tong po 129 Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 why why why when you think the season is off to a good start do you end up getting a big kick in the knackers. Came home yesterday to find my most prolific bullfinch hen stone cold dead on the floor,to make matters worse her clutch of 6 eggs are due to hatch this weekend. All my other bullies are at different stages so can't shift eggs under any of them,canarys have built nest but no eggs yet don't even consider the siskins so the only other birds on eggs is my pair of greenfinches ,so left with no other options 5 full greeny eggs into the bin and bully eggs placed under greeny hen.So far so good the greenfinch is sitting tight on the bully eggs, know only time will tell if I made the right move and get 6 bully chicks or missed out on 5 greenfinch chicks.know what to do with the confused bully cock :hmm: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
taz2010 1,297 Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 bad time mate to lose any bird but hopefully you have made the right choice Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fireman 10,774 Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 Tragic mate and i have my fingers crossed for you the right choice was made. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
slip lead 862 Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 Gutted for you mate. But you won't find a better foster parent than a greenfinch hen. I once had a female mule that would sit on eggs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tel1 22 Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 I was told the only bird that can rear bullfinch chicks was a bullfinch, is that right or wrong Quote Link to post Share on other sites
taz2010 1,297 Posted May 2, 2014 Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 definately wrong tel1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mule1943 291 Posted May 2, 2014 Report Share Posted May 2, 2014 good on you mate think you did the right thing,hope all goes well with eggs Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tong po 129 Posted May 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2014 thanks lads checked eggs yesterday and they've started to hatch :boogy:just hope the greeny does her job know 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mule1943 291 Posted May 6, 2014 Report Share Posted May 6, 2014 Nice one tong hope all goes well ,just waiting for mine to hatch 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Meroman 105 Posted May 10, 2014 Report Share Posted May 10, 2014 Slip lead your point about greenies is very valid they are the best foster parents for other species of natives by far in my opinion. Tel 1 you are not to far off the mark, bullie chicks have a big wide gape which is intimidating to canary hens and most native hens who have reared chicks previously but rearing bullies can work with unflighted hens who don't know the difference. Tong po I look forward to how things go. Fingers crossed for you..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
francolin 449 Posted May 10, 2014 Report Share Posted May 10, 2014 Meroman you bet me to it ,years ago I had natives and glosters,tried some bullys under a canary hen and they seemed scared /reluctant to feed the chicks,thought the same they didn't like size or colour of gape, never tried it again , don't keep british these days but might relapse next season and get a couple of pair :Datb. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
j j m 6,481 Posted May 10, 2014 Report Share Posted May 10, 2014 sad news bud Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tong po 129 Posted May 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2014 what the piss! went in this morning to ring the chicks and they've gone :hmm: :hmm: :censored: :censored: the greeny hen was still sitting on two empty eggs but the chicks have disappeared so all that for nothing :cray:what a start to the season Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fireman 10,774 Posted May 12, 2014 Report Share Posted May 12, 2014 I caught a greenie hen eating two chicks yesterday,they were only a day old and have to say i've never seen it before but that's 3 chicks i've seen being eaten this year,hope it don't become a trend,gutted for you tong po and hope they sort themselves out for you mate. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gnipper 5,945 Posted May 12, 2014 Report Share Posted May 12, 2014 Could the birds that eat chicks possibly be lacking in some form of nutrients causing them to do it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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