On 06-28-96, KATHY JOHNSON wrote to TOM WEISS:
 TW>Long time no see me, eh?  How ya been?
 KJ> 
 KJ> Busy! Two baby jendays are keeping me hopping, plus the 2 
 KJ> greyhounds, volunteer work and doing the occasional web page to earn 
 KJ> a few bucks (I LOVE working at home!!!)
Busy, huh? I know the feeling ... I've been OK, retired 31-MAY-96 with the 
golden handshake, house is up for sale, thinking of moving to Arizona if 
this house ever sells, Wendy, my oldest is getting married in December, 
Amy, my youngest is going to Central Michigan University this Fall.  AND 
my AGs are back on eggs (first since they gave that one chick last 
Thanksgiving).  We had a minor flooding here in Midland, caused my 
basement to take on drain tile water (no sewage) making it a pseudo-rain 
forest in their nesting area ... looks like it triggered some natural 
instincts for they are on two eggs, both of which look close to having 
some development (fingers crossed) IF they were one week old.  Estimate 
the first egg to be two weeks old ... not really sure as my "leave alone" 
method is still in place ... ie, no bed checking every day. I am concerned 
as at the time of fertilization we had a lot of ruckus around here showing 
the house and all ... and with *that* male being so skiddish. :(
More Jendays?  That's great!  I assume that all is well and your aviary is 
still disease free ... (I know how you worry).
 KJ> TW>Rather than use the word "barf" I would rather use the word 
 KJ> "regurgitate". TW>As you know, I'm not an experienced breeder, but 
 KJ> have hand fed only ONE TW>AG.
 KJ> 
 KJ> I know, you're a stickler for accuracy! 
... Sigh ... comes from being a detailed engineer for 26 years ... sorry 
... NOT ;).
 KJ> Well, at 5 weeks, a Jenday is NO where near weaning--no feathers, no 
 KJ> coordination, unable to pick up and chew food yet--I don't know if 
 KJ> it's related to that or not. I do know that as they begin to master 
 KJ> the above capabilities, they seem to quit the regurtitation 
 KJ> gradually. But I don't know what triggers the start of the behavior.
Agreed, 5 weeks is way too young to be weaned.  But if you think that at 
day one, the bird is *starting* to wean (this IS true), then somewhere 
along the line a bird must show it's mother by some instinct that weaning 
is approaching ... what better way than to shove it back to mom?  When 
does this happen? I don't really know and I havn't seen any documentation 
on this ... but it seems to me 5 weeks is a viable time ... al beit a bit 
on the early side.
 
 KJ> Well, besides being unnerving when they do it, it IS messy and they 
 KJ> end up needing baths (which I'm reluctant to give them when they're 
 KJ> so young).
Mess aside, the regurgitation is a natural (involuntary) action ... mother 
Natures way of saying something to you ... what do YOU hear?
When Tinker regurgitated (~5 weeks), I did give (her?) baths she seemed to 
not mind if the water was the same temp as the food.  In fact, I doubt if 
she even knew she was in water ... I used a towel to blot her and then she 
went back to the aquarium (no drafts).  Took X2 time, but didn't have a 
choice ... seems as though you don't either ... sigh ...
 KJ> So...where have you been hiding lately??? Have you heard from Reg at 
 KJ> all?
Not heard anything of Reg. Not hidding.  My service has been ON again / 
OFF (mostly) again. I've posted at least a dozen messages within FIDO in 
the last 6 months w/o a reply ... sigh ... VERY PLEASENT TO SEE YOUR 
RESPONSE!
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 * Freddie 1.2.5 * 
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