Buff-banded Rails

[Tintola]

The parent rails are housed in a large planted aviary with a 5mtr X 5 mtr pond and many large clumps of Lomandra rush in it. They would not have survived with the parents as there are 10 mandarin ducks and a pheasant in with them who would have enjoyed the tiny black morsels. The weather is also terrible at the moment with local flooding due to the constant rain and a low pressure system just off the coast, which is why they were taken for artificial raising. From seven eggs six chicks hatched on Sunday. Two are pied, as is their father. The pics tell the rest of the story.

[Jayburd]

Congrats Tint, very special little balls of fluff

[mattymeischke]

Bewdiful.
Is is common to have pieds?

[Tintola]

I have heard that Melb Zoo has a population of pieds but I haven't confirmed it matt. Thanks Jay.

[finches247]

Congratulations Well Done Tintola

[TomDeGraaff]

Wow !! Lovely shots. The chicks look very healthy. What do you feed them and their parents. We can't have them here in Vic. Any information on breeding would be welcomed so that a case can be made to the state fauna mob.
Well done indeed

[Tintola]

The adults are almost as easy to feed as domestic poultry and sometimes visit peoples chook yards to steal food. Mine are supplied with chopped mince, soaked dog food, dog roll, some chopped pilchards and various seed mixes. They also get worms, and some crickets and anything that can catch in a planted aviary. Mine are spoilt as I know of people who keep them on poultry pellets an little else. The chicks have to be tweezer fed for the first few days to show them what foods to eat. They are voracious and enthusiastic eaters and are given the adult diet chopped much finer and a few mealworms. they are pretty much feeding themselves at 4 days old but must be kept in a brooder for a while yet. Very similar to button quail but a bit more carnivorous.

[Diane]

Congratulations cute babies

[Trilobite]

G'day Tintola,
Congrats, what an achievement. We have just experienced our first batch as well - however these were parent raise and in the wilds of our backyard - sorry no credit here. They moved in about a year ago when the local bushland was cleared by the moron down the road that bought it, cleared it just so he can mow it. Anyway you are right, they come right up around our deck, pinch the dog food left in the bowls, then wander up to the side of the shed where they browse on the escapees that come out of the live food production area (mealies, roahes and crickets). They have become so tame that I reakon with some persistance they could be hand fed - yes better looking chooks!!!.
They are such a marvel to wacth and listen to.
Again well done.

[Tintola]

Thanks for the story. I am surprised that they have become so tame, they are usually very shy and allusive. How many young did they have?