Well, I took down the hanging basket, as I often did, to check on the chicks. Immediately, all four of them hopped out, and started hopping around the yard pitifully.
I caught one chick and returned him to the nest. I also caught a chick that was in the garage, hiding. I put that one in the nest as well, and then left them alone, while I searched for the other two. I couldn't find them anywhere.
Eventually, the chicks hopped back out of the nest into the yard. It was obvious that they were fledglings now, meaning that they couldn't fly, but they could hop around while the mother watched and fed them.
I only handled the chicks one more time: one of them ran into the street while two large dogs headed straight for it.
I returned the (filthy) nest in the basket to the hanging place. I can only hope that the mother saw the chicks and knows where they are.
A note on the other birds:
I thought I saw a robin chick beak today, but I still can't get a good view of those chicks. I have not seen the mother cardinal for several days, and I can't find any eggs in the nest or on the ground.
Showing posts with label chick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chick. Show all posts
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Birds, Birds, and more Birds!
There appears to be another chick in the finch nest! Of course, with them all writhing around, it's hard to be sure.
We also have a Robin's nest. It's on this ledge on our house right under the roof, behind the gutter drain pipe. The mother had been sitting for a long time now. I haven't seen any chicks, but sometimes it appears that the parents are feeding something.
I hope to be able to see the Robin chicks once they are bigger. They are just so small at first that it's hard to see. We had another Robin's nest last year, as some of my readers may recall. ( Robin Chicks! Robin Chick Learns to Fly (video) ).
We also have a Cardinal nest. The mother is so skittish it took me a while to confirm that it was a Cardinal nest, but I snuck up on her the other day.
There are two eggs in the nest and (sadly) one egg lying on the ground. The nest is in the same bush as the Mourning Dove nest last year (Mourning Dove Pics! The Moment You've All Been Waiting For! ), so the nest will be fairly easy to observe, although it's higher up then the doves were.
It will be so fun to watch them grow their feathers.
I'll keep you posted on the three nests.
We also have a Robin's nest. It's on this ledge on our house right under the roof, behind the gutter drain pipe. The mother had been sitting for a long time now. I haven't seen any chicks, but sometimes it appears that the parents are feeding something.
I hope to be able to see the Robin chicks once they are bigger. They are just so small at first that it's hard to see. We had another Robin's nest last year, as some of my readers may recall. ( Robin Chicks! Robin Chick Learns to Fly (video) ).
We also have a Cardinal nest. The mother is so skittish it took me a while to confirm that it was a Cardinal nest, but I snuck up on her the other day.
There are two eggs in the nest and (sadly) one egg lying on the ground. The nest is in the same bush as the Mourning Dove nest last year (Mourning Dove Pics! The Moment You've All Been Waiting For! ), so the nest will be fairly easy to observe, although it's higher up then the doves were.
It will be so fun to watch them grow their feathers.
I'll keep you posted on the three nests.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Raising Quail
Well, maybe you want to raise chickens but you don't have the space, it's not allowed (if you live the city), or you can't keep roosters but you want to raise chicks, or maybe you just want a fun and educational pet. If so, you could try raising quail.
Many websites like this one http://www.hometrainingtools.com/quail-eggs-incubators/c/161/ and other school/ home school science supply sites have chicks. For a rather low price ( $31 on this site) you get either four Pharaoh (also called Cortunix) or four Bobwhite quail eggs and an incubator.
It might seem hard to hatch chicks, but you can do it. First, since the eggs are dormant, you can leave them alone for about eight hours to 'settle'. The most important things to remember are: make sure the heat stays constant, keep it humid, and turn the eggs. You have to turn the eggs at least twice a day, but some people say every four hours. About four times a day should work.
It is recommended to mark an X on one side of the egg and O on the other. Also, you are less likely to damage the fragile eggs if you roll the eggs with your finger instead of picking them up to turn them.
When the chicks hatch, they will first poke a hole at the oxygen in - then sleep (they are exhausted), then they will peck some more, often sleeping. When they have hatched, leave them alone for at least eight hours or until they get active. Them, pick the chicks up carefully and but them in a brooder (a cardboard box or aquarium with a heat lamp, lined with newspaper or rodent shavings). Try not to handle them much for a few days (they are very, very, very tiny!).
After a few days, you can hold the chicks very gently (otherwise they will be very skittish when full grown).
Quail chicks can eat normal chick starter made for chicken chicks. My Aunt had quail as a girl, and she fed them oatmeal, I think. Chick starter is probably better.
When the chicks are full grown, they need a cage. They are small enough to keep indoors, and actually, many people do this. If you keep them indoors or in a garage or shed, you can use a wire guinea pig cage. Other wise, you can use a rabbit cage. Either way, they should have space to fly. Or, if the wings are clipped (for indoor quail and tame quail that you handle) they should have a run.
By the way, the website says that usually only two or three eggs hatch. If none of them hatch, you can get four more for two dollars.
The incubator is reusable, so if you have more eggs (if you have a cock and hen, you will have plenty) you can hatch them. If you want eating eggs, sell the cocks or keep them separate.
Many websites like this one http://www.hometrainingtools.com/quail-eggs-incubators/c/161/ and other school/ home school science supply sites have chicks. For a rather low price ( $31 on this site) you get either four Pharaoh (also called Cortunix) or four Bobwhite quail eggs and an incubator.
It might seem hard to hatch chicks, but you can do it. First, since the eggs are dormant, you can leave them alone for about eight hours to 'settle'. The most important things to remember are: make sure the heat stays constant, keep it humid, and turn the eggs. You have to turn the eggs at least twice a day, but some people say every four hours. About four times a day should work.
It is recommended to mark an X on one side of the egg and O on the other. Also, you are less likely to damage the fragile eggs if you roll the eggs with your finger instead of picking them up to turn them.
When the chicks hatch, they will first poke a hole at the oxygen in - then sleep (they are exhausted), then they will peck some more, often sleeping. When they have hatched, leave them alone for at least eight hours or until they get active. Them, pick the chicks up carefully and but them in a brooder (a cardboard box or aquarium with a heat lamp, lined with newspaper or rodent shavings). Try not to handle them much for a few days (they are very, very, very tiny!).
After a few days, you can hold the chicks very gently (otherwise they will be very skittish when full grown).
Quail chicks can eat normal chick starter made for chicken chicks. My Aunt had quail as a girl, and she fed them oatmeal, I think. Chick starter is probably better.
When the chicks are full grown, they need a cage. They are small enough to keep indoors, and actually, many people do this. If you keep them indoors or in a garage or shed, you can use a wire guinea pig cage. Other wise, you can use a rabbit cage. Either way, they should have space to fly. Or, if the wings are clipped (for indoor quail and tame quail that you handle) they should have a run.
By the way, the website says that usually only two or three eggs hatch. If none of them hatch, you can get four more for two dollars.
The incubator is reusable, so if you have more eggs (if you have a cock and hen, you will have plenty) you can hatch them. If you want eating eggs, sell the cocks or keep them separate.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Another Nest!
Well, a few days ago I noticed a mourning dove that kept flying out of a certain small bush. I finally found the nest: a tiny rather sloppy thing. As is characteristic of "mourners" the dove laid two tiny eggs in the nest.
On Wednesday evening I saw what appeared to be a beak poking out of one of the eggs. Yesterday, I found one egg and one squab!
Today there appeared to be two squabs (I love that word) beneath the mother dove.
The mother dove has the simple name of "Dovey". (Mom named her) the first chick has the name of "Peregrine" (I named him). The second chick has yet to be named (but I have an idea.)
By the way, I have pictures, but I am going to continue to take them every day or two and post the photos all at once.
On Wednesday evening I saw what appeared to be a beak poking out of one of the eggs. Yesterday, I found one egg and one squab!
Today there appeared to be two squabs (I love that word) beneath the mother dove.
The mother dove has the simple name of "Dovey". (Mom named her) the first chick has the name of "Peregrine" (I named him). The second chick has yet to be named (but I have an idea.)
By the way, I have pictures, but I am going to continue to take them every day or two and post the photos all at once.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Robin Chick Learns to Fly
All of the robin chicks have fledged and flown away. This is a video clip of one chick (probably the youngest one) learning how to fly.
The clip is slightly marred by us talking in it such comments from my brother as "Ain't he homely?", but I hope you will enjoy it anyway. You could mute the video.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
A Robin Chick Update
Mom, my brother, and I were watching the chicks. The oldest one (who was outside the nest) was getting nervous. Suddenly it took off!
I think I had seen it flying before, but I'm not sure. It flew relatively low and didn't go too far away, but it was flying!
The mother robin was watching the little fledgling fly. I don't think that the chick is old enough to find food on it's own, so it will probably return to the nest soon.
How exciting to be in such close proximity to a growing clutch of chicks!
I think I had seen it flying before, but I'm not sure. It flew relatively low and didn't go too far away, but it was flying!
The mother robin was watching the little fledgling fly. I don't think that the chick is old enough to find food on it's own, so it will probably return to the nest soon.
How exciting to be in such close proximity to a growing clutch of chicks!
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