Aussie Finch Forum

Hello Breeders,

I know most of you in Australia may have large outdoor, planted aviaries. Do you experience many tossed babies, and if so, do you try to then hand-feed and raise them or not? I'd like to know what the imperative is: moral, business, conservation?

For me, the first option is to place them back into the nest they came from so their parents can feed them. It is not always their parents who do the tossing. Other birds in the aviary may do it or it may occur due to a poor nest structure or just a young one inadvertently being stuck on the leg of the parent as it leaves the nest. Most times they are placed back into the nest the parents resume normal rearing. It is important to first ensure that such young are sufficiently warm before putting them back. If cold & inactive, I just carry them around in my hand until they are warm & wriggly again.

What T said. Or occassionally placing under a pair of finches of the same type with young of a similar age. (this is rare due to timing) If cold, blowing warm air on them can help get them wriggling.
LML

Warming them up is a must, ive had chicks on the floor that look dead but just blow warm air on them for a while and they come around.