May 29, 2016 2:08:35 GMT
jjt
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 13
|
Post by jjt on May 29, 2016 2:31:13 GMT
We recently inherited two budgies from family member that passed. They were in a tiny little cage, felt sorry for them not having much room to move around, so I got them a big flying cage (4' x 3' x 2'). Got them some more toys and a fuzzy snuggle sack like bird house. The female became obsessed with trying to de-fuzz the inside of this fuzzy sack thing. I read something about that they like to peck at things to wear down their beaks so I got one of those 10" logs they can hollow out. She had it completely hollowed out in just two days and before we knew it, she started laying eggs. It's hard to see down in the log especially when she's in there. She ended up with four eggs. Today we can see a broken egg shell.
We've dog people and have never had birds before so we have no clue what we are doing. Is there anything we should be doing? The female is in the log most of the time. Every once and while she'll come out for a minute or so but then goes right back. The male goes to the entrance of the log several times a day, we are assuming to deliver food to her. Do they need a special diet during this time? Do we have to do anything for the baby birds?
Any helpful advice would be greatly appreciated!
|
|
|
Post by Shirls on May 29, 2016 7:16:06 GMT
jjt - sorry I can't be of much help to you but there are several members who will be on here shortly to give you good advice. skysmum, FFG, Budgies Retreat to name but a few, there are loads of others and we are worldwide so all in different time zones. Help will be on the way very soon. Your male budgie will feed the female so there shouldn't be any worries on that score but you will need to give them fresh veg and other stuff which other members will tell you about. Congratulations and good luck! Do keep us posted.
|
|
Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,851
|
Post by Marianne Marlow on May 29, 2016 7:40:03 GMT
Welcome.
I'm not good with chick rearing advice, but please take out the snuggle hut as those things are bad for birds.
Looks like the hen was broody and hollowed out the log especially, to use for a nest.
Someone will be along to offer help about the baby chicks.
|
|
|
Post by Hezz on May 29, 2016 8:38:34 GMT
The snuggle/death trap hut kicked off the hen's breeding desire, and the hollow log only made things worse. You can safely have a male and female without them wanting to breed, just so you know once this clutch is over with. When they are finished, and the chicks are fledged, take out the log and do not put in anything else that could possibly look like somewhere to nest. The birds need a diet with plenty of fresh vegetables, eggfood or fresh hard boiled egg, good quality seed, and all the usual things such as shell grit, cuttlebone, fresh water daily etc. Did you see any mating going on? There is, of course, the possibility that the eggs are infertile and all the panic will be for nothing. And we would love to see a photo or two the the couple. If you do have chick hatch, get some chick rearing formula on hand for if the hen does not know what to do - it does happen. She might also reject them, or try to kill them. These are all possible scenarios that you must be prepared for.
|
|
May 29, 2016 2:08:35 GMT
jjt
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 13
|
Post by jjt on May 29, 2016 22:42:29 GMT
Thanks Marianne I got rid of the snuggle thing after a few days once I realized there was no good way to clean it after they used the top as a perch. It was replaced by the log which turned out not to be a good idea. Oh well, live and learn. Thanks for the tip Hezz, we'll get rid of the log once the chicks are out. Yes there was mating over several days to be a few weeks.
As far as food goes, they came with bags of Great Choice Food for Parakeets (seed) purchased at Petsmart and different kinds of treat sticks. I tried a number of different kinds of fresh fruits (apples, kiwi, strawberries) but there was no interest of any kind over several weeks so I stopped that. They seem to prefer the parakeet seed. They are also very fond of Golden Millet. They really like the cuttlebones too especially since she's been in the nest.
I can see at least two chicks today and can hear them chirping. The mom doesn't come out much so it's really hard to see in the log while she is in there. We are going to set up a baby monitor to try to see in the log when she comes out when we are not in the room. We don't want to stress them out by being around the cage too much.
We really appreciate the feedback and look forward to getting more. How do we know if she's not taking care of them? Seems like we could do more harm then good trying to help. Is it better to just let them do their thing and hope the chicks make it? She seems very attentive. She's constantly trying to cover them up with her body.
I'll take some pictures of the birds and their cage etc and post soon.
|
|
|
Post by skysmum on May 29, 2016 23:25:58 GMT
I can't really offer any more than what Hezz has said. All you can do is provide them with the right food and that is important for the health of the chicks. Once the chicks come out offer soft egg food and plenty of millet to encourage them to feed themselves. Keep a close eye but leave them to it they seem to be doing very well Try offering grated carrot, celery, sweetcorn, cress and spinach with some dried egg food mixed in, they often prefer veg to fruit. This is what I make up for my buds and they love it.
|
|
|
Post by Hezz on May 30, 2016 5:36:58 GMT
I guess being in the log, it makes it difficult to tell what she is up to and hou'll have to trust her to do her best. As skysmum has said, most budgies prefer veggies to fruit, so try to get them all eating fresh veggies in a mull such as the photo above. The earlier you can get the chicks eating their greens the better, once they are out of the nest, but this is way easier if the parents eat theirs as well.
|
|
|
Post by Shirls on May 30, 2016 7:31:50 GMT
That looks a lovely mix skysmum, I may have to try that myself, (I mean for the budgies) but it does look good enough for me to eat!!!
|
|
May 29, 2016 2:08:35 GMT
jjt
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 13
|
Post by jjt on Jun 1, 2016 2:02:37 GMT
Tried some veggies (shredded carrots & celery, spinach, and eggfood). They didn't seem real interested but I'll keep trying. We've been hearing a lot of chirping from the log (especially late at night). So far I've seen two babies for sure. Mother appears to be feeding them something by mouth. She stays in the log most of the time on top of the babies. I did see at least one egg still whole today. We started with four eggs so not sure that status of the 4th one. I can't get close enough to the cage without her dogging back into the log. Do we have to be concerned about any chicks that didn't make it? Would they remove them from the log if that were the case? Or can we basically just make sure they have food, water and a clean cage and let me do their own thing? They seem pretty happy through out the day. A lot of chirping etc. I've seen the male in the log with the female a couple of times today. Pictures from 5/29 Mom inside the log with chicks and eggs and Proud Papa keeping a close eye. Will we be able to keep the chicks with the parents permanently? Not interested in relocating them if we don't have to.
|
|
|
Post by Shirls on Jun 1, 2016 6:31:31 GMT
I am not familiar with breeding budgies but I know you don't have to relocate the babies, they can all live together. How exciting for you, can't wait to see pictures of them all. Btw keep trying with the fresh food, they will eventually try it, may not like all of it but will pick out what they want.
|
|
|
Post by Hezz on Jun 1, 2016 8:30:36 GMT
Oh yes, the chicks and parents can be kept together for sure.
|
|
|
Post by Hezz on Jun 1, 2016 9:32:24 GMT
It looks like there is a whole lot of room there, but everything is on one plane, in that cage. Maybe that is not as high as it seems, but once those chicks are ready to leave the nest, that is one hell of long way down to the floor of the cage, it looks like. Is there any way of raising the floor up? Otherwise you are going to have to very gently try to move everything down so that there is not a huge drop from nest to floor. I don't know of exact measurements, but I wouldn't be wanting the chicks dropping any more than 20cms down to the floor of the cage. If you need to move the nest and everything else down, I wouldn't try this while the hen is still sitting on eggs. Once all the hatching is done then I think you would be fine.
|
|
Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,851
|
Post by Marianne Marlow on Jun 1, 2016 9:54:59 GMT
Agree with Hezz about the long drop to the floor. Also, what is the plastic looking thing draped around the outside of the cage?
|
|
May 29, 2016 2:08:35 GMT
jjt
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 13
|
Post by jjt on Jun 3, 2016 22:43:14 GMT
Yes Hezz it's a long way down. I'm going to have to move all their stuff down to the lower section. I had a challenge finding where to put all the items so they wouldn't be on a perch and leave droppings on the items below.
Marianne the white thing that looks like plastic is actually a soft elastic mesh material on the outside of the cage to keep birdseed from flying all over the place. It's just scrunched up because I was taking pictures and opening the doors etc. When the elastic mesh is fully extended it's about 9 inches tall and can easily slide up or down the cage as need be.
We just set up a budgie cam (aka baby monitor) so we can see in the log when the parents are out of it. There are definitely at least two chicks, I see the Mom feeding them. Dad is great about taking stuff in there to her too.
There is also at least one egg still there. Do I have to be concerned about removing the egg if it's not fertilized? If so how long do we wait to do that? Still not sure of the status of the 4th egg. I'm so tempted to tilt the log so I can see what's in there but of course I'd never do that, don't want to scare them.
|
|
|
Post by jujubiiird on Jun 3, 2016 22:52:03 GMT
From what I have read on this forum you shouldnt worry about the unfertilized egg, mommy bird will toss it herself, and even if she doesnt it shouldnt hurt anything I dont think... . Hope that's helpful, but someone else who is more knowledgeable will answer later I am sure.
|
|