They are over three months old now. They look a lot like their dad and like their grandma Vinny. The older is a boy — Vincent. The younger is a girl — Venus. I managed to correctly sex them when they were three weeks old. They're both very playful and energetic. Vincent is very much unliked most of the other birds. I can't blame them, though — he intentionally lands on them. The only ones that really put up with him are his sister and Nash. He has a tendancy to want to bite when I hold him. It used to be the only way I'd let him out of the cage, and put him back — holding him. I've given up on taking him out like that. And, he gets on a hand-held perch at night to go back in, like most of the others do. They have been raised on a diet of seed mix and fresh foods — mostly mashed up hard boiled egg, minced romaine lettuce, minced carrots, mashed beans, and rice. Overall, they're doing really well.
I hadn't realized that I hadn't posted in a while. The second baby hatched on the 7th. As I already said before, the 3rd and 4th eggs were tossed since they weren't fertilized. The 5th and 6th were growing fine. But then, nothing. They were DIS (dead in shell), and I tossed them. So, there are just two babies. They are now 8 and 9 days old. They look very much alike so far, and are very similar in size. The only ways to really tell them apart are that the older one has his eyes open a bit more and his down is a bit longer. I try to hold them at least once a day, but don't always get around to it. Cheryl doesn't mind at all when I reach in the box -- she just licks at my fingers when my hand is in there. Be sure to check out the latest pic of the babies on the profile page.
The first baby hatched in the wee hours this morning. Mom and Dad are doing a wonderful job. This is Cheryl's first time as a mom and she seems to be a natural. Two years ago Zorro had a clutch of five babies with Scarface (Cheryl's mom). I hear nothing from the second egg (though, I was trying to listen while in the birdroom). But, there is some visual evidence that the inner layer has been pecked. I wouldn't be surprised to see him/her out of the shell later today. Also, I just uploaded to the profile page a pic (taken moments ago) of Mom and Dad with the baby. Enjoy!
I know I haven't given any updates in a while. But, there really hasn't been much to report. But now, the first baby is in the first stages of hatching. I'm guessing the little guy (or gal) will be here by tomorrow. There aren't any visual signs yet. Even so, I can hear him (her?) pipping away in there. Of course, I have to go to the opposite end of the house from where the flock is, and hold the egg close to my ear. The other three eggs (#s 2, 5, and 6) still appear fine.
Also, I've uploaded a shot of the handsome dad-to-be onto the profile page. When most of the other males gather around the cage, Zorro likes to stand on top of the nestbox. I guess he thinks he's protecting his family.
sleepy
mellow
excited