Aussie Finch Forum

Hi, I have a mixed aviary and 3 pair of star finches which have had a few clutches each over the last 6 months. One pair had 2 babies all their pin feathers but too little to leave nest. To-day went up and found them dead up the other end of the aviary who ever took them out had to carry them about 6 metres. Any ideas my aviary is 10 metres long I have not had any trouble before. I put a budgie in there as his mate died and the vet told me he would be okay with the finches as there was a lot of room. The budgie has been in there about 6 months and this is the first time I have had babies taken out of the nest. Also have a canary, any thoughts on who may be the culprit.

If they died for some reason the parents may have "cleaned" the nest. In preperation for re-nesting. What other birds do you have in the avairy? As those you mentioned should not be a problem in an avairy that size.
LML

Thanks for your reply, the babies looked very healthy as I only looked at them the day before. I have 4 red parrot finches, 7 painted, 2 zebras ( they have a nest with babies) 1 pr cordons, 1 pr orange waxbills. I have had all those birds for about 4 years now, the only new ones were 2 baby painted i kepted. The others have not bred in 4 years I have had them and have never had a problem. Also the 3 pr of stars.

Hate to say it but looking at them may have been the problem. Stars don't usually tolerate nest inspections in my experience. It may have been the parents, they may not have even carried them that far, just pushed them out of the nest, then the young moved themselves the remaining distance.

I would have to agree with spanna, if there was a problem with young the parents would have tossed them earlier and canaries dint usually worry with other birds and if the budgie had something to do with you would have seen damage to the young.

Agree with Spanna....Stars dont tolerate inspections.....In my experience you only have to accidently bump the shrub and if you scare the hen off they desert...

lyn2233 wrote:... the babies looked very healthy as I only looked at them the day before.

Do you normally look at the Star babies? In my experience if I ever get close enough to a star nest to see the babies then it's highly likely the parents will desert the nest. Stars are one species where I avoid any area in the aviary where I even suspect they might have a nest - maybe yours are different.

(????? All the posts similar to mine somehow appeared on my computer after I posted - very strange and sorry for repeating other's answers!)