Catherine

I am making something rather similar soon. I plan to double wire the areas of the aviary which are open to the outside. I understand that some types of wire mesh are not safe for budgies even though they are described as 'aviary wire'. Could someone please tell me which kind of wire is safe? Thank you.

Thank you for your help.

These chicks are 9 weeks old. Could someone please confirm their sex? Many thanks. Chaci 2: hen? Chaci 3: hen? Chaci 4: cock? Sorry!!! I have had a brain spasm and put this in the wrong place.

I would not leave it more than 24 hours, GB. Go for it after 12 hours, if you are worried. Looking forward to the photos of how you have fixed the wire for the door. It is such a good idea.

Thank you. Here is another picture. The chick in the middle is Chick 2 and the one on the right is Chick 4. Is it clearer? It is just so clear that the chick on the left is a hen and it is confusing about the other two.

I'd just like to check again about the gender of these two chicks, please. Chick 2 Chick 4

She is very pretty indeed! Are you going to get her a friend? They are very sociable little birds.

Thank you. The colours are true to life. They were taken by the window without a flash.

Here are the chicks from Cindy and Charlie's clutch. Can you tell me, please: Did I get all hens again? First chick Second chick Third chick

That is a wonderful picture! Congratulations.

The first of Angelica's chicks came out of the box this morning. . Its left foot is wonky. It can move the claws but they do not grip and they seem to have no tone. I can gently curl the claws around my finger but the chick does not do so itself. The right food seems to be okay. I have given it a teething ring to sit on. Is there something I can do such as massage?

Today

Cindy is a maiden hen. Her first chick was trying to hatch yesterday morning and had made no progress 24 hours later. In the meantime, a second chick had hatched and been fed. The first chick was still cheeping strongly so I gave it a hand by getting the shell off its head and then left if for half an hour. At the end of that time, it had wriggled enough for me to be able to just tip it out. Cindy fed it promptly but an hour and a half it was very grey in colour beside the second chick which is a healthy pink. Three hours later, its colour has improved. There is some pink but also some grey. Is there something else I should do?

That is really cute, electricbudgie. You are making wonderful progress.

Hmmm. I must be improving at identifying them. I suspected all hens. Thank you very much, Kaz. The four that did not hatch must have been the cocks.

Four chicks have hatched and that is it. You have kindly identified the first and second chicks as hens. Have I got all hens? First chick Second chick Third chick Fourth chick

Thank you, Kaz. The girls have it.

This is Angelica's second chick. And her 3rd

Thank you, RIP. That is most informative. She sounded so healthy apart from the issue with the heart. It sounds as though she did brilliantly to last as long as she did with such poor heart function. Her weight and lack of extra fatty tissue point to how very well she was cared for. I wonder if there are hermaphrodite budgies. I am so sorry Dusty has gone. I am glad you did not post the pictures.

Well a quick and fatal heart attack is a small mercy. It is better than some of the other things which could have befallen her. It does not take away from the fact that this little sweetie has gone. On an objective level, it will be interesting to read what RIP can tell us in due course.

It is vomit if it sticks on the feathers around the beak and above the cere.

Thank you so much.

RIP, beautiful Dusty. Very special girl, I am sorry your stay was so short. My sincere condolences, Kaz.

Angelica's first chick is 8 days old now and his/her eyes are open.

Dusty is a darling. I would love to cuddle her. It is a pity she does not really like that. You are doing brilliantly with her, Kaz. Fancy her weighing that much!