Aussie Finch Forum

I released the new birds from the Bird Sale into the aviary this morning, after worming and mite spray.

The ruddy cock has already been displaying to his new hen, 10 minutes after entry to his new home!!!
Hopefully some young ruddies to come!
I hope Johnp's new pairs will do the same. Who did you get yours off John?

also new gouldinas displaying, and new jacarinis hiding away somewhere...

The Ruddies I got are fine apart from the one cock that does not want to fly, I got them from aguy from Wollongong way that seemed to know his birds well, Mauri was his name. I have named the one that won't fly (I don't ususally name but this one is going to become close while he hopefully recovers, a real imaginative name, Kev (after Kevin Rudd ). I put some more perches in the aviary tonight and straight away he is up them hoping away but still no flying. They say patience is a virtue so I guess I will ahve to display this over the next week or so while nursing Kev back to flying health. Apart from being timid (very understable) and not flying he seems quite healthy.

JohnP wrote: I have named the one that won't fly ( Kev (after Kevin Rudd ).

If he flies as much as Kevin, you'll be right . . . Just don't do anything to upset him during his flights!!!

Update on Kev is that all is still as before, no change. Is there such a thing as a flightless finch? I wonder

He still looks healthy and is happy to hop around on the floor or up perches and around trees but no flight

Anyway I will keep you posted.

I may be wrong but observation of many sorts of birds over time leads me to believe that if you have an otherwise healthy bird that does not fly either it has spent its life in a small cage and the major flight muscles have wasted from lack of use or it is elderly and has sacrificed flight for a longer life in the not so hard life of a caged bird.
LML

JohnP
If you want a cock Ruddie let me know as my mate will be in Canberra 27th to 29th.
You are welcome to it just let me know and I will organise it with my mate.
I am not sure where in Canberra he will be but I doubt if there will not be some common point somewhere.

Thanks for the offer E Orix but I will wait and see what takes place with Kev first before adding or replacing.

Update on Kev the flightless Ruddie. Well, after two weeks from purchase he is still flightless so I am beginning to think that Kev must be a Qual in desguise, or part Emu. he seems happy but just don't fly. Very frustrating as I need to double up on food and water so that it is at low level for Kev.

Breaking news...........................hes flying sort of. He can now get from one end of the aviary to the other and from ground to top perch. Not doing laps yet as the others are but its a definate start

Good to hear John, I'll bet your feeling pretty releived right about now