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Errol Crosbie.
Copyright © 2002.
All rights reserved.
Revised: Feb 10, 2008

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Foster cage with raised floor
When one or more
Pin-tailed Parrot Finch chicks fledge, put several layers of paper in tray.
Raise the tray to about level with the bottom of the nest. 
  

Raise the floor
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Remove the perch furthest from the nest.  The trays fit within the cage rather than extending out the front. 
A false floor of hardboard will do just as well for the few days involved in the floor-raising process.
Two chicks - 2.5 weeks after fledging - weaned
Fledged
 2.5 weeks
With all-wire foster cages, dowelling is easily used as a temporary support for the tray.  
For box cages the same can be achieved, provided some small holes are strategically placed in the cage back  prior to fostering, each to take a small headless nail hammered into the end of the dowelling intended to support the tray.
  
More importantly, the chicks can at anytime retreat back into the nest.  
This is important if the Bengalese have a tendency to pay more attention to those chicks still in the nest. Some advocate placing the nest box on the floor after fledging to achieve the same end.  
Raising the floor ensures that the Bengalese are in close proximity to the chicks
  
Raising the floor ensures that the Bengalese are in close proximity to the chicks.

Five chicks - 8 days after fledging

 

    Lower the floor
 
The tray or false floor is lowered back in two stages.  It is usually left at its highest point for two days.  If feeding is going well then the second perch is replaced after a day or two.
If all seems well with all fledglings flying from perch to perch and being fed, the tray/ false floor is lowered to a mid-point, then lowered  right down the next day. 
The speed of this process depends upon judgement as to how well the chicks are doing, flying and being fed.
Fledglings - 8 days

 

 

  Keep it clean

   Two fledglings at day 8 learning to feed
During this process, the top sheet of newspaper is removed daily to ensure old soft food or droppings are not pecked at by the fledglings as they begin to explore.
  
If the Bengalese don't do their duty see what to do at 'Hand Feeding' on the 
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