UPDATE: HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAYA (10 weeks old) 70 DAYS!
This is not an end-all post. But it is a celebration post.
I hope to inform and clarify my thoughts=
NOTE: 'Young Adult' is classified as the time when the first molt/beak color is completed. It begins at 6 weeks, and ends 10 weeks (at the latest). Originally I hoped for her to make it to 7 days... then hoped for 30 days (weaning). Now she is 70 days.... and honestly, still a bit of a mystery- but she is my little mystery.
Terrible storm/crashing-cage/lightening/flooding- Abandoned Nest- No electricity/Brooder- Paralysis- Infection- SHE MADE IT.
70 days in review: (at a few days old)
At one point, this is what her crop was one sided, and filled with an extreme amount of air- but she was negative for yeast.
(graphic warning from the infection caused by 'improper embryo development' most likely because I had to incubate the eggs in my hands/legs for a period of time and of course- the rolling/moving of the precious eggs (smashing to the floor didnt help when the enclosure got crushed)... in which I needed to find meds (off the market):
I questioned whether or not she was meant to thrive. Scientifically- I was ready to throw in the towel... to prevent undue suffering. Shortly after the vet confirmed that Foo Man Choo (brother) died from embryo underdevelopment (heart mostly and couldnt process correctly). However MY HUMAN, wee-bit of a heart took over, and I continued to give the best care money and time could buy (with limited expectations).
TODAY:
In her honor: Birthday cake:
- egg, pellet and quinoa with honey millet topping and a carrot candle
She received a 'hut' nest to be added to her enclosure and Harrisons superfine pellets (which turns out she loves) as birthday gifts.
She is 100% weaned! (still regurgitates sometimes whole seeds?) and beautiful with her bright white tummy and griege body. The bold back lines on her tail are stunning.
SONG: An interesting note, interconnected brain nuclei enables 'learned song' patterns in adult male zebras. The nucleui in the females (who do not sing are greatly reduced).
Males have more hormone-concentrating cells than females, and this enables them the same language learning capacity as humans. Therefore I was confused by her ability vocal communications. After significantly recording her songs- it is very similar to what she was raised with 'kisses, smooches and clicks' when I was feeding her as a kit. While I played zebra songs for her during development, she only responded to humans unfortunately (too little too late).:straightface:
PHYSICAL: According to some professionals after seeing blind photos of her-
She is a 'SHE' LB/DD/BB (lightback, Dominent Dilute, black breasted) but considering the lightening/storm- she may also be a super hero
lol
Therefore, her father: must be a lightback/silver- which is a very rare combination and was thought not to exist until recently (winner at a few birds shows recently was a lightback/dominent dilute (another name for silver).
If she was a 'dominent dilute' (silver) then her tail bars would not be black (tail bars are as black as the night- fittingly so with the name Saya 'born in the night').
It is noted that some 'creams' (silver + fawn) will produce pink legs in show. Her mother was a blackbreasted, but could have carried fawn (silver +fawn makes creams).
The confusion regarding her beak/feet is still quite a mystery. It does seem to be darkening slightly- but well- that is to be debated I guess.
So she is: Lightback, Dominent dilute (silver), Black Breasted.
Here is an image of a lightback hen:
I would assume, there will be a very clear conclusion in 2 weeks (when they reach full sexual maturity and can actually breed
.... (which I dont let happen, but they can).
I will keep updating as things progress- but I wanted to make a special post in honor of her achievement.
(now if I could only teach her to read..... and maybe do the dishes......)