I killed a mamma finch
Posted: 31 Jan 2023, 03:28
Her name was Darling. She had been listless and fluffed for two days and wouldn't let Jim Dear breed her which she had allowed up until then. For two days he hounded her constantly. I wanted to put her in our hospital cage with heat lamp and let her rest but she'd fly off if I tried to reach for her.
Since the flight had another couple incubating, I didn't want to chase her and cause disruption because it might cause other parents to toss their eggs. So last night, I attached heat lamp to top of cage (I have perch there) that she could use if she wanted and went to bed. This morning, she was dead in bottom of cage and an egg was laying next to her. They have two cuttlebones in the cage and a pinch bowl of cuttle powder which is always kept full and she used it a lot. They also have a reptile dish with ground egg shell.
Question please: Since I knew she wasn't feeling well, should I have risked disturbing other nests to catch her? Honestly, she didn't look VERY sick - just 'out of sorts.' True, I don't know much about 'how sick is sick'. I have on our list to attach a 'catch cage' to help in catching them but we haven't decided on best approach there yet.
Her name was Darling. Jim Dear now runs (hops) around the cage crying for her. It is so sad. What would YOU all have done, please?
PS I just put the egg in the other nest with the other eggs. I hope it didn't disturb them too much and I hope they continue to incubate. I DESPISE not knowing what to do!
Since the flight had another couple incubating, I didn't want to chase her and cause disruption because it might cause other parents to toss their eggs. So last night, I attached heat lamp to top of cage (I have perch there) that she could use if she wanted and went to bed. This morning, she was dead in bottom of cage and an egg was laying next to her. They have two cuttlebones in the cage and a pinch bowl of cuttle powder which is always kept full and she used it a lot. They also have a reptile dish with ground egg shell.
Question please: Since I knew she wasn't feeling well, should I have risked disturbing other nests to catch her? Honestly, she didn't look VERY sick - just 'out of sorts.' True, I don't know much about 'how sick is sick'. I have on our list to attach a 'catch cage' to help in catching them but we haven't decided on best approach there yet.
Her name was Darling. Jim Dear now runs (hops) around the cage crying for her. It is so sad. What would YOU all have done, please?
PS I just put the egg in the other nest with the other eggs. I hope it didn't disturb them too much and I hope they continue to incubate. I DESPISE not knowing what to do!