robyn

Welcome Lori.

HI Maddy, glad your 2nd round sounds more positive. I don't want to question your sanity but are you sure the missing hen isn't already in a breeding cabinet? I did put one hen down and a couple of days later decided I'd try her with a different cock. Looked through the flights to find her, no go then "found" her already paired up. (don't tell anyone that will you)

Hi Finnie, It may be an old thread but new people join all the time and may learn something from them, who reads dates first anyway l.o.l (like reading instructions). Only when all else fails.

Hi , your little chick would probably be dehydrated, could you try to get it to take fluid from an eyedropper? I read for a sickly bird add a couple drops RASPBERRY CORDIAL AND LEMON JUICE to water. If you can get it to take water it may then try food, do you have hand rearing formula? If you take it from nest at that size parents may not accept it back into nest so you would have to hand rear it. If you don't take it out it may infect rest of clutch. If it has an infection of some sort. Are there other chicks in nest? You say it doesn't seem to see well, maybe it's blind can you check that somehow? That may be why it doesn't take food. Not much help to you I'm afraid, I'd try fluids first. Good luck, others may have better advice for you to try to save it.

Thanks Neville, I knew twins rarely survive but wondered if there were any other "faults" indicated by big eggs. I think it's about 5 days to hatching.

You have a nice assortment of colours, Zingo. Do you breed from them or are they all pet's?

Hi All, I have a nest of 9 eggs, so far 2 chicks. No 6 egg is really big compared to other eggs. I candled it a couple of days ago and actually saw a little heartbeat. Couldn't tell without disturbing egg if there was only 1 in egg. Does size of eggs indicate e.g. two chicks or any likely problem with chick if it's only one? Haven't had this size difference before. Just curious.

Well done everybody. At least we know the people at Pet Mart have taken the advice of concerned budgie owners. For which they are to be commended. :P:P The birds welfare was first priority. Hope they give a ROYAL SERVE !!! to the breeder if they know his identity. P.S I have just had reply from pet mart in answer to my e-mail. also Top marks for their concern.

Hi Splat by topsy turvy I mean some of my birds seem to be out of whack."sort" of moult a little while later moult again. I only have 4 nests, I had soft eggs, treated with calcium. Big grey egg eater I had, I retried him good until first chick, fed it whole seed and it died. Swapped his last 2 eggs, in surrogate nest, now have those chicks. Left swapped eggs in his nest 3 days later they were gone. So was he.(back in aviary) Seem to be a bit settled now, I have 13 chicks and 10 eggs, one nest nothing yet. I think the weird summer etc could have been a bit to do with it. Another run of rain now, days of it. I think someone else had lots of clear eggs as well. Strange eh!

I wondered if rspca could help if they are living in good condition. Something to be thankful for I suppose. Consumer affairs, maybe as his sign on birds is "false advertising" to say the least. If they happened to be rung may give a clue to ???? breeder.

Hi Welcome.

Me also, can anyone post if they get a reaction? one way or the other.

Sorry you lost your baby Ratsy, you did well to get it to a week old. Maybe next time you will have better luck.

Wondered where you were Splat, hope you escaped the flood drama's. Good luck with your breeding season Splat. It's a bit topsy turvy here, I think season is all over the place and I think birds are a bit also.

Hi B.J, I had a problem with calcium I think , yes birds were ready to breed, "egg eater" was a test case to see if he would leave eggs alone this time. He was great until first chick hatched, then they fed it whole seed I think that caused it's demise. Swapped last 2 eggs rather than lose them, a few days later swapped eggs disappeared. His 2 chicks are safely tucked up in surrogate nest so all is not lost. Will definately try hen again but not sure about him .

Wonder if pet shop didn't know the outcome of these little f.d'.s They may have been duped by a greedy breeder trying to make quick dollars. OR maybe they should be reported to r.s.p.c.a eg if they knew, to stop this practise. Disgusting

Looking good sweet pea. He has a great depth of colour.

Hi Nadene, Really glad I swapped eggs. At least I have 2 chicks from "rogue male" just hope they don't inherit Dad's habit. Surrogate mum has 5 of her own now and 1 egg to go. (8) all up if it hatch's but she reared 10 last yr. only thing she had 2 chicks hatch same day, one hers one surrogate. Now have to figure which is which when they feather up. problems, problems. l'o'l' I hope they hatch for you. I wonder if they sense a dud egg?

Well both chicks hatched and doing well with surrogate mum. I swapped them with 2 eggs from hen who has 8 of her own.( Looks like he went back to egg eating, they disappeared.after several days) So Back to aviary for him and his mate. I may try her again but don't think I'll chance him.

Any update on your chick Ratsy?

Hi Penny, So sorry you lost your bud. he certainly didn't look ill in your picture. If he seemed worried etc about his legs etc maybe he was having some sort of seizure/stroke kind of thing. It's easy to try to see "what could I have done, that I didn't". Don't blame yourself it was just old mother nature at work again. I hope you find another budgie to have as a pet when your feeling better about it.

Hi Ratsy, I have everything crossed for you to get your little one through. I have never had to try to hand rear a chick. Good luck with it kiddo and keep us posted. P.S RATSY, JUST AS A PRECAUTION. CHECK OUT FOOD AND NUTRITION POST. FROM KAZ about a recall for hand rearing formula. Just in case you have the brand they are recalling.

Well Nadene now have good and bad news. Dad has been great until now. I have lost first chick, found it dead in box late day 2. Not hurt etc but it had large air bubble in abdomen and looks like they were feeding it whole seed. I got really upset because it was only chick from this Cock bird that I really wanted. In case it was just inexperience, not wanting to lose last 2 eggs, I swapped them with 2 eggs from hen who has 8 of her own. Put her last 2 under "egg eater " mate. She's still sitting ( fertile I think) and her 2nd chick hatched with surragate Mum, been fed and looked after, she's a great Mum. Fingers crossed for next egg.

Hi Bobbie B. In f.a.q. there are a couple of items about undigested seed, could be serious problem, I don't know if the meds your vet gave you covers them. Others may know. If they checked and found bacteria in poop. maybe they are on to it. Good luck with him keep posting to see how he goes.

Hi all, at supermarket yesterday I found a pack of organic millet meal says 100% hulled millet. Question is: Would this be okay to add to soft food mix in breeding cages for new chicks? It about egg biscuit consistancy, I thought if it's just millet I could add it to egg biscuit vegs etc. any advice welcome.