Nesting record for Littlegirl and Nick's first successful clutch. Second clutch laid. Littlegirl was hand-raised in the summer of 2000 with two siblings. She was one of two females, one male in the clutch. Nick is a male I have had for about four years, and was not the alpha male when together with other Pekins I have in the 9'x16' aviary, which is now split into two smaller aviaries. Presently, Littlegirl is very pale in coloring, while the male is brightly colored. Littlegirl is definitely paled.

Day 1 May 25 Hatched...from nest built in a hanging spider plant. Friday afternoon Grant asked when the babies were due, I said Sunday for sure. What a surprise when I got home around 6:00 PM. and found both parents begging at the aviary door for food! "They've hatched!" I yelled as I ran to get food. Sure enough in the nest 3 little heads popped up asking for food. They were kind of strong, but didn't beg too long. Both parents hunted the food and fed. Not much sitting on the nest at this point, it was a hot 93+ day, so no worries. Parents only feed insects. I have tried egg food, beef heart, etc. Nothing but insects was touched.

Day 2 May 26 By 5:30 AM both parents were hunting for insects. Still no other food touched. At this early hour I wanted to know how warm the babies were, so to the touch they were only a bit warm, so I left them alone. Good news is there are 4 babies total! They look strong begging for food. After the parents got live food fed, about 10 minutes later, Littlegirl was sitting on the nest warming the babes, so that was a relief to me that they will stay warm. Parents are drinking Guava Nectar, from Kerns, which has lots of calcium. I go out to the aviary every hour, or two hours to throw live food at the parents. This gets them going to hunt, though I see them non-stop hunting most of the time. I am running out of Waxworms! There are non in this town or the next two close by! They love the adult moths so that is good given it is all I have left. . Other than that, only the ants are eating the beef heart, egg, etc. I'd love to find the ant pupa to feed! The ants owe me at this point! Not a really warm day....but a good 90 degrees.

Day 3 May 27 Parents up early again hunting for food. Babies look strong and the parents are almost inviting me in to see their cuties! I will get the digital camera to get a jpg. Littlegirl was hand-raised by me last summer, so she is being trained well by her mate, Nick. He is really into caring for the babies, and I think he is training Littlegirl how it works. He is a male I have had for .....4 years, wild caught, I think. He was not the alpha male, and has the name Nick for all the head injury the alpha male gave him last year. I learned to separate the aviaries to avoid the injuries. Duh! Now Nick is the alpha male and is in his element! This evening I heard one of them sing the baby chirp!! Wonderful! It was a cool 80 degrees today, which is scary, but I did see Littlegirl sit on the nest to warm them, so I will stop worrying about warmth. No misters on today. I have observed them sitting on the edge of the nest, looking at the babies. I wonder what they are thinking??? throw out, or feed??? Anyway, I saw a piece of food hanging from the parent's beak, so I figured it the latter. *LOL*

Day 4 May 28 Parents not up at 5:15. 5:30 they were ready for food. All four still looking strong and bigger! The nest is going to get tight here soon at this rate. Nick is a big male, not my biggest, but these babes are growing fast! Yippy! Thank God for these little miracles! Still only live insects. Will try feeder fish later today. The other pair of Pekins in the adjoining aviary must know something is going on. They are constantly looking into Littlegirl's aviary, and Nick doesn't seem to argue about it too much. But he often stands guard and lets them know were the door is! Maybe the other pair just want some of all the live insects. Last summer these two were the breeders, and Littlegirl is their baby. This year they have produced no nest, and the female can't get the male to mate. By the afternoon, the nest was very full with these growing babies! Their eyes are just starting to open.

Day 5 May 29 NIck almost jumps on me to get insects in the morning. They still only seem interested in live food, not egg, fruit, beef heart, etc. I am feeding crickets fed Chicken Starter, Spirilina. Out of Waxworms now, none in this town. Still feeding lots of mealworms, so things are ok on the insect supply. The temperature is cool this morning and I am glad to see Littlegirl sitting on the nest after feeding this morning. They woke for food at 5:15 AM. The temp. is warm enough during the day that they don't sit on the nest much at all. Heard a little singing, not much. Very hot day. By 3:00 in the afternoon, all birds were panting hot! Had to remove a temp. wall which allowed more airflow. The misters helped too, tho' I didn't leave misters on for fear of too cold. Gave each baby a little water in the mouth to help hydrate.

Day 6 May 30 I am worried about one little one this morning. I don't think the parents sat on babies this last night, and one is now not gaping. I touched it and can't get it to gape. I am waiting to pull it to see if someone will sit on the nest to warm a bit. Other three look stronger, one not as the others. Two are really strong. I saw Nick feed one a worm. He sat it on the baby's mouth. The baby didn't get it into his mouth! I think at this rate, I need to get the incubator going. Now I am home trying to calm my nerves, and checking the babies. They all have their heads up, over the edge of the nest, so that is a good sign. I really am hoping they were just too cool this morning causing the one to be too quiet. I don't know.... Their eyes are more open, and two are bigger than the other two, the weakest is the smallest. Littlegirl chased me off again, so I just put a little Pedialite on their beaks for hydration. Very windy and only 85 degrees now. The parents aren't acting frantic for food now. I don't know if they are bored or what, but the babies gape well. I will get feeder fish today and see if that picks up their interests. I wish I had waxworms, they are due Thurs or Friday. At lunch today, I frantically went to Petco to get whatever new live food they might have and they HAD waxworms. I danced and sang and bought all they had, plus Blackworms as we talked about last night. Forgot the feeder fish, but that's ok. When I got home all babies had heads up out of the nest, not too hot yet. Turned on misters, thanks for reminding me, I watched for 10 min. They were so happy to get waxes, they went crazy feeding them. I gave ringers to all for hydration while the heat builds. It was 98 degrees, but no panting going on yet! Left misters on. I think the little sun block thing is working. Then I had to get back to work. I am feeling good with the prospects, even tho odds are against me. I am hopeful about the weaker one, but I will try to be realistic. Now if I can just get my stomach to calm down. I ate a breakfast and am suffering now. *LOL* Yippy kye aye! Today is good......crossing fingers.....*LOL* may the Pekin Gods stay with us.....The weak one was fine this afternoon. Was very hot today, 102, but the birds never panted with the shade and misters on. Everyone seems good! Please don't change that.

Day 7 May 31 Warm night last night and the nest is so crowded, I don't think the parents are sleeping on the nest. All are gaping this morning, standing tall in the nest asking for food, chirping at the parents, and now all have eyes open. With waxworms now they aren't as interested in feeding crickets. Too much work with pulling legs and all. *LOL* Took the first pictures today of them sleeping peacefully in the nest. I supplemented the little one with some formula to give it a little extra food. I am giving ringers when babies get so hot they pant. This is only a couple times a day. Littlegirl was sitting on the edge of the nest tonight which is where I think she sleeps.

Day 8 June 1 Temp. mild today, only 91 degrees for a while, breezy. Babies are very strong and appear well fed so I did no supplemental feedings, just some ringers earlier. No misters needed today. Lots of live insects, the usual 3, can't get them to eat anything else! Try lots of stuff, all wasted. They are getting fuzzy with feathers and I might be able to sex them soon. Lots of down on them now. Good day for them.

Day 9 June 2 Things are fine today. Colder though, 50 degrees last night. Luckily they have each other for warmth.

Day 10 June 3 At 10:00 3 babies had fledged. I had to set up a corral to hold them in an area with a heat lamp because it has been cooler lately. They are hopping everywhere, active, happy little explorers. They try to get into a bush or shrub, but hop off soon after they make it. They are strong, and cute little things. Very small. Trouble started when I noticed ants on them at 7:00PM. I hydrated and cleaned ants, but the babies got covered again. I am hoping the ants would go to sleep, but many remained to cause havoc.

Day 11 June 4 .......at 4:30AM the babies were full of ants, and weak, not cold. I pulled them all to clean off the ants and hydrate them. They were very dehydrated, poop was dried to their bottoms, that's what I mean by dehydrated. So at 5:30 I put them back. 2 are out hopping as usual, two are still weak. I think the parents will still feed, they are in and out of the pen and all. I just don't know what to do with the weakest. Maybe just pull it, as you say, the parents can't count! Maybe my odds are better if I pull 2, leave 2 *LOL*
I am so not wanting to pull, but I don't want to lose a single one! At 9:00 three in the incubator had stabilized, and the one in the aviary was very weak. Didn't yell or move when I picked him up. Not good, he is weak. Now I have all four in the incubator, hydrating them with Pedialite and Gerber Turkey/Tropical Fruit Stage 2 food. Great news, Lee's email about Jumbo being weak then recovering to be perky again helped a lot. They always need Pedialite, Gatoraide, water, whatever before any food items or they die. At 2:00pm they have gained strength and are looking much better. The oldest that I left in the aviary longer still hasn't come back yet, but I think he will. They are more bright and alert.
Sally H. mentioned that they might be scared of me as to explain the quietness of the babies, so at 11:00AM I put them in the aviary to see if they would perk up at the site of the parents. 5 minutes later they were hopping around, while the ants covered the nest/bowl they were in. The oldest didn't move, so I pulled all out to bring to work and hand feed. I will not take anymore risks, not that I am any better a risk! *LOL* I would love to leave them, but I can't because of work. What are my odds? Now I have Sevan dust around and inside aviary and that has taken most of the ants away. Where have I been with that??? Why didn't I have this done long ago??

Day 12 June 5 Fed at 2:30AM the very asleep babies. I am feeding egg whites only for a while to see if this picks them up a bit. They barfed some of the mealworm, and waxworms. This seems to be the answer. They are definitely stronger and more alert. 5:30AM feeding was good. More alert even. During this day, three started gaping in a slight way, while the smallest is force able. I have got a better technique and it is much quicker and easier. They aren't pooping every time I feed so I think I need more food to give them. Important thing is to preen them as it stimulates them and they love it! Scratching the neck, back of the head is their favorite! Later today I fed waxworms and formula for calcium as well as egg to balance things a bit, and I think it is working. Also, lots of Pedialite during each feeding, one or two drops on the beak to help with swallowing. The formula is ground kitten Science Diet, one HB egg shelled, some vit. some Spirilina, Pedialite, ....calcium tablet, ground. One is making crackle sounds when breathing...don't know what that is all about...

Day 13 June 6 Took them to the Vet this morning to check on breathing and legs. The vet said they looked great and no meds recommended. The cracking noise is fluid on lungs but no infection so it should clear up. Hoping....They are perky and cute this morning and I posted jpgs of them. I am feeding more formula and waxworms now. I was told to feed the amount of one waxworm every 20 min. or so. Yah!

Day 14 June 7 I am seriously thinking of giving Baytril to the weak one on the right in the basket. He is heavy breathing and eyes closed, etc. It is such a gamble as to whether or not bacterial infection somewhere is the problem with him at this point, but I am sure to lose him if I don't do something. What are symptoms of yeast infection? I am feeding 2 waxworms at a time, sometimes one because they are not wanting more, and barfing some up. One baby barfs a lot. I will feed him just egg today. The poop sacks are happening most of the time, but I have to be careful and make sure I give Pedialite all the time. I also put them in a stick nest basket because some baby's toes were not forming correctly. The back toe was not gripping. This basket seems to be better for them. They spend a lot of time on the edge gripping which is a good sign. Lee has helped a tremendous amount with her ideas and knowledge from Sally H. I just gave some Bayril to the sick one. He is dying in my hand, labored breathing, crackled sounding. My heart is sad. He will not make it. It was responding well, stopped the labor breathing, etc. eyes open...it even started gaping!! No one else does that! He was alert, etc. I was only going to give it Pedialite, but when it gaped, I was so excited, I gave it a piece of egg. Later it was labored again, which means it is in pain. The odor is a sign of infection. I pulled him to do the enema thing again and he looked at me and stopped breathing. I asked him to go peacefully and fly as a free bird....I am trying to be strong and not cry but it is tough. I have 3 babies who are happy and need a happy mom, it will be ok I tell them not to worry. I really think it was the formula, though I did find an older small puncture wound on his chest, oddly enough. Or it could have been fluid on the lungs........who knows, but I am learning how to prevent this for future failures...


Day 15 June 8 Very good morning, the babies look very alert and two are strong. The youngest, or runt, isn't getting his leg strength up yet. He can't stand up. He is maybe getting better at clutching the sticks, but falls a lot due to weak legs. I remember him coming out of the nest this way. He was flapping around and not standing at all. He looks like a "runt" and is NOT growing at all. Sad. If it is a boy it wont be so bad cuz he will sing and someone would like that, but if it is a hen, what can we do. Not a breeder! I learned to stuff HB egg into the syringe and now I can feed eggs like a pro! No problem! Now I am stuffing a "bird biscuit" too, so life is easier with feeding. Couldn't get the worms through it though. Need a bigger hole in the syringe. Maybe there is one at a store. Anyway. At 5:30 I put the three little ones back in the aviary to see if parents would feed. Nick was interested, but they got wet, didn't call to be fed, and the parents left after 15 minutes, not seeming too interested. Humm...Pulled them and they are back in the kitchen. They need a cage now, as they are thinking more about flying. Good day....

Day 16 June 9 Babies look good, one still weak. They are getting more color. All seem to be males as their green is very dark, not light like the female babies. I am mixing Science Diet Cat with egg and spirilina today. Have to get more into these little guys. They are starting to fly more. The runt begs for food, but no one else! Strange, I thought they would have started that. I put them out in the aviary and they were totally scared and hid in the bushes. Not good.

Day 17 June10 Spent the night at a friends with the babies in tow... worked well. They are feathering out more, but not Runt. He is still not growing. His legs look bent kind of funny, and his joints are swollen. Not good. I may have to put him down if something doesn't look better for the guy. Someone posted that it could be humidity that causes leg problems, but this was only one bird, and the smallest. They have eye patches starting to feather in. Not Runts. They seem to be doing well on the Science diet. Good.

Day 18 June 11 Posted jpg 3babies. They are still strong, at least 2 are. Not begging. Put them in a bigger cage and they are trying to fly to perches, missing occasionally. They seem to be doing well, but I need to put the little one down.

Day 19 June 12 Good day, all three are still alive. Few more feathers on Runt. He is so small still, but energetic!! No eating live food today. I got the Monkey Biscuits and made a mix of that, eggs, a little Science Diet Feline, Spirilina, ...Pedialite. Littlegirl and Nick are on eggs again, nesting happily. This time it is Littlegirl who is on the nest all the time...Cool.

Day 20 June 13 Good day. They are cute, and pecking at food a little. They don't really like me feeding them, but I have to....

Day 21 June 14 Another good day. They are pecking more at worms, and even ate some that I fed to them! I am getting tired of hauling them around! Runt is trying so hard to perch.

Day 22 June 15 Good day, they started flying to the bottom of the cage and eating! Yah! They are pecking at things and eating off the hemostats ! This is good! I still force feed till I see they are eating a lot, and it looks like they are eating often enough... Runt needs help. He looks pathetic not able to perch. He falls all the time, gets in the water, etc....I need to put him down. He is still really small, but if he is a singing male, it could be ok....He would need to stay in a cage and all, so a singer would be something someone would like.

Day 24 June 17 Left them alone for several hours! Self-feeding! Yah! They are picking on Forrest quite a bit now. I should put him in his own handicapped cage! *LOL*

Day 25 June 18 Posted 4 jpgs of the babies. They look good, and I am down to feeding them only a couple times a day. They are eating blueberries, soaked Monkey chow, lots of stuff... Guava Nectar, etc. Happy little guys. Forrest is fluffy now, but can't get around much. Grant was thinking it is cuz of the babies sitting on him, flattening him...poor guy. Still can't bring myself to put him down. His eyes are so cute!

Day 26-30 Left with a friend for a small vacation....The little one is on the top perch sometimes.... The other two are now getting the gold chest in! They are flying around the kitchen some. Might be ready to go outside..??

June 25 Can't count the days ....They are in the kitchen big cage eating away...I let them out to fly the kitchen and they are reluctant. One actually flew down the hall! Only female calls so far...no songs yet. They whistle back to me. One now gapes who I could never get to gape before....strange... Today their parents hatched their 2nd clutch as I found egg shell by the door! 4 more on the way....help....

July 1 Starting to hear song from a male...:-)) Forrest looks bad still. Very odd. He is singing too. The third looks female.

July 7th I put the wicker baskets on the table for the babies to play with, I wanted to see what they thought of the baskets. They love them! They sit in them, try different ones out, even brought nesting material to one of them! Funny. Jump in and out of them, even the 4 inch deep ones. Odd thing is later this evening, the male started posturing and chittering to mate!! What is up ?? Jumped on the other one’s back and all. I think maybe Grant is correct about it being a hen. It sort of postured back!! Then they started fighting and it ended with the ?? hen on the bottom of the cage. Nest stimulation?

July 9 Well, maybe Grant is not right about it being a hen. I put the 2 in the kitchen out in the new aviary with Old Pekin and the new ?hen. The young cock went crazy trying to mate. Old Pekin was on the ground. etc. After an hour of this, I pulled him and put him with Runt in the kitchen. He calmed down. This morning I checked on the hen/old Pekin and the other young PK was posturing and singing as Grant said would happen with the other cock being removed. So now I have all the pairs I need. Though I don’t know if Chuck’s hen will breed. I need to set up that aviary for breeding. Duh!

Monday, June 25th, 3 more babies hatched from these Parents!!! Gave Runt (Forrest) male to my Vet’s wife...she is happy with him...he sings and is well cared for. Keeping #170 male for breeding and traded #172 male to Sally H. for another male for breeding this season if I am so lucky to have it work again!
Return to Pekin Robins