Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 8:07 am Post subject: Adoption mission....
Right, Here goes-
Call me stupid, but I had a moments madness.
A pet shop had a kakariki female who was sitting on 6 eggs.
One hatched, she abandoned it, it died.
Another hatched, she abandoned it- I stepped in.
It was born on my birthday- New Years day. The shop didnt have time or energy to handrear. The little thing was on its last legs, hadnt been fed for a day and a bit. I told the guy i'd take it home, left my number, and home 'she' came.
Instead of handrearing, I thought id chance placing it in with my pair. Neither have had chicks, and I didnt know if they would allow the baby in, so it was a huge risk-
I put the wee thing in a little box with a hole in it, and left it alone.
My male was very curious, didnt know what to do at first, but wasnt rejecting it.
My female- it took an hour, and she then sat on it!
The little one is now 2 weeks old and thriving.
The guy from the shop rang me to tell me their was another chick, same story, so I collected it too- that one is now 6 days old and doing well too.
My pair have become feisty little protective parents.... Dont want me anywhere near unless its to feed!
Im so proud!
Go on, you can tell me off now.... :$ _________________ ~~~Sanjra~~~
Moments of madness are only that when they dont work out....when they do work out they are moments of genius.
Kakariki have always been used as surrogate parents. even raising large parrots like sulphur crested....when the hatched chick is the size of a kakariki.
Its usual to add an egg or chick to a batch thats is around the same age,
But ti give to a pair, AND make a nesting box, THEN add the chicks, as far as I know that is something new.
Quote:
Im so proud!
Go on, you can tell me off now.... :$
Even if it had not worked out...that in its self is very valuable info, and even if u tried with the 2nd chick the same...that would be valuable info.
Can you elaberate a little on the background of the pair
have they breed before?
how long been together stuff like that. _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
Sanjra, don't worry, Steps has done far worse experiments with their kikes
This is freaking amazing, what a breeding instinct kakariki has, I'm astonished.
You might feel the temptation to see if your kakariki pair take your kids to school
Just kidding, but honestly... I wouldn't be so surprised
What a character kakariki is, they are clownish, funny, all the time on the run, they eat meat, they are very confident on the keeper, they usually breed well... and on top of that you place a nest, a very young chick inside, and they raise it.
If someone told me something like this 3-4 yrs ago I would think they were kidding me. This bird doesn't cease to amaze me.
Cheers / Pablo _________________ AD ASTRA PER ASPERA
Well, the moments madness was more sheer desperation- Ive never handreared before, and as I said- the little thing was on its last legs.
I only tried it cos my birds are quite tame.
They are both just over a year old now, and have been together since about 4 months old. No offspring.
Im truly amazed, was almost certain I would end up with a dead chick, but choice wasnt really an option.
I put the chick in a new box, because my 2 already have 'their' hidey holes, and was trying not to step on territory too much.
I HAD heard they take on other birds and foster- but like I said, sheer desperation.....
I just think im lucky enough to have 2 very well behaved lovely birds.
Maybe this is a one off, (and I wont be trying it again!) but I have 2 chicks that are SURVIVING!! _________________ ~~~Sanjra~~~
I put the chick in a new box, because my 2 already have 'their' hidey holes, and was trying not to step on territory too much.
That could very well have been some critical thinking on your part
Quote:
I just think im lucky enough to have 2 very well behaved lovely birds.
No I disagree..it was not luck..it was simply thinking things thru...
And do not belive its a one off....like weaning fledgings with single males in a holding flight...Something a member tried yrs ago, now we do in most cases. _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
Do you think the fact that my 2 were both aviary bred and brought up with ''mum, dad, aunties, and uncles'' etc, had something to do with it?
I kinda had a theory that parental instinct MAY have played a part.... ? _________________ ~~~Sanjra~~~
Do you think the fact that my 2 were both aviary bred and brought up with ''mum, dad, aunties, and uncles'' etc, had something to do with it?
Very much so...
Im a firm believer that hand raised is the main issue woith 'pet owners' having trouble with egg laying, going to nest, care of yopung etc
I have never hand raised a bird.
All our birds are avariy rised, we dont have any issues, very very rare get defective birds unless over crowding or come out of the nest early and hurt themselves.
Talking around,' including people who breed pheasant for release in hunting season, it only takes 2 to 3 generations of hand rearing to run into major issues, and minor even after 1 genetation.
The other issue is size and overall health of the bird...
Doesnt realy matter the hand rear diet , riutine , whatever, hand rearing are smaller......even compared to ave to poor diet avairy breed.
Hand breed I believe are more suspable to infection, worms etc
I say we have never hand feed...not quite true now...in the last couple weeks we had a king parrot come out of the nest and bruise its wing....parents where set on teaching it to fly, so we brought it inside and the wife hand feed for the last week and 1/2 for the weaning period.. Limitting the use of the wing...limitting not stop.
Fortunately it is with our house parrot king (Bob) it was very noticable the influence he had on teaching to fly, grazing for food, pecking order, roosing levels etc.
I can see huge potentual of issues with a hand reared, social behavour could/would be an issue. _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
Just to keep you all up to date-
The 2 chicks are still going strong, their white fluff is turning grey and the elder one looks like it is getting pin feathers through.
They look like 2 little headless chickens huddled together in their box!
Im trying not to interfere too much.
'Parents' seem to be taking it all in thier stride, male eating like 2 horse and feeding young- occasionally sleeping in box overnight. Female comes out through the day- eats, stretches wings, bathes, then back in with the young.
Cant fault them. :) _________________ ~~~Sanjra~~~
Thankyou!
Both chicks now have theyre eyes open and are covered in thick grey down.
The elder (now 28 days old) has little black stripes and yellow tips on its wings, some yellow tail feathers, a small clump of green feathers coming thru on its neck, and both chicks have a yellow splodge on the backs of their heads.
Elder is waddling around in the nestbox, and getting curious about the doorhole.
Younger is now holding its head up.
Both are practice flapping furiously.
Its SO damned cute!
:-D
Is all the above sounding ok and on track? _________________ ~~~Sanjra~~~
All times are GMT + 13 Hours Goto page 1, 2, 3Next
Page 1 of 3
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You can download files in this forum