These are our handraised Societies! They were hatched the summer of 2013. By the time these photos were taken, all of them were done with their juvenile molt.
The parents were either Self Fawn, Self Chocolate, or “imperfect selfs”. Most of the chicks are “imperfect selfs”, too. The Fawns and the Chocolates are unrelated. The Creaminos had Chocolate parents.
They were handraised on Lafeber’s Nutristart. It is a rice-based formula and dissolves really well. Then they were weaned onto Lafeber’s finch pellets.
We pull them for hand-rearing when they are still bristly, but have enough feathers to keep warm. At this age they can sleep through the night.
They grow fast! Here they’re about ready to fly.
Sooooo cute!!! Still in juvenile plumage.
They’re very curious about everything.
First clutch baby meets the second clutch. “What the heck are these?!”
All the clutches together. (Except for the tiniest chick, who was still in a brooding box.) At this point the little ones needed to be handfed every 4 hrs or so; the older ones didn’t need it that often, but they screamed and hollered anyway!
All grown up! They were weaned onto Lafeber’s Finch Pellets (“Premium Daily Diet for Finches”). They like the pellets OK — but get totally excited when they get eggfood, romaine, or even plain seed.
They aren’t tame enough to pet, but they are very willing to eat goodies right out of your hand. That was my main reason for weaning them onto pellets.
