Kathryn's Breeding Journal

[Nadene 0]

How are the other nests going?

[kathryn92 0]

I have some more photos!

 

I will do an update on all the other nests first though

 

Pair 2-- update

All eggs were infertile, she would never get off them so it was hard to check, but as they hadn't hatched by now I assumed so...today I managed to check and all looked infertile. I removed them all and double checked, all infertile...sad!

I removed both birds from the breeding cage, I am going to rest them and try again in the Spring, maybe they need to mature a bit more, both were 1 year, but maybe need a little more time

 

Pair 3--update

Have two beautiful chicks, the first has just started opening its eyes. Another chick should hatch in the next few days. Out of the eight eggs I expect only three

 

Pair 4-- update

Ended up having 6 eggs (the 7th broke)

The first hatched this morning, cute :3

The next will not hatch until about four days due to the broken egg being the second, fingers crossed

 

Pair 1-- the chicks!!

I will put up photos and write the mutations we believe they are

 

 

 

Chick 1

 

 

 

 

 

Mutations- Yellow face mutant II, Cinnamon, opaline

 

Its belly has colour now, it is very light, any ideas?

 

Chick 2

 

 

 

Mutations- yellowface mutant II, greywing cinnamon, skyblue

 

Chick 3

 

 

 

 

Mutations- yellow face mutant II, opaline, cinnamon, cobalt

 

Chick 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mutations- greywing cinnamon, goldenface? , cobalt?

[robyn 0]

Lovely chicks Kathryn, I get the Cinnamon but that's about my knowledge on genetics. I really will have to try harder !!!

[kathryn92 0]

Thank you, I am so proud of them

Especially as my first chicks )

Now I can't wait to see how my other little pinkies feather up, from my other two pairs :3

[kathryn92 0]

Pair 4- update

Third chick hatched today

 

Pair 1-- update

Oldest chick has left the nest box

 

Placed a box in the cage so that it can sleep in an enclosed area at night

 

 

Already eating some endive

 

[kathryn92 0]

What is everyone's experiences with weaning, how old are they usually?

How can you help the chicks with this?

 

Thanks!

[kathryn92 0]

Pair 1-- update

All chicks have left the nest box

All look beautiful and have started trying the seed

 

Pair 3-- update

The two chicks are growing well.

I think that the eldest may be a double factor spangle, yellow, what does everyone think?

The wings are all yellow, no shades of other colours

 

The youngest chick, is it a yellow or a white based?

 

 

Pair 4-- update

Have four chicks

[hilly 0]

Hi Kathryn they usually take about a week to wean but it can vary.

It does look like you have a double factor spangle there but you can't tell what the other one is going to be yet except that it is not a double factor spangle.

You can see dark pin feathers coming through, as it get older if it's two central tail feathers are clear that indicates spangles.

Cheers Jenny

[kathryn92 0]

Thanks, it will be a surprise

 

Pair 1--update

Mum started pulling out the two eldest chicks tail feathers and wing. I noticed a few feathers in the nest box but then they all left, I thought this may be the case so removed the nest box in case she was wanting to lay again. I thought it could also be french moult so I was worried

Today I saw her chasing the eldest and started pulling on the feather! I was horrified :/

I removed her straight away and am leaving Dad with them until they finish weaning, any advice?

Has any one had this?

How long until the feathers grow back?

 

Thanks!

 

Pair 4-- update

Now have a fifth chick

[Nadene 0]

Bugger everything was going so well

Sounds to me you've done the right thing taking her out and leaving them with the father. They shouldn't take to long to grow back as long as she hasn't damaged the feather follicle.

 

Great news about pair 4

[kathryn92 0]

The worst has happened, all four chicks have french moult, after further research I am sure it is the disease and I am devestated :/

Now I am unsure what to do :/

I have done my own research but the advice I have gotten on here has been the best so I would like to know what I should do, with the chicks and parents?

I have thought I could give them all away to a good home, the chicks and the parents to someone who does not breed, would this need to be done with the male or just the hen?

What about the chicks in my other nest, will they be okay?

I am at a loss, especially with my first chicks, however I do not wish to be down forever and would really appreciate any advice you could give, even if it is to say that I am over reacting.

 

Thank you

[Nadene 0]

Sorry to hear that.

 

Have you got any pictures? because if the mother was pulling feathers, the chicks might copy and do the same to each other. My young ones still pull on the other birds feathers, even on the older birds like it is a game (until someone gets bitten).

 

If it is you need to move them as far away from the other nests as possible A.S.A.P and make sure you don't cross contaminate with the other birds e.g washing hands bowls etc.

[hilly 0]

Hi Kathryn don't panic just take out the nest box and rest them for six months to give them all a chance to develope an immunity.

Let all of your others finish their round, they may or may not be affected then rest them all together.

It happens often when you get together birds from different collections and it seems to be more common in the hotter months.

Your babies should grow their feathers back and be able to fly fine.

Hopefully by next spring they should be all ready to breed again.

 

Cheers Jenny

[kathryn92 0]

Okay, as I have read some stuff that says they won't ever fly?

Can the chicks be housed with the other birds too, as in, in an aviary set up?

I will move them away from the other chicks with the father to another area, but when they are older?

I will get pictures soon

 

Thank you both for the help

[hilly 0]

The majority of them grow their feathers back without any problems, then when they can fly put them in the aviary.

It is important to keep giving them quality feed so their immune system is strengthened.

Only the other day a avian vet was talking about it and he said leave them for six months then try again, it is called polyoma virus.

Hopefully from your good husbandry they will fight it off quickly.

 

Cheers Jenny

[Nadene 0]

As Jenny said the majority of them do grow back and even if they don't they learn to adjust. I had one (he past away last week) who had no flights or tail and he lived in my aviary and he used to sit up on the perches with everyone else. The only thing he had different was I made a ladder so he could get to the wire if he was on the floor and he would just climb up.

 

Sorry I feel like I'm giving worst case but I just want you to know that the birds will be fine either way

Edited March 12, 2013 by Nadene

[kathryn92 0]

No, it is fine, I am just glad they will be fine

I will make sure they are fit enough before they go into the aviary, they will be good additions as they are still beautiful birds

[Finnie 0]

French Molt can have a wide range of how severely it affects chicks. It can range from killing young chicks in the nest, to causing permanent feather damage, to just causing temporary feather damage that molts out.. It can also cause no symptoms, if it is mild and the birds own immune system fights it off. (I learned this from doing a lot of reading about it on line.) From what I understand, if your chicks feathered up just fine before any symptoms appeared, then it will probably affect them more lightly, and they have a good chance to be fine.

 

Do you have photos of them? It sounds like there is a chance that they have lost feathers due to some other reason?

 

I wish you good luck with them.

[kathryn92 0]

Hi,

Sorry I haven't replied in a while, uni has been full on :/

I have a few days over Easter so will get photos then, but it seems like they are already growing their feathers back

[Budgie_Mad 0]

Your chicks are so pretty I myself are a first time breeder in this season but only one of my three pairs laid and hatched 2 out of 6. I love looking at photos of someone else's chicks at the same age as mine 11 days today and 7 days for youngest.