Post by tweetiepiesmom on Feb 3, 2020 20:47:27 GMT
Yesterday (Feb 2) I went to pick up Buddy, a friend for Tweetie Pie. Buddy is a rescue egg. Someone owned a mating hen and male budgies. She didn't want them any more so she took the cage with the pair, nest box and 9 eggs to a pet store and left them. The pet store called the local bird rescue and Pat (I made up that name) went to pick them up. The hen was not in good shape and this apparently was her third clutch in a row. No one knew for sure if she had laid all 9 eggs or if they were from more than one hen. The next box was awful, several layers deep in poo and the eggs were dirty also. Pat got a new nest box, set it up and when the hen went out she quickly exchange the nests. The hen didn't seem to mind.
Cleaned up nest.
Pat also put the hen on a higher protein and calcium diet. She waited until she could feed the babies and separated the couple for the hen's benefit. Buddy was the first chick hatched. The second chick hatched had a severe underbite - the lower beak protruded over the top beak. The vet told Pat that feeding with syringe would help correct that and to gently pull the top beak forward. It was working well but he developed another problem so Pat took him in the vet. Unfortunately he didn't make it. The vet said he had several deformities including his legs and so probably wouldn't have lived long. The third chick hatched and was named Wiggles because every time Pat tried to take a picture he was moving and the picture was a blur. A fourth chick hatched but only lived a couple of days. The hen abandoned the rest of the eggs.
Buddy was hand feed and started his taming immediately. Pat said from the beginning he would run to her hand, was sweet natured and accepting of everything.
Both Buddy and Wiggles continued to thrive but with very different personalities. Wiggles was independent and checked everything out before deciding it was ok.
Buddy's first flight was sure and steady.
Pat is an amazing bird trainer. She even trained Buddy in a harness! He continued to grow and then Pat agreed that he would be a great companion to Tweetie Pie. He said good-bye to Wiggles.
And off we went on a 6 hour drive to my home.
And to complete this part of the story, mom and dad are doing fine - one at Pat's house and one at Pat's mom's house.
Cleaned up nest.
Pat also put the hen on a higher protein and calcium diet. She waited until she could feed the babies and separated the couple for the hen's benefit. Buddy was the first chick hatched. The second chick hatched had a severe underbite - the lower beak protruded over the top beak. The vet told Pat that feeding with syringe would help correct that and to gently pull the top beak forward. It was working well but he developed another problem so Pat took him in the vet. Unfortunately he didn't make it. The vet said he had several deformities including his legs and so probably wouldn't have lived long. The third chick hatched and was named Wiggles because every time Pat tried to take a picture he was moving and the picture was a blur. A fourth chick hatched but only lived a couple of days. The hen abandoned the rest of the eggs.
Buddy was hand feed and started his taming immediately. Pat said from the beginning he would run to her hand, was sweet natured and accepting of everything.
Both Buddy and Wiggles continued to thrive but with very different personalities. Wiggles was independent and checked everything out before deciding it was ok.
Buddy's first flight was sure and steady.
Pat is an amazing bird trainer. She even trained Buddy in a harness! He continued to grow and then Pat agreed that he would be a great companion to Tweetie Pie. He said good-bye to Wiggles.
And off we went on a 6 hour drive to my home.
And to complete this part of the story, mom and dad are doing fine - one at Pat's house and one at Pat's mom's house.