Aussie Finch Forum

This morning, one plumhead hen has a small amount of blood above her beak, on one side.
I'm pretty sure she's feeding chicks, but cannot inspect, even with a mirror, because their nest is facing into a corner in such a way as to make it unreachable without spilling some yellow stars out.

She is active, eating, flying, looks tight feathered and well.
I am reluctant to catch her because she is in a nestling-heavy, thickly brushed part of the aviary and I fear upsetting nests.

Could she have been inadvertantly pecked by a nestling?
Has this happened to others?

I'd leave her alone if she looks to be otherwise fine. Not unusual and they usually heal pretty quick - I suspect it often happens when they crash into the wire.

Sounds about right Matty....could also have hit a stick on way out of nest as well...if she was in a hurry

Sweet. Thank you, folks.

Did she come good matty?

She's come good, but I had hoped to see some signs of chicks in the nest.
No joy there.
I've been working lots of nights this week, though, and hope that they have snuck out into the brushy areas while I've been sleeping.
She's paired with the younger cock, that I think you said you got from Bensonan so if not this time, maybe next.

Thanks for asking,
mm.

My plumheads are stuffing around at the moment as well - nests but no fledglings yet.

I wonder if it's not been too wet for them.
My paints have done less than I'd like, too.
Maybe la Nina doesn't agree with the arid-zone birds?

mattymeischke wrote:I wonder if it's not been too wet for them.
.........................Maybe la Nina doesn't agree with the arid-zone birds?

Too right brother................my WE Masks court and nest-build in the first week of dry weather asfter a wet spell...........even with fully roofed flights and gravelly floors......I only ever get young from them if the weather stays dry for the duration of egg laying and rearing/weaning


Parsons and Stars follow a little later.......as do the mad loris