Bird Photos

Here are some photos of the new adult birds.  I had put Doc in with Sinny Buns but she was totally not interested in him.  She rejected his advances for a couple of weeks so I put Doc back in the Bachelor cage & got Arthur, who was with Sinny Buns & Zorro originally.  She does let Arthur get close so she may have formed an attachment with him already.  We'll see if eggs come of this pairing.

I am not totally sure about what color to classify them as.  Sinny Buns is a Cinnamon but I'm wondering if she is a very light pied?  Arthur is a Normal Grey, but appears to have some pearling on his back so he may be a pearl also?  Can't wait so see babies to get an idea.

Left Side of Sinny Buns



Right side of Sinny Buns & Arthur back



Another view of Arthur's back.  This pix is a little light, the other is more true to color.

I'm Back...Sorta

The babies are growning so fast. I'm continually amazed at how mature they are. Bier flew around the living room yesterday.  He landed on the curtain rod very nicely.  Sprite has all her feathers in and Duck is close behind.

We started supplemental feeding Chimay & Sinatra's babies this morning.  One lutino out of 4 babies.  We're very excited.

Mickey & Rico are up to 3 eggs now.  He was actually feeding her in the nest box yesterday & today.  I've heard of that behavior but never seen it before.  Hoping it means he knows how to parent.

Babies are Fine...

...computer is not.  It died.  Again.  So it'll be a while before I can post again.  Please check back.

Handfeeding success

It looks like everyone is going to survive.  Bier is growing like a weed.  Sprite is trying his best to catch up.  Duck is holding his own in the food department.  The feedings have dropped to 4 a day, manageable even for me.

Now to float along until the next batch is ready, another 2 weeks or so.

More questions about Doc's color

Doc is the boy from Ginger & Buddy's first clutch last year.  He has always been a light grey, although I've been told repeatedly that he's a Cinnamon.  After his first adult molt, he is now pearled.  An interesting quandry as pearl males LOSE the pearling as they mature, not gain it.  However, Dominant Silvers, like Lancelot, get more pearling as they mature.  Here are pix of Doc, with the new Cinnamon girl (I want to name her Sinny Buns but Adrian protested...ALOT).  Also, here is a pic of Lancelot with his new finery.

Doc (left) & Cinnamon girl

Lancelot

Bier Update

Well, apparently Bier's appetite is just fine.  But he doesn't want baby food anymore.  I put some millet seeds on the floor of their enclosure and he tore into them.  So I guess he's just an early maturer.  Go figure.  But it makes me happy that he's OK.  His check patches are a most gorgeous shade.  I hope the color stays.

Pix of Bier, Sprite & Duck

Here are pix I took tonight of Bier, Sprite & Duck.  Bier was 3 weeks old yesterday.

Bier (+ starvin' Duck)

Duck, Sprite, Bier

More Adventures

Baby #3 for Chimay & Sinatra hatched today.  Dark eyes so it's not a lutino. But still very cute.  Mom & Dad are taking good care of them.

Also, the oldest of Spike & Uncle's babies, Bier, has decided that he's grown up enough to wean.  At 3 weeks he's way too young, but he's got all his feathers, has been flapping for about 3 days & has spent the last couple of days peeking at whatever looked edible.  He's way more advanced than his siblings, who are only a few days younger.

Strange household.

Pix of the New Babies

Here is a picture of the newest baby.  Apparently you don't have to wait until the eyes open to tell if they are lutino or not.  Baby #2 has pale, skin-pink eyes so s/he is going to be a lutino.  Just what we were looking for.

Chimay & Sinatra's Babies so far

Another New Baby

Baby #2 for Chimay and Sinatra arrived today.  Well, last night probably.  He was dry when I got them to move enough to see him.  Another fluffy little bright yellow baby.  I was told to check their eyes when they open to see what color they are.  If the eyes are red, the babies will be lutinos like their grandmother, Ginger.  Now I'm eager to see eyes.

Ginger (RIP) & Buddy, parents of Chimay

New Baby Pic

And here is the newest baby.  Chimay and Sinatra made a lovely little thing.  Keeping our fingers crossed that all hatch out so well.  This pic was taken at great danger to life & limb, especially limb, as they didn't want to vacate the eggs & baby.

Sinatra guarding diligently

Pix of the Trio

Here are pix of Uncle & Spike's remaining babies. These were taken Friday. I'll take more tomorrow as they change so much every day it's unbelievable.

Duck

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Sprite

Bier

New Baby!

Chimay and Sinatra's first ever baby hatched out today.  Beautiful little ball of yellow fluff.  I'll try to get a pic.  If Chimay doesn't rip my face off.

Names

OK.  Babies now have names.  Since they are grandbabies of Buddy & Ginger (Full names: Budweiser & Ginger Ale) they are named after drinks.

Oldest one is Bier, next is Sprite, littlest one is Duck (Cold Duck).

Still eating like little horses and gaining weight.  All have pinfeathers in some form now.

New pairings update

I really enjoy watching the new pairings work it out.  Granted Puffy & Lancelot have been together before, but they were separated for several months.  But watching Rico & Mickey has been interesting.

Rico was supposedly used by his original owner for breeding.  His has been a most aggressive suitor.  Not bad aggerssive, pushing her around, but very persistant.  He watches her most of the time, making little "lovey" noises at her.  He does his mating dance and clicks his beak.  Mickey plays hard to get of course.

When I attached the nest box to the cage, Rico was instantly interested.  The hole was a bit off the cage door (my fault) so he's been enlarging it.  Mickey has to almost turn sideways to get in, but that hasn't stopped her.  Both have spent a good deal of time in there, which is usually a good sign.

When Rico first climbed on Mickey's back to try to mate, he couldn't seem to figure out what he was doing.  He just kind of danced there.  Mickey was trying to be so flat that she would lean too far over & end up hanging face down off the perch.

One day later, he had remembered what to do.  So there may be babies in the future for them.

Lancelot acted like he wanted nothing to do with Puffy for the first day.  Now they are mating like bunnies.  They didn't get a baby last time so I'm hoping that it works out this time.

Adventures in Handfeeding - Day 7

Babies are growing so fast, right before my eyes.  All 3 have pinfeathers starting, even the youngest who's crest is about 1/4" long.  Totally cute.

They eat vigorously, but boy are they sloppy eaters.  I don't know if it's because their dad was a sloppy feeder or if that's just them.

I decided on a name for the middle one today.  S/he looks to be the only Normal Grey with no splits.  So s/he is going to be Sprite.

Now to name the others.

I have pix & will post later.  I have to go to Key West to get more formula.  Did I mention they eat like horses??

Adventures in Handfeeding - Day #5

Babies gained 10 g each yesterday.  Littlest one is so cute.  He stuffs himself full, then curls up & goes to sleep. Guess it's time to find names.

Thing 1

Thing 2

Mini Thing