Mar 20, 2014 11:16:58 GMT
puglin
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 20 
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Post by puglin on Mar 28, 2014 17:37:05 GMT
My pair has laid 5 eggs now the first was laid on the 19th march 2014 and then every other day. She has eggs last year but kicked them out of the nest. This time she is doing it by the book :-) i candled the eggs today and 2 have spines and red lines in the others i cant see anything but its early. These will be my first chicks and im nervous as she kicked eggs out before and im scared she is gonna turn again. The nest box is on the cage floor as the hooks are broken :-( they have no problem with this at all. Im just wondering if i should remove the grate now before they hatch? Any help would be great as im new to this. Thanks
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Mar 28, 2014 18:55:30 GMT
By grate, do you mean wire mesh? Nest box on the cage floor in not a good idea at all. It should be fixed high with the breeding cage. Among other complication, the chicks would come out way before they should do otherwise. Don't disturb the breeding pair in any way. For example moving the cage or nest box and so on. Such are the things which can upset the hen. Best of luck  |
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Mar 20, 2014 11:16:58 GMT
puglin
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 20
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Post by puglin on Mar 28, 2014 21:00:47 GMT
They are in their big cage. I dont have a breeding cage just the cage they are in. The nestbox has no hooks on it as they kept biting the wood around them and one came loose so i took it off as it was dangerous. I cant do much about that so i would like to know if i should move the grate from the bottom of the cage and just have the bottom where the newspapers lay? So if the chicks come out they dont hurt their legs on the bars.
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Mar 29, 2014 7:29:17 GMT
Keep the disturbance level to zero, and don't change anything in the cage. No need to remove cage grate as well. Just cover the area next to the nest box entry hole with newspapers. Also put a chick hide there so the chicks can use it, if they come out early.
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Mar 29, 2014 7:47:06 GMT
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Post by Hezz on Mar 29, 2014 10:02:43 GMT
Pavlova ice cream, budgie flavoured.  |
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Mar 20, 2014 11:16:58 GMT
puglin
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 20
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Post by puglin on Mar 29, 2014 12:05:14 GMT
Thats how their box is. On top of the grate. But its a real nestbox;-) whats a chickhide?
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Post by Hezz on Mar 30, 2014 0:18:56 GMT
That is what BB is showing in his photo ...... as the name suggests, somewhere for the chicks to hide once they come out of the nestbox. |
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Post by Hezz on Mar 30, 2014 0:19:30 GMT
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Mar 30, 2014 2:52:33 GMT
Pavlova ice cream, budgie flavoured.  |
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Mar 20, 2014 11:16:58 GMT
puglin
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 20
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Post by puglin on Mar 30, 2014 13:47:20 GMT
Is the box not enough as it on the floor and the hole is far down, or does it need to be a bigger hole ??
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Mar 31, 2014 2:53:54 GMT
Is the box not enough as it on the floor and the hole is far down, or does it need to be a bigger hole ?? Sometimes, once they are out of nest box, they won't stay in no matter how many times we put them back. Sometimes, even when they are fledged, they need the safety and protection of next box environment. Sometimes, the cock gets aggressive or wants them back in. And that's when the chick hide comes in handy. |
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Mar 20, 2014 11:16:58 GMT
puglin
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 20
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Post by puglin on Apr 12, 2014 15:35:17 GMT
Ok update. Lollie laid 7 eggs total 4 was fertile and 2 sofar have hatched. The first on the 10th april and the second today around 10am they are both doing well. I removed the eggs that wernt fertile as she couldnt sit on them all and the fertile ones wasnt getting heat needed. Since moving them ystd baby no2 hatched. Daddy blue is in the box alot sitting on the eggs with her. Is that normal? Also the box is smelly and dirty how do i clean it out and what do i do with babies? What doi need to know?? Help please
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Apr 13, 2014 3:57:34 GMT
Ok update. Lollie laid 7 eggs total 4 was fertile and 2 sofar have hatched. The first on the 10th april and the second today around 10am they are both doing well. I removed the eggs that wernt fertile as she couldnt sit on them all and the fertile ones wasnt getting heat needed. Since moving them ystd baby no2 hatched. Daddy blue is in the box alot sitting on the eggs with her. Is that normal? Also the box is smelly and dirty how do i clean it out and what do i do with babies? What doi need to know?? Help please Wow, congratulations Some other male birds do so, but Budgie cocks don't incubate the eggs, he must be just sitting beside her. Some of mine do so and stay in the nest box most of the time. Do you have any nesting material in the nest box? If so, change it every day or every other day. Make sure it doesn't disturb the hen as some hens don't like it. Also don't disturb the eggs. The parents will take care of the chicks. Just provide them with soft-food options to choose from. You don't need to do anything with chicks, except for taking some pictures and posting here |
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Mar 20, 2014 11:16:58 GMT
puglin
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 20
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Post by puglin on Apr 20, 2014 11:09:33 GMT
Ok so all 4 fertile eggs have hatched now. The last was on thursday. Mum and dad are doing well. Im getting sooo many different things said to me about the nestbox and cleaning it. I was told dont go near it for 2 weeks as mum could leave the chicks and they are fine for 2 weeks. Or clean it everyother day but be fast. Also that i am not to touch the chicks and then some others say i need to check the chicks faces and crops 3 times aday as the feeds are messy and become like cement and the chicks beaks lock shut. Need some good advice here. How often and when do i start cleaning the box? Also can i touch the chicks? Do i check the faces and upper inside of the beak for food? When can i start handeling them?need some help here.
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