Hand-rearing Birds

[Squeak_Crumble 0]

Hi!

I hope that this helps some members that either hand-rear of wish to hand-rear their birds. The topics in this thread may not be how you personally do it, but it may help others. In the case that you do need to raise chicks, either for pets or because the parents rejected them, here is a quick guide I created

 

Setup

 

The set-up of a hand-rearing cage is important. A bird must have comfort, correct temperature and not be exposed to hazardous objects. I personally cover my birds takn with a towel, to keep it dark. I keep my birds in an old fish tank (which I really need to upgarde lol ) but I also know some breeders that keep their birds in Jewelry Stoarge type units. My tank is about 30cm long, and about 20cm wide. I also place a small soft toy in there for the bird, especially if it is alone. This forms firstly, an object that can contain heat to warm them and secondly in a nest, chicks huddle together for comfort.

 

A storage unit some people use when raising numerous chicks.

 

You can also buy a brooder especially made

 

A picture of one of my budgies snuggling up to his 'rabbit'

[ picture coming, I need to get it from other computer ]

 

Step-By-Step Guide to a Proper Setup

1. Lay down a towel on the table/bench you are keeping the tank.

2. Lay the heating pad on top of the first towel if you are using a heating pad

3. Place another towel on top of the heating pad (if you are using one)

4. Place cage/tank on top.

5. Wrap a towel around half of the cage and secure with pegs or clips (this is to keep the tank/cage dark and to keep the heat in)

6. Place soft toy, thermometer, perches and towels or newspaper in the cage

7. Activate heating and slowly warm up the chick. Another towel should be placed over the cage (that can be removed for feeding/cleaning and when the chick gets older)

 

 

Heating

 

Heating for baby birds is important. You need to have the correct brroder temperature for the bird's species and age. Some for of round-the-clock heating must be provided. This can be done by a heat lamp, brooder temperature control and a heating pad plus more. An incubator needs to be kept in the tank so you can record note the heating is working, and keep it stable.

 

 

Feeding

 

Here is a list of things you will need to feed the chicks

- Hand-Rearing Formula for that breed

- Syringes (and crop needles if you choose to use them) for feeding

- Measuring Spoons to meausre parts.

- Thermometer to make sure the food is correct temperaturre

- a damp cloth or paper towels to clean up

- set of scales to record the weight daily

- a bowl to make up feed

 

I hope that this has helped new/older members!

I would like to say again, I personally do this and other members may not encourage or agree with the set-up and routine I use.

[Houman 0]

sounds good

[GenericBlue 0]

i prefer my way to raise hand reared chicks which is just let mother do it

and handle chick dayly for longer and longer

i dont have to worry about any food prep then other than daily rounds

 

but this is good for as you say birds that get regected if you do not have fosters

 

but really you didnt give much info

i know i didnt learn anything but

you use a fish tank and a few picks of other things possable to use

 

you didnt persicafy a brand of food

or a certain gage crop needle what i can use if i dont use a crop needle

how to mix the food if they need water or not as well

 

and im not being nasty i actually would of loved to see all this info

its a good idea you have to show how its done

but i still dont know how just

brief bit of info

 

can i request you actually do a full step by step how to hand rear a budgie from lets say one week to out and eatting cause to be honest i wouldnt know how to

i rely on my foster hens and this info may come in valubale to me one day if it was to the t

fully set out and instructed and your way with the fish tank dont add stuff just your exact set up

do you use heat pad or not cause if you dont then cool but i want to know how to do it exactly how do i keep bird warm if no pad or do you need one

not bits and peaces of what or how you can please the whole kit n cabodale

cheers gb

[Squeak_Crumble 0]

i prefer my way to raise hand reared chicks which is just let mother do it

and handle chick dayly for longer and longer

i dont have to worry about any food prep then other than daily rounds

 

but this is good for as you say birds that get regected if you do not have fosters

 

but really you didnt give much info

i know i didnt learn anything but

you use a fish tank and a few picks of other things possable to use

 

you didnt persicafy a brand of food

or a certain gage crop needle what i can use if i dont use a crop needle

how to mix the food if they need water or not as well

 

and im not being nasty i actually would of loved to see all this info

its a good idea you have to show how its done

but i still dont know how just

brief bit of info

 

can i request you actually do a full step by step how to hand rear a budgie from lets say one week to out and eatting cause to be honest i wouldnt know how to

i rely on my foster hens and this info may come in valubale to me one day if it was to the t

fully set out and instructed and your way with the fish tank dont add stuff just your exact set up

do you use heat pad or not cause if you dont then cool but i want to know how to do it exactly how do i keep bird warm if no pad or do you need one

not bits and peaces of what or how you can please :glare: the whole kit n cabodale

cheers gb

 

Sure! I would add that in, but I can't edit the post. I am gonna hand-rear two clutchs of pet-types in about 2-3 weeks, so I will take photos and a step by step guide then if you want. I will also explain it more and about the stuff I use The reason I was uncertain to say about the crop-needles is because you should only be using one if you know how to, and if you know how to you should know what gauge to be using. I tried not to make it to lengthy also, as I know some people may not like to read lots of text.

[JimmyBanks 0]

That would be great if you did step by step with photo's... Always handy to know how to hand rear should anything go wrong and the parents die.

[Squeak_Crumble 0]

Sure! Thanks for the idea guys. I have different setups then most breeders I know, so I hope it will help. The two clutches have only just hatched, and I remove my birds when they are on two feeds a day, so it will be a couple weeks yet, I hope that is okay

[**KAZ** 0]

A very good topic and I look forward to seeing more.....

[GenericBlue 0]

thanks would be great

i can wait a week or two

dont think people wont read it as if you put the time and effort in even if only one person reads it thats one person that has learnt

who cares if your set ups diffrent if it works it works

 

i cant wait

thankyou

[Ratzy 0]

Great! I've just found a shop that sell special budgie hand rearing formula and I probably need to learn as I only have one pair.

[Squeak_Crumble 0]

okay, I promise for a turtorial. I am gonna have my work cut out, 15 bubs to rear

[GenericBlue 0]

15 my goodness

can we see the progreshion of each ones rearing id be interested in how you do 15

man ones to hard for me lol