenomenon.

[STUART WHITING]

Fledging is a massive turning point for young Red Siskins. For many other species this would be a time which adds extra challenges that can reduce survival rates, but for captive Red Siskin juveniles the opposite is true - Juvenile mortality before fledging is relatively common, but after fledging is so rare that it is almost something that just doesn't happen. I don't know of another finch species where this is such a clear-cut phenomenon.

Very interesting few posts here Tiaris, not having bred red Siskins meself didn't honestly realise that this was to be very much the case with red Siskins,
what do you think that would often causes this with the youngsters before fledgling that makes em perish so quick in the nest
There's many finches as we all probably know that go light / perish shortly after fledgling which would normally be coxidosis but at least can be saved by administering sulphur drugs as soon as they've fledged,

would be interested to know why certain birds fail to make it before fledging

[Tiaris]

Main losses prior to fledging appear to be from the lack of down (tropical species) combined with small clutch size (when less than 3) at the 9-10 day old stage (when they stop brooding - tropical) and nights are cooler than expected for that time of year. Also some at 1-2 day old stage through misadventure/heavy brooding/inexperienced parents. Their relative strength after fledging I believe is largely due to their arboreal nature (hate going to ground) which keeps them free from cold ground at night and free from many possible infections which can be picked up from aviary floors.

[STUART WHITING]

Main losses prior to fledging appear to be from the lack of down (tropical species) combined with small clutch size (when less than 3) at the 9-10 day old stage (when they stop brooding - tropical) and nights are cooler than expected for that time of year. Also some at 1-2 day old stage through misadventure/heavy brooding/inexperienced parents. Their relative strength after fledging I believe is largely due to their arboreal nature (hate going to ground) which keeps them free from cold ground at night and free from many possible infections which can be picked up from aviary floors.

Arh right I can fully understand that Tiaris, that'd make perfect sence,

I know of a few lads over here in uk that breed em in there birdrooms during the summer months and probably don't experience the sudden drop in night temperatures etc as much because the birds are not generally exposed to the outside elements as much,

Thanks for sharing

[BONE]

Heres 3 of the four about 2 weeks ago.