A general forum for the discussion of hunting with beagles, guns, clothing and other equipment and just talking dawgs! (Tall tales on hunting allowed, but remember, first liar doesn't stand a chance)
Some sad news, one of his nestmates didn't make it. I went out to feed dogs this evening and found another one myself - but it was too late for this one. I bet if dolly had been on her tie out when it fell, she would have brought it to me as well. The nest-sib was a bit farther along in feathering out. Could be due to a more natural diet than I'm able to provide for this little one, or the fact that it had to be "outside" in the varying temps.
I will tell you this now It doesn't surprise me that another one came out of the nest. The surprising observation I was referring to earlier on was the fact that I believe 2 females are using that nest - possibly 2 pairings, period.
One night I had decided to hang basket with this chick in it just outside the location of the other nest. I read that sometimes the parents will go ahead and feed the chicks in both nests (their sense of smell is bad and they can't tell if a chick has been handled by a human). Well, they were so spooked by the basket hanging there that they would come to feed the others and come short of flying close enough to actually poke their heads in there to feed. They would get 7/8th of the way to the nest then back off bc of the presence of the basket.
I let this go on for a couple of hours - I sat on the back steps and watched as they would attempt this over and over again - chickening out every time. All of a sudden I saw the female sit on the ground below the nest and a DIFFERENT female attempt to feed the chicks. These 2 females made sevral attempts tp get up there, and then I saw a second male perch briefly with the obvious "dad" of the nestlings on my back fence. No sparrow seemed alarmed or disturbed by another sparrow's presence or involvement.
I'm willing to bet this nest is overcrowded wih 2 families who have decided to use the same nest, and the nestlings are pushing each other out as space becomes a premium. In any event. This one is gonna make it. He's lively, bossy, and showing definite signs of being attached to me and my son already (I'll go into the details of that later).
Here's Scrapper (aka Pooper) as of today, Sunday, June 4. It's kinda hard to handle a bird with one hand and a camera with the other, but this is a really good video of him. It's 10.8 megs in size, but I hope you all download it and watch. It's worth the wait:
Bev wrote:Here's Scrapper (aka Pooper) as of today, Sunday, June 4. It's kinda hard to handle a bird with one hand and a camera with the other, but this is a really good video of him. It's 10.8 megs in size, but I hope you all download it and watch. It's worth the wait:
For those of you on dialup and/or cannot download the video, here are a few screencaps from the video:
Gettin' big, eh?
Oh!!! he is sooooo cute! all feathered with his baby down now ;-) Windows media player say's the file is corrupted?? is it playing for anyone else or is it just me?
Bunny, I haven't, but I've thought seriously about going to the feed store and getting some millet and safflower seeds. The millet I could sprinkle right into his formula mush, the safflower would probably have to be ground a bit. Right now I've been soaking Ecotrition pellets (for Myna birds and other softbills) in his formula, and when it's softened, I gob it down his mouth, lol.
According to all the material out there, everything I've done is wrong. This bird has gone to the beagle club with me 2 weekends in a row, he sits on my shoulder and listens to my computer stereo while I work (and craps on my shoulder), I give him tiny sips of water from one of those bottle with the tube/baffle thingy like hamsters use, I basically manhandle the little guy and he's just happy to be near me or on me.
I do not treat him with kid gloves at all. I will put him on a perch in a remote part of his cage and make him figure out how to get down and to his nest. Usually he sees me and plasters himself (hanging on the wires) as close as he can get - trying to get to me, then I break down and get him out, lol.
In the mornings and late evenings, we go outside (him in my hand) and I let him converse with his natural father who is always waiting on the wire nearby.
Crazy thing. If I put him in his "nest", he won't come out on his own. He will back his hiney out to poop, but he won't come all the way out of that nest until I put my hand in there to get him. He sleeps all night - from 11:00 pm to 6 or 7 am. He's an amazing little creature with a definite personality.
Thank you! The foot's still crooked (laid over on its side) when he's just standing or relaxed, but he uses it properly when perching on the wire platforms... or on me somewhere.
Bev be careful of feeding him/she whole seeds right now. You probably already know this but all foul have to have a grinding material in their craws to grind up whole seeds. If it is poultry we use what is called grit,a small crushed up shells and such.Wild birds eat small gravel to provide the grinding material. When he gets big enough to get out on his own he will furnish the gravel himself or if you keep him you can get the grit for him.
PAPPY'S PLACE Where Friends are Cherished & Hunting is a Pleasure CHUCKWAGON KENNELS
Pete Miles
You are amazing Bev! I don't think I would have the paitence to do what you are doing. I would bet that you will be able to release him out to the wild. If you keep taking him out to the nest, he will eventually not come back. Then you will need to get another bird to fill that cage.
Emery
Be ye kind one unto another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32