Bengalese

[laurab]

I don't know if you remember but our Elsa purchased a pair of Bengies at Stafford this year (picture at the top of the forum). Unfortunately the hen has died :cry: By her actions I am sure she suffered a head trauma; fine one day and completely dazed the next and did not last long, in fact, died before I went to work at 8am.

The thing is, she has laid 5 eggs. At the moment the cock bird is sitting. Obviously he leaves to feed, drink etc but always returns to the nest.

What is the likelihood of him hatching and rearing the chicks?

I haven't told Elsa yet as she was SO upset when she lost her first 2 Golden Song Sparrows!

[kenny]

hi laura
i think there is agood chance of the single bird rearing them as i dont know of a case where bengies have purposely abandoned anything i know there are exceptions but i think it may well be ok...unless paul knows different


ken

[Waxbillman]

hello Laura

as you know bengalese are excellant parents, so he will definatly try and go all the way to rearing etc, though keep an eye on him, 5 chicks will be very taxing on one bird. A number of years ago the same thing happened to me, though it was with zebra finches, the cock bird raised about 2 chicks to independance, i don't know whether there was any chicks lost though, as like i say its was a number of years agos and allot of water has passed under the bridge since then

Matthew

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Laura,

I'm sorry to hear Elsa has lost her hen Bengalese,:-( I remember how pleased Elsa was on the day at Stafford when she showed me the birds she had just bought.:D

As Ken and Matthew have said the rearing instinct in Bengalese is famously strong, there is a good chance the cock could hatch the five eggs and rear the chicks on his own, but as Matthew has stated five chicks for one parent is a huge task.
As a precaution though if you have any of your Pet Shop type Bengalese currently using a nest box even if they don't have eggs, then I think it would be best to place at least some of the eggs under them.

All the best mate, Paul.;-)

[dave85]

hi laura,

now i shall add my 2 cents :P

as regarding the cock bird as long as hes sitting id leave him and check fertility in a few days, then go from there as he maybe sat on a full clutch of fertile eggs then again he only could have a couple or none, so no point burdening another pair until you know for sure if they are to be needed in my opinion.

But if the need arises id do like paul suggests pop a few under another pair if possible as 1 bird may struggle with 5 but 3 should be ok as i have a java hen on 3 chicks and coping fine as i was unfortunate to lose my cock bird.

Thanks
Dave

[harry]

Hiya Laura
earlier this year a mate had a pair of Heck's with 4chick's,when they were about 6 day's old the hen died,he hummed and arrred about putting them under bengie's but left them with the cock bird,he reared 3 by himself.If you've got a spare cock bengie
put him in with the lone parent,i think you'll be pleasantly surprised

Goodluck Harry

[laurab]

Hi all

I have got plenty of spare bengies but I was worried that the introduction of another bird would distract him from sitting on the eggs.

Talking of distraction, luckily Elsa has been too busy of late to notice her hen is missing......not sure she is going to make it as a 'bird person' :? She is still of the age where she likes her nice furry rats and ferrets that can be cuddled.

[kenny]

hi laura
as you say they dont really show enough interest in the birds until there are some little chicks to look at so she may not notice at all until some or all of them hatch....what dave said is a good idea though if you candle them and bin any infertile ones the others may stand a better chance as you may find there aren`t as many to rear as you first thought

ken

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Laura,

Have you decided what option you are going to take with the eggs?

Paul.;)

[The Fledgling]

Hello

Mummy has tald me what happened to my bengalese.
I was very upset,but pleased thatthere are some babies that are part of her.

Mummy has just taken me in to the aviray to have a look at the babies.
I was told that there were two,but when we just looked there are now4!

Please can you teel me what i can do to help the daddy bring up his babies.

[PAUL HEARN]

Hello Elsa,

We are all sorry that you lost your female Bengalese,:sad: but at least the babies have cheered you up!:grin:

The best thing you can do to help your male Bengalese bring up his babies is to give him plenty of eggfood and soaked seed to feed the babies, and keep on checking them to see that he is doing a good job.;)

If he has any problems then you could put two of the babies in with your Mums Bengalese and they will rear them.

Good luck mate, Paul.;)

[kenny]

hi elsa
its great stuff when you have young babies to look at as there is nothing nicer than having your very own baby birds....well done and good luck with them

uncle ken:wink:

[laurab]

We are giving plenty of moistened egg food, live food and soaked seed.

Oh, he has hatched all 5 eggs :shock: :razz: :-?

[Waxbillman]

thats brilliant Laura

i hope the poor fellow manages to rear the lot

Matthew

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Laura and Elsa,

My pair of exhibition Bengalese Finches laid a clutch of six eggs, hatched five and are currently rearing four chicks, if my pair are raising four out of five chicks, then I would suggest placing a couple of the young under your other Bengalese to be on the safe side in rearing all five.

Paul.;-)