Mar 31, 2014 19:31:46 GMT
stumpy46
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 13
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Post by stumpy46 on Apr 26, 2014 16:30:28 GMT
Hi Everyone
I hope you are all well today.
Anyway, we have had two sets of babies. We are not breeders and by chance this happened. The first set of three have flown the nest and are coping admirably in the aviary.
The second set of two who are a week younger are not doing as well. One of them (the older of the two) seemed to be doing ok, but the younger one cannot fly and seemed to be the weaker of the two. They are very close and we came home today to find both of them huddled together on the ground in the aviary (which has 11 birds - it is a big aviary), it was horrible as we thought we had lost them. Anyway, we always wanted these two to be indoor birds, so we bought a nice cage and everything for them. They are now in the cage, but they appear to have forgotten how to feed and drink and seem to be puffing a lot. So, not sure if this is right or wrong, we put Mum in the cage too so that she may at least feed them. We really want to do our best so any advice people can offer would be appreciated.
They are 3.5 weeks.
Thank you
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Post by starlingqueen on Apr 26, 2014 16:34:02 GMT
It would be better if you put the father in. He takes over the feeding when they leave the nest box. Other people should be along to give you more advice soon. I haven't bred any birds yet so don't know the ins and outs of it properly. Hope they are better soon
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Mar 31, 2014 19:31:46 GMT
stumpy46
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 13
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Post by stumpy46 on Apr 26, 2014 16:36:38 GMT
Thanks Starlingqueen
Now that's a conundrum. The Dad could be one of three as we have all blue boys. What if you put the wrong boy in or could I put all three boys in?
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Post by starlingqueen on Apr 26, 2014 16:38:42 GMT
Ah, did you not see one in particular feeding the mother when she was sitting on the eggs and and chicks?
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Mar 31, 2014 19:31:46 GMT
stumpy46
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 13
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Post by stumpy46 on Apr 26, 2014 17:04:11 GMT
Well, they are all similar. The area where they slept was dark, so when we would enter the aviary they all flew away making it hard to identify. the Mum was obvious as she is our only green bird. Anyway, we have put one in after the process of elimination (they have the same facial markings as him). They are chiroing away and he is mingling with them, so fingers crossed. This is all so new to us I'm afraid.
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Post by starlingqueen on Apr 26, 2014 17:30:26 GMT
Hopefully you got the right one, if not there is a chance he will take them under his wing, excuse the pun. Have they brightened up since he went in with them?
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Mar 31, 2014 19:31:46 GMT
stumpy46
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 13
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Post by stumpy46 on Apr 26, 2014 18:08:47 GMT
They have stopped panting, but no eating/drinking activity......will keep you posted. He def seems to be the one, he is very chilled with them.
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Post by Hezz on Apr 27, 2014 1:46:16 GMT
Hi, Stumpy. How are the chicks doing now? Give the cock some fresh soft food to make things easier for everyone. A hard-boiled egg mashed or grated up with a mix of grated veggies in it ...... I am not a breeder either, so can't give you much of an idea what is needed, either. I have never had to do it. Or commercial eggfood as well, if you already have that.
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Post by Moogie on Apr 27, 2014 7:38:55 GMT
BudgiesBuddy would be a great person to help out here,hey BB what do you think
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Apr 27, 2014 8:06:00 GMT
Budgies don't recognize their chicks, but they recognize their breeding setup and nest box. That's why as breeders, we are able to foster chicks between pairs. But if we put the same chicks and the pairs in another breeding cage and nest box, the parents would abandon the chicks. Therefore, the chances are very slim that the hen will feed them in a new cage.
Panting is an obvious sign of stress. They should be in the nest box, and not in breeding cage. Place a chick hide in the cage. You will have to hand feed them for a week or so. Also place some soft food and seed in shallow dishes.
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Mar 31, 2014 19:31:46 GMT
stumpy46
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 13
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Post by stumpy46 on Apr 27, 2014 8:34:46 GMT
Good Morning everyone.
They look much happier this morning. The millet has been anialated overnight, but am going to mash up an egg and put in a shallow dish on the floor of the cage. It is really interesting that the other three seemed to be much stronger and are well away in the aviary. The smaller one of the two is still not able to fly. Should I put the Dad back in the main aviary then and manage the chicks feeding myself? My husband thinks they will do better in the main aviary but I disagree, they both looked almost dead before we put them in the little cage. I was toying with putting their nest box in the casge as a bolt hole. Anyway, fingers crossed. Happy today as they are cheeping and reacting when I talk to them.
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Apr 27, 2014 9:11:05 GMT
Good Morning everyone. They look much happier this morning. The millet has been anialated overnight, but am going to mash up an egg and put in a shallow dish on the floor of the cage. It is really interesting that the other three seemed to be much stronger and are well away in the aviary. The smaller one of the two is still not able to fly. Should I put the Dad back in the main aviary then and manage the chicks feeding myself? My husband thinks they will do better in the main aviary but I disagree, they both looked almost dead before we put them in the little cage. I was toying with putting their nest box in the casge as a bolt hole. Anyway, fingers crossed. Happy today as they are cheeping and reacting when I talk to them. Don't put them in the aviary. Put a chick hide in the cage so they can snuggle up in there. Leave the cock with the chicks, if he is not aggressive. They will learn the feeding, seed cracking etc from him.
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Apr 27, 2014 9:13:07 GMT
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Apr 27, 2014 9:15:46 GMT
You can make it from a plastic container.
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Mar 31, 2014 19:31:46 GMT
stumpy46
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 13
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Post by stumpy46 on Apr 27, 2014 17:56:32 GMT
Today is good. They are both eating from the food dish. I have cleaned the weakest ones feet as he had poo on them and they seem good. Have put the Dad back in the main aviary. They seem to be loving their new home now. Little one still not flying, but he is managing to get on the perches with his brother. They really are 'birds of a feather'
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