Bad day for fledglings

13 May 2011, 21:49

Have 2 nests of Painteds who have fledged in the last couple of days, but it's been hard to tell exactly what's going on as they're been going back to their nests on and off during the day. Today there was a little pile of 5 sunning on the floor which is the most I've seen at any one time, but these later all perched leaving one smaller one alone not getting fed. Could see another one still in the nest so went to put it back as thought they had more chance together and discovered the one in the nest had its foot trapped and once I freed it it was obvious it had been trapped for some time wedged against side of nest. Had leg/foot trauma and deformed tip of wing and had to take it to the vet who euthanased it. Have now had to bring the small one in (10gms) and hand feed at least until it can fly up to the perches with all the others. Tried to count again this evening and think I've got 7 left (counting the tiddler). Hoping tomorrow is better. At least this one is feeding really well and looking brighter already.

13 May 2011, 22:06

Hope everything goes ok. I have had 5 nests so far this year and have only been picking up dead chicks from the floor or have tried handraising with no success. At the moment I have two nests and am not even thinking of results. Just don't know whats happening as last year was OK. Good luck.

13 May 2011, 22:12

Thanks Matcho. How old are they when they die?

13 May 2011, 22:55

Redwing,
Anything from just hatched to just getting pinfeathers. So frustrating. Plenty of live food, greens etc. Havent got any to the fledge stage this year....yet. Heres hoping as everything else in the avairy is going good, ie; Stars and Goulds.

14 May 2011, 00:13

Thats sad Redwing , hope it is a better day tomorrow .

Matcho I hope your luck changes soon too .

Seems to be a crap year for a lot of people , from Finches to the big parrots this year has been hard for some ...

14 May 2011, 00:42

Sorry to hear about your fledgling.

Hope the little runt makes it. Our painteds are sitting on eggs at the moment so we wil have to wait and see. Have had a good run with goulds, not so good with OBs.

14 May 2011, 01:35

Thanks everyone. Was terrible to have a healthy baby and something like that happen to it . Hope your painteds all survive this time Flab and Matcho. Have noticed mine have been eating big quantities of sprouted seed and red pannicum as well as the usual live food greens etc. Hope the runt is still alive in the morning. I'll feed him first thing then put him in the aviary for an hour or so if the other youngies are sunning on the floor.

14 May 2011, 12:41

Has been a weird year im unsure if i have baby cordons in the nest at all. And my gouldians arent on fire like last year. Still got some young from them but seems to be later this year. Got two pair now tho sitting on 5 eggs each so fingers crossed. Its funny painteds are the only bird i can realy say i seem to have mastered in great quantities.

14 May 2011, 20:40

Definately a funny year. Most finches doing nothing, but Gouldians plodding along quite well and it looks like I could have young Javas soon. Good luck to Redwing and Flap and Macho with your Painteds.
LML

15 May 2011, 12:04

Thanks FB. Hope you are right re gouldians, have had a good run so far with RH and yesterday found out that our YH pair have hatched 2 chicks. Early days yet but hoping something comes of that... In breeding cabinets which isn't working out very well, will transfer them to aviary as soon as we can find a workeable solution (read "buy another aviary....) to separate from RH.