Belle...the Continuing story...

[srtiels]

It's been almost a year, and history may be repeating itself. Here is the link of when Belle was a baby: http://forums.avianavenue.com/softbill-circle/13706-delemia-mousebird-babies-input-needed.html

Well when I did my trade of the BN they had laid eggs before the day of shipping so I put them in the incubator. The problem with this is there was no pairs on eggs that I could foster these eggs to, and I did not want to try to handfeed from day one. Luckily one egg was infertile to I showed it to Belle and inticed her to start sitting on it. Yesterday I candled and noticed that incubator egg was getting close to hatch, so I put it under Belle. it hatched yesterday afternoon. I got up all during the night and she was on the nest, and Little sister (last years other incubated hatch) was guarding the nest, and this morning Belle was feeding the chick, so it is still alive...

I will try to get some pix's of her with the babies later today. PLUS...Belle still like to be handfed formula when I have extra from feeding the babies...so I will give her some formula in a little bit.

 

[Billie Faye]

Great Job Belle!!!!!
Hope she keeps up the good work of being a Foster Mom!

 

[srtiels]

Thanks Billie Faye. I just handfed Belle some formula. She has recruited a widower male to watch the nest while she is off. I peeked under him and the chick looks like it has grown since yesterday.

 

[expressmailtome]

I wish you the best of luck with this baby! It looks very cute!

Matt

 

[waterfaller1]

Awww..what a great mommy! This is so heartwarming to see how they care for the babies, even if they are not theirs'!
Way to go Belle!!

 

[srtiels]

Si far so good. There are 4 birds in Belle cage (2 males, 2 females) and it seems like all of them are helping Belle out with the chick. AND...if they get low on food she will start whistling...LOUD..., which I can hear from the other side of the house, whici is her telling me to get out there and replentish the food.

 

[Anne & Gang]

good job Belle!!!

 

[itzmered]

awe they look like they are all making a great family raising baby

 

[srtiels]

The lirrle one is doing great. It looks nice and plump and some color is coming in on the tail and wings. In another day little pin feathers should start to show and by 4 days old it should be double the size and the eyes starting to open

Belle, Little Sister, and the 2 males are all sharing duties taking care of the chick. I have been handfeeding Belle and Little Sister a couple CC of formula a couple times a day to make it easier for them to feed the baby.

 

[Sarel]

What an event... keep posting those remarkable photos! Oh! Sweet!

 

[srtiels]

Thanks Sarel...I bet maybe next year if you have another little lost baby that Pike and Ike may try to help you feed the little one. Or they can be helpful in showing it how to eat on it's own. If they were in a flock they would be recruited as helpers with the nestlings and fledglings. So if you are the 'parent' flock memebr they might just be your helpers with future babies

 

[waterfaller1]

Aww..what a teeny sweetie pie!! So cute!

 

[Teresa CTN]

This is absolutely incredible - please keep posting photo's, they are so amazing!!

 

[srtiels]

Thanks Teresa. I checked a little bit ago and the chick is doing great. Belle kept covering it so that I couldn't get a good pix...so I will try later. From what I can see more of the skintone on the wings and tail have gotten darker. I also want to weigh it, but it looks like it is growing nicely.

 

[birdlover82]

Aww. I just love hearing about mousebirds taking care of the babies.

 

[srtiels]

Aww. I just love hearing about mousebirds taking care of the babies.

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Thanks...they are continually teaching me I had heard that pets don't make good breeders or parents. Belle is blowing that myth away This was not even her egg, and she excepted it and recruited the other mousebirds to help her

 

[srtiels]

I did up some more pix's. That Belle is really milking out this Mommy venture. She is demanding and evewn if she is not totally out of food she will whistle loud to get me to come running and give her goodies

She and help helpers are doing a GREAT job with the little butterball chick.

Look how long her tail is...

 

[Sapphire Moon]

That chic is so precious. And the foster mommy is so attentive. Please keep the pic's coming, I love to see the daily changes.

 

[komodeno]

wow how remarcable is this.Belle is a great mother to that litlle chick!

 

[waterfaller1]

Belle the baby momma and her baby!
She does have a super long tail Susanne..wow!