bird-brain
04-12-2011, 10:23 PM
First let me say it is nice to be back on the board and I have enjoyed reading and catching up with photos and news!
As most of you know, my sister-in-law was battling cancer and her health began to deteriorate the first of the year and most of my time was devoted to assisting in her care. We lost her late last month and I stayed to assist my brother for a while afterward.
During the months that I was away, my family as always took great care of my fids. They continued with a successful introduction of Zulu and Tiger Lilly and eventually moved them into the same cage and kept me updated on how well they were hitting it off. Still, I was surprised to come home today to find a NEST BOX and 4 EGGS!
She began laying in her cozy hut so they put a box up for her. My hubby knew how hard watching all of this with my sister in law has been for me and thought I needed something to be excited about. I had not planned on raising any babies this year of any kind as I was gone so often and I had expressed some regret that I had not bred any mares and would not have a foal this spring. I do have fake eggs on hand but honestly after the past few months I find myself oddly excited about the prospect of watching new life happen and I know that Tiger Lilly is in excellent health. Both she and Zulu are well bred birds and I suspect will produce excellent quality babies.
Of course I have no idea yet if any of the eggs are fertile. So far Tiger Lilly is being very protective and I was a little surprised that Zulu sits on the eggs when she ventures out of the cage and assists in adding material to the nest regularly. She is incubating the eggs now and he is doing a good job of seeing to her needs. He even broke off a small piece of cuttle bone and carried it to her. Watching an actual nesting pair really puts the term "lovebirds" into perspective!
As most of you know, my sister-in-law was battling cancer and her health began to deteriorate the first of the year and most of my time was devoted to assisting in her care. We lost her late last month and I stayed to assist my brother for a while afterward.
During the months that I was away, my family as always took great care of my fids. They continued with a successful introduction of Zulu and Tiger Lilly and eventually moved them into the same cage and kept me updated on how well they were hitting it off. Still, I was surprised to come home today to find a NEST BOX and 4 EGGS!
She began laying in her cozy hut so they put a box up for her. My hubby knew how hard watching all of this with my sister in law has been for me and thought I needed something to be excited about. I had not planned on raising any babies this year of any kind as I was gone so often and I had expressed some regret that I had not bred any mares and would not have a foal this spring. I do have fake eggs on hand but honestly after the past few months I find myself oddly excited about the prospect of watching new life happen and I know that Tiger Lilly is in excellent health. Both she and Zulu are well bred birds and I suspect will produce excellent quality babies.
Of course I have no idea yet if any of the eggs are fertile. So far Tiger Lilly is being very protective and I was a little surprised that Zulu sits on the eggs when she ventures out of the cage and assists in adding material to the nest regularly. She is incubating the eggs now and he is doing a good job of seeing to her needs. He even broke off a small piece of cuttle bone and carried it to her. Watching an actual nesting pair really puts the term "lovebirds" into perspective!