This morning I awoke to look over and notice that somehow my cordons had gotten into the society cage. Then I noticed that the cordons were still in their cage. I blinked, sat up, jumped up and dropped my jaw to the floor. My two chicks were not just fledged, but perched on a high branch and preening each other's feathers. WOW. All day I have watched in amazement as they have insisted on being fed (Societies are working so hard to take care of them and are sitting on four cordon eggs that should hatch any day - hour - now. They swap jobs and never leave the babies or eggs alone for long. They are tiny replicas of my cordons - though they only have their baby fluff feathers, they are quite blue enough! They are so perfectly balanced - every part in the right dimensions for their size. They are quite brave, though not as comfy with me as they were when they were relying on me to feed them. The Society girls have done a great job. Yes - I have shared the burden of daily feedings with them, and perhaps that is why these babies are far more mature for their age than others would be. They are about 18 days old and usually should fledge at three weeks. Perhaps having two moms rather than a mom and dad got them more food cuz no breeding on the brains of the parents? For whatever reason, they are doing great and I have only left the room to get food and water today - watching their every move. THEY EVEN SLEPT WITH HEADS UNDER THEIR WINGS AND ON ONE LEG!!!! This feels so good. I have spent nearly two years trying to make this work - trying every scenario I could find or conceive... and to finally arrive is the most unbelievable feeling. I have a solid breeding setup now for the finch that is arguably the most difficult to breed in captivity. Maybe these society finches will teach these cordons how to raise babies as they continue to fledge and the next 4 eggs hatch out. Societies often incorporate one generation into the feeding of the next. I wonder if this could teach these cordons to raise babies off of the hardboiled egg diet - or at least IMPROVE the parenting skills? Anywayz - check out the newest pix at
www.equijourneys.com/finches.html... I am tired and kinda babbling so I will scoot for now. Isn't this amazing????
Extra super-duper thanks to Mavis, Michael and Donna. Love Ya'll!
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