Jan 29, 2022 14:46:52 GMT
pontikomama
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 27
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Post by pontikomama on Jan 29, 2022 14:58:59 GMT
Hi, I’ve lurked here a lot but this is my first time posting i have to chicks in the nest box, aged 11 and 14 days. This is my first time having chicks, I wasn’t really planning to, but I read about it a lot (before just out of interest and even more after the parents laid eggs, to make sure I provided everything they needed.) I have read the pinned threads here etc, but I’m sure it’s possible I missed something.
Everything is going well, the chicks are healthy and growing well, the hen is happy for me to check on them and handle them, their crops are full, her mate is preening and feeding her but I’ve never seen him go in the box or feed the chicks.
Today I noticed the mother had plucked the fluff off the eldest baby’s back. She is also popping out of the nest box a bit more often to eat and drink, although she always goes back in after a few minutes.
I have on hand budgie formula, syringes and spoons, thermometers, scales and a plastic “baby box” - I am not necessarily wanting to hand raise, but I bought them so I had them here in case something happened and I needed to intervene.
1. Should I remove the babies now, if she is plucking? Or just keep a close eye and only remove if they are not being fed or I see actual injuries? 2. Other than the plastic ferplast box, formula, syringes, thermometer, should I buy anything else to have on hand? 3. If I DO end up having to remove them, do I need to worry about adding an external heat source? My room is quite warm and they could have a towel over three sides of their box. I’m happy to buy more if needed. I don’t have another hen to foster to.
Additional information. The parents are not related, they are happy and healthy and they are both two years old. They are English/show budgies and very loved pets. This is their first clutch, and these two chicks are the only ones hatched.
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Jan 29, 2022 14:46:52 GMT
pontikomama
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 27
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Post by pontikomama on Jan 29, 2022 15:00:37 GMT
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Jan 29, 2022 14:46:52 GMT
pontikomama
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 27
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Post by pontikomama on Jan 29, 2022 16:38:36 GMT
Thought I’d add some things (since I might revisit this and use it as a journal)
I started weighing the chicks since I want to make sure the mum is feeding them enough. Today they weigh 26 and 29 g.
I ordered a (wireless) thermometer I can put in the box if needed.
If I need to remove them, I could potentially keep their baby box in our spare bathroom, which is a particularly warm room (small space with large radiator.) We don’t use this for showers or anything that can make things mouldy or harm the babies (detergents etc) Or I could use my bedroom which is a cooler ambient temperature
Both babies are lively and happy as far as I can tell right now.
I have an additional question about splayed legs. At two weeks, my chicks can sit on their legs quite well on a grippy surface, move around well etc but when they are on a more slippery surface, their legs do sort of “splay out” but this is not what they look like most of the time, most of the time they seem ok to me. I looked at photos of “splayed legs” online and they don’t look all sideways like that. I am guessing that’s normal and I don’t need to do anything, would that be correct? I am assuming it’s just lack of strength at this point. They will happily sit well on my hand, grip my finger etc.
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Post by tweetiepiesmom on Jan 29, 2022 16:53:08 GMT
It sounds exciting! I have never raised baby budgies so I can't and won't try to offer advice. Other experienced members will be on to help. I love reading what folks post about raising the babies and of course, the pictures of the babies are so cute! It seems to me that I read a post where the mother hen had plucked the baby's back feathers off. As I recall, the person did remove the babies. I'm sure someone else has more information to help you. I look forward to hearing more about both the parents and babies as they grow. Good for you reading up on budgie babies and having the supplies on hand just in case! Best of luck to you!
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Jan 29, 2022 14:46:52 GMT
pontikomama
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 27
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Post by pontikomama on Jan 29, 2022 17:15:58 GMT
I will see if I can post photos, they are both so cute! I just have to figure out how to do it. I am a stickler for researching the hell out of things, although I wish I had someone who could look at them in person, like a breeder friend or something. I have a flock of ten, but never had chicks before and I won’t lie, I’m very excited about seeing them grow up.
I have named the babies Bumble and Nugget
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Post by tweetiepiesmom on Jan 29, 2022 17:23:33 GMT
From the home page, go to the folder titled "budgie pictures and clips". In that folder you'll se a thread titled "uploading pictures" which should help you.
I love the names - very cute!
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Jan 29, 2022 14:46:52 GMT
pontikomama
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 27
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Post by pontikomama on Jan 29, 2022 17:30:57 GMT
Here is Bumble a few days ago, before the plucking incident
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Post by Hezz on Jan 30, 2022 1:09:52 GMT
If mum continues to pluck the chicks, you will need to remove her but leave the father with the chicks to take on the feeding role. Usually this plucking at the offspring means that the hen is getting ready to start round two, and you really don’t want her to do this as she does need a break from the rigours of laying, sitting and feeding. Move her completely out of the way, a different room if possible.
It’s good that you have the necessary items to step in and feed if dad doesn’t do his bit. Watch to make sure that their crops are regularly being filled and emptying, offer some formula if they don’t seem to be getting much to eat, or even as a top up. Getting the formula just right isn’t as important at this later stage of their development, thankfully.
Splayed legs happen in the early stages, usually due to a lack of bedding material in the nest box. If they were splayed, the only time to rectify this is in those very early days - definitely within the first 10 days. After that it is deemed that the hip joints will have fused into their permanent position. It doesn’t sound as though your chicks have this problem.
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Jan 29, 2022 14:46:52 GMT
pontikomama
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 27
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Post by pontikomama on Jan 30, 2022 4:36:06 GMT
Thank you Hezz. Just checking, because I’m really not sure the dad will feed them (he’s shown no interest in them so far, just on the mum) At this age, how long do I wait to see what he does before pulling them? (I.e. How long could they go with no adult attention?) To be fair the birds are not showing any inclination to mate again (she really doesn’t want him near her when she is out of the nest box, and he doesn’t do any mating-dance behaviours to her like he did before) And when you say “if she continues to pluck them” what do you mean (how quickly does the fluff grow back, how long do I wait to see if she continues?)
Is it worth giving them a supplemental feed to take stress off her, or is tgat likely to make her lose interest in them more?
Thanks again for the advice.
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Jan 29, 2022 14:46:52 GMT
pontikomama
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 27
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Post by pontikomama on Jan 30, 2022 16:00:29 GMT
Weighed them again today, they weigh 31 (from 26 yesterday) and 32 (from 29 yesterday) gr. So they are getting fed well for now. Did not see any signs of more plucking, so far so good. Keeping a close eye for now.
I added calcium in their water and put a fresh sprig of millet in the box for mum to pick (she had one already but it was getting a bit sparse)
They also have fruit and veg in the cage but I don’t want to put veg in the nest box in case I miss bits when I’m cleaning it and introduce any mould or insects.
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Jan 29, 2022 14:46:52 GMT
pontikomama
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 27
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Post by pontikomama on Jan 30, 2022 16:07:28 GMT
For sure Nugget is blue factor (both parents are green factor) so I’ve got one yellow and green pied baby and one white and blue pied baby 🥰🥰🥰 Both had full crops and extra wriggly today. They were in that bowl because I was weighing them.
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Post by tweetiepiesmom on Jan 30, 2022 18:41:06 GMT
They are sooooo cute! yes, I can see the yellow feathers coming out. They are growing beautifully. Good that mum stopped plucking so maybe she decided not to lay another clutch.
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Post by Hezz on Jan 31, 2022 0:56:15 GMT
Watch mum very carefully in case she starts to pluck again, but good news so far. Fingers crossed.
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Jan 29, 2022 14:46:52 GMT
pontikomama
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 27
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Post by pontikomama on Jan 31, 2022 16:52:16 GMT
Just weighed them again Both 35 grams, and no new plucking, and very lively. Nugget (the youngest) had a fuller crop than Bumble so I think Bumble was due a feed and that’s why they were the same weight. I will check again later today to make sure he’s been fed. EDIT: I weighed him again a couple of hours later, crop is full and he is now 37 grams so we’re good. I think I might start giving them a supplemental feed once a day, just to get used to the technique in case I have to do it… I don’t want the stress of “omg if I get this wrong they starve” Just might try offering a feed on a spoon and see what they make of it. it’s so funny because at only 12 and 15 days you can already see their personalities, Nugget (the younger one) is actually bossier and keeps trying to climb over Bumble to go where he wants. Bumble is calmer. Photos of the hooligans, best I could get because they kept trying to fling themselves to their doom.
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Jan 29, 2022 14:46:52 GMT
pontikomama
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 27
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Post by pontikomama on Jan 31, 2022 16:54:13 GMT
Watch mum very carefully in case she starts to pluck again, but good news so far. Fingers crossed. If I do end up having to hand feed them, at this age do I need to boil/sterilise water, or is tap water fine if it’s the right temperature? And do I need to actually sterilise spoons and bowls, or is washing them really well enough? i won’t do it if I don’t have to but I want to make sure I don’t have to look for info in a panic.
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