My flock grew from 7 finches to 14 finches overnight. How? When my friend Lucille passed away, all her birds came to live with me.
Yes, we each had fewer birds than ever back then. Suddenly having twice as many birds made for a lot more noise at my house. Besides my cages stacked on my table, I had her cages stacked on my blindstitch hemmer.
How did the birds feel about it?
They enjoyed so many neighbors. Most of them already knew each other because Lucille and I swapped birds back and forth quite often. Anytime a girl or boy wasn't happy, that bird came to my house or went to her house. Often they'd settle in quite happily in their new home.
Why? Not sure.
Sometimes they acquired a new mate or got away from an old one. Sometimes they acquired a new cage. They're sensitive creatures who like one certain arrangement of cages better than another, or preferred one room in Lucille's apartment over another.
She had an enormous living room with wide windows. We thought sure they'd love that room, but they seemed frightened by birds they saw outside. They much preferred her tiny kitchen or her little corner bedroom. They loved a bathtub on a sunny windowsill. They would make water fountain splashes that left the window dripping with their marathon bathing.
Right now I have only six finches.
Why? Old age and a tale of two cats.
Shortly before our semi-blind cat passed away we got a black kitten who was thrown away with his siblings out in the country near a friend's house. My daughter took a black long-haired girl kitten. We took the black short-haired runt boy kitten.
Um, he can see quite well with those big round yellow eyes.
What was I thinking? Turns out he LOVES finches. He clambered up the flight cages and slept atop them when he wasn't stalking or rushing at them. Poor birds!
As he grew from a wee runt into a ten-pound excellent mouser, we had to secure cages together with bungee cords to prevent disasters. Things have settled down now, but we had a few upsets.
Turns out our new cat can catch a bird quicker than we can. He doesn't hurt them. He'll give them right back, but there's a problem. About a day and a half later, each bird he ever had in his mouth up and died. Bacteria?
They'd be fine the rest of the day they were caught, that night and all the next day. But by the next morning, we'd find them dead in their nest. Sad to say, four birds went that way.
I have Del and he's rejoined with Dina, a mate who once rejected him. They're happy together this time. At least so far!
I just separated Randy and Lynn because Randy picked her feathers out worse and worse. I wasn't convinced he was to blame until the back of her head got somewhat bald. There's no way she pulled those out herself. I expected a ruckus when I separated them, but they're happy apart.
She's regrowing feathers, thank goodness. She doesn't like me looking close, but I can see a single stupid feather sticking out the center of her naked breast despite her nervous flutters. I can't wait for her to look pretty again.
I'm sorry I didn't move him out sooner. At least our weather has warmed up so I don't worry about her getting cold at night without all her feathers.
So that's how two flocks, one caged, one free, became one flock.
They're all caged and now seem safe from the cat. Fingers crossed. Knock on wood. Bungee cords are a fabulous invention. Who knew they could save bird lives?
Yes, we each had fewer birds than ever back then. Suddenly having twice as many birds made for a lot more noise at my house. Besides my cages stacked on my table, I had her cages stacked on my blindstitch hemmer.
How did the birds feel about it?
They enjoyed so many neighbors. Most of them already knew each other because Lucille and I swapped birds back and forth quite often. Anytime a girl or boy wasn't happy, that bird came to my house or went to her house. Often they'd settle in quite happily in their new home.
Why? Not sure.
Sometimes they acquired a new mate or got away from an old one. Sometimes they acquired a new cage. They're sensitive creatures who like one certain arrangement of cages better than another, or preferred one room in Lucille's apartment over another.
She had an enormous living room with wide windows. We thought sure they'd love that room, but they seemed frightened by birds they saw outside. They much preferred her tiny kitchen or her little corner bedroom. They loved a bathtub on a sunny windowsill. They would make water fountain splashes that left the window dripping with their marathon bathing.
Right now I have only six finches.
Why? Old age and a tale of two cats.
Shortly before our semi-blind cat passed away we got a black kitten who was thrown away with his siblings out in the country near a friend's house. My daughter took a black long-haired girl kitten. We took the black short-haired runt boy kitten.
Um, he can see quite well with those big round yellow eyes.
What was I thinking? Turns out he LOVES finches. He clambered up the flight cages and slept atop them when he wasn't stalking or rushing at them. Poor birds!
As he grew from a wee runt into a ten-pound excellent mouser, we had to secure cages together with bungee cords to prevent disasters. Things have settled down now, but we had a few upsets.
Turns out our new cat can catch a bird quicker than we can. He doesn't hurt them. He'll give them right back, but there's a problem. About a day and a half later, each bird he ever had in his mouth up and died. Bacteria?
They'd be fine the rest of the day they were caught, that night and all the next day. But by the next morning, we'd find them dead in their nest. Sad to say, four birds went that way.
I sold a few.
What's left are the aging ones. Clay lived to a ripe old age, beyond anything we thought possible. I think he was pushing twelve years when he passed.
I have Lucille's two society finches. We renamed Augie (she got him in August) to Dagwood, because he has a feathery cowlick on his head. Not exactly spikes like Dagwood Bumstead, but close enough.I have Del and he's rejoined with Dina, a mate who once rejected him. They're happy together this time. At least so far!
I just separated Randy and Lynn because Randy picked her feathers out worse and worse. I wasn't convinced he was to blame until the back of her head got somewhat bald. There's no way she pulled those out herself. I expected a ruckus when I separated them, but they're happy apart.
She's regrowing feathers, thank goodness. She doesn't like me looking close, but I can see a single stupid feather sticking out the center of her naked breast despite her nervous flutters. I can't wait for her to look pretty again.
I'm sorry I didn't move him out sooner. At least our weather has warmed up so I don't worry about her getting cold at night without all her feathers.
So that's how two flocks, one caged, one free, became one flock.
They're all caged and now seem safe from the cat. Fingers crossed. Knock on wood. Bungee cords are a fabulous invention. Who knew they could save bird lives?
