Mother attacking 4 week old chicks

[mrsmcd]

This is the first clutch we have had with Bella and Quincy and they have produced 2 gorgeous babies. Up until a couple of days ago Bella was attentive and caring towards them but last night the pair of chicks fledged the nest and seemed to be loving the cage. They were eating millet and seed and managing clumsily to get around. Then Bella was caught with her foot on top of Taco attacking him! I stopped her and watched for a few hours and she did it again another twice. I removed her from the cage into a cage of her own and left the babies with dad. Have I done the right thing?

[Deleted]

Separating them from mum sounds like the right decision to me.

I've never bred budgies, but I'm sure someone who has will be able to give you more advice.

[mrsmcd]

Thank you, she doesn't seem overly impressed this morning and is very quiet on her own but dad and his babies seem to be getting on fine but I will keep an eye just incase Quincy decides to follow in Bellas footsteps! Now and again Bella and Quincy are shouting to each other from the next room?

Bella is pure yellow, Quincy is blue and black and their babies, Taco is mostly yellow with some gorgeous pale green and teal and Kiwi is pale green and yellow on the front and mostly green and blacks on his back. I think they are boys as the ceres are both a pinky purple colour. They are almost 4 weeks old.

[yellowfacedviolet]

Dec 19, 2020 10:20:01 GMT mrsmcd said:

 Have I done the right thing?

Yes.

[mrsmcd]

Thank you

[mrsmcd]

Quincy the father, looks as if he is also now not impressed with the little ones. Would it be safe to move them into their own cage and let Bella back in with her mate? They are eating seed and getting about the cage but I have not seen them drink the water.

I thought Quincy was feeding Kiwi but it turned out it looked more like he was trying to push him away by head banging him! Quincy can still hear Bella in the other room.

[Deleted]

If the chicks are cracking seed by themselves now then they should be fine without their parents. You may not see them drink, many members here have never seen their adult budgies drink after having them for several years. Make sure there's an easy to reach source of water and they should be able to find it. If they're at all comfortable with you and your hands then you might be able to show them the water.

[Hezz]

I'd leave dad with them for a little longer, if possible. He will be helping them learn how to feed and forage for themselves. Cracking seed is a very good start. He will help them find the water, and if you add some greens to the cage, if he eats them, he will show the chicks that fresh veg are food sources as well. They don't automatically know this and having a parent show them what is food and what isn't is the best learning experience.

Most likely mum was wanting the chicks out of the way so that she can start laying another clutch. that's not what you want to be doing, for the good of her health if nothing else. It is best that she has a rest from producing eggs and feeding chicks. Some breeders will let a hen have back-to-back clutches, but these are experienced breeders who will have well prepared their hens with a high energy and high calcium diet well beforehand.

Make sure she has nothing to resemble a nest in her new cage, shorten her daylight hours, and having her away from the others will keep her a little anxious which is good.

[wocal]

I agree with hezz on this one. that daylight thing is very important. They see even something as simple as a bright lamp as daylight so try not to have even normal light in their room on too many hours. maybe give her a bed time. If she's outside and it doesn't get dark where you are maybe bring her cage in early and cover it with a light blanket or something a few hours earlier than you use to. Good job though and take care

[mrsmcd]

So it has been over a week now and the chicks have done really well with dad, they are completely independent and I think Taco is ready for his new home with my dad. My new dilemma is do I put Bella back in with Quincy and put chick Kiwi into his own cage. The adult birds are being very vocal to each other (from separate rooms) and Bella is being very destructive with her food, throwing it out of the dishes until they are empty! I definitely think this is attention to get me to out her back with Quincy!

[Morgan]

mrsmcd - I don’t have any direct experience with this so I’ll tag wocal for you since I know he does breed birds. Also @sillycat84, yellowfacedviolet and Hezz who responded previously have ample experience to provide advice.

From what I have only read about breeding I am inclined to recommend keeping her separated for at least a full two weeks minimum, with increased dark hours to make sure she is no longer broody when you return her to her mate. If she is still broody she may try to start another clutch - which even if that is something you desire, may not be good for her health.

I think this has already been said before, but there are many things you can do to try and snap her out of breeding condition. The easiest to manage are not providing a nest box (or snuggle hut or any other cave-like area that could be perceived as a potential nest site), and providing at least 12-13 hours of complete darkness (besides perhaps a dim nightlight at night to prevent night frights).

In case she does start to lay again anyway, as some hens will lay even without a nest box provided, etc. - she would at least need a lot of extra calcium to replenish her already lost stores and not become egg bound from continued egg laying of potentially soft-shelled eggs or weakened bones and muscles. Mineral blocks or cuttlebone are not reliable as the type of calcium provided (calcium carbonate) is not easily absorbed into the body. A liquid calcium that is formulated to be quickly absorbed (chelated calcium plus D3), like the one made by the Bird Care Company (by the name of Calcivet in Europe or Calciboost in the USA), or powdered calcium citrate would be preferable.

[wocal]

I'd go with schizm on this. If you want to breed them again/she pops out eggs anyway and you don't have time to order the citrate or calciboost like schizm suggested I would start with at least some calcium high veggies so she can get some help other than that again I would go with what schizm said. Idk how long it takes for them to fully absorb, but other than that the light thing is super important. good luck and happy new year

[Hezz]

I’ve answered this on your other thread.