robyn

Hi Jaffa, I use the pipe cleaners as I could not get the sponge to stay either, ( I also found one Mum would pull it off). Another thing I tried was the tiny elastic rings for girl's pony tail's etc. I put one leg in twisted the ring into figure 8 type thing then placed 2nd leg in, it's trial and error as they come in several size rings. One thing that will cause play legs is if your nest box is flat and has a plastic or smooth base. The chicks can't get a grip and legs splay OR Mum could be a tight sitter. Now the chicks have hatched Mum may leave nest material in, even rolled oats may help.

Sorry Jaff that you have lost 2nd chick, is this a first time pair? If they hatched first 2 with no drama's it may not be the parents, maybe there is an unknown bug at work. Do you have any more eggs to hatch? It could be several things.

Hi Kismet, I can't help with cere problem as I haven't seen this before, the cracked beak should be okay if she is still cracking seed, it will keep growing so eventually the crack may grow out, as long as it doesn't weaken as it gets to the tip area.The two problems may be linked, if she injured her cere and cracked the beak at the same time. The sunshine is a great pick-me-up for them and needed for vit D. so putting her out each day for a while is great. Apple slices yes, SEEDS NO. (apple that is).

Hi & Welcome, I'd say male also. Is he violet or Cobalt? The camera does funny things to blue colours.

Hi Jaff, I think I would leave chick for a while, see if it is fed, check to see if it's active etc they nearly always are up on their legs burrowing in under other chicks first day. The hen will feed active chicks, calling for food, if it's listless and not getting around MAYBE I'd suggest a small feed of hand rearing formula within a few hours , to kick start it, then see if Mum feeds it before removing it altogether.

I haven't seen this idea before, I suppose it's similar to the ocean pics you see for behind fish tanks? It would look nice against a blank wall, could also protect your paintwork from any messy food splash's etc. as to whether birds would admire it is anybody's guess l.o.l.

Hi Martine, when I first joined b.b.c there were several members, show breeders, who could identify birds from 3-4 day old chicks to whatever mutation that was queried. Unfortunately they seem to moved on to other hobbies/sites etc. I for one really miss their input. For the rest of us I think it's read whatever information we can get hold of and make as close a guess at mutations as possible. There are still a couple on here that have picked it up a lot more than I have, being only a pet breeder I don't find it a problem. Even though I'd like to get my head around it, it all seems a bit hard for an "old hen" l.o.l, to tackle fully.

Now that would have been a great calender shot Paulie. He's lovely now.

Hi, I don't seem to have any problems of chicks being trampled, when you look into nest box with various ages usually you will find the tiny ones right in the centre and it is usually okay. You could have chicks die from other things but I don't think many would be caused by being trampled. With large clutch's by time last egg is hatched the oldest could be 16-18 days old. I have had 9 chick clutch with no problems.

Sorry on my monitor it looked like she had patches of grey/green. Now I think it's a shadow across her.

He's a pretty bird, first thought spangle but his cheek patch's don't really show that, could be Olive opaline but someone with more knowledge will have to say. Did you buy him or just looking?

He's a nice looking bird, any chance of a "dry" picture just to see him in normal colouring.

Welcome to forum, somebody on here should answer any query's you have. Great work saving all those little rejected birds. A very pretty assortment you have, I don't think Melody is Lutino, they are pure yellow red eyes. She looks more like a pied of some sort but that's about as far as my mutation knowledge goes.

Lovely chick's Nadene, as Mum pluck's chicks could you let her lay and then foster eggs/ new chicks to another hen, so at least you get some great chicks? Any pet type could rear them even though they could be show stock chicks. Just a thought.

Out of condition means it is not in breeding condition. When in breeding condition the male cere is usually a bright blue, this can depend on mutation though. The female tan to brown, BUT they should be at least 12 mths old to breed. She probably went into nest box as she is so young, my chicks would do this even after they fledged, a security thing I'd say. I would not put a nest box in with your birds until they are all breeding age.

Looks great, only thing if you put your perch's front to back, they will get exercise flying from one to the other, otherwise they just shuffle along sideways.

Lovely pics. WHERE did your son get those eyelashes !!! the boys all seem to get them. l.o.l

Mine still do not work. If you go to BUDGIE PICTURES there is a post on how to post pictures that may help. I have trouble at times with p.bucke,t it seems to change things a lot.

Good work, just make sure the chemicals you use are bird friendly. Your Cobalt will think it's Christmas already with all his beauty treatment.

Lovely chicks, I had some similar pied's my "Aussie's" I call them one gr/ gold one dk gr/ gold.

Nadene can advise on ring data as she is in a club. I also think by those photo's he could have scaly mite, I enlarged first picture of him and he could have it on his cere as well. Do you have Ivomectin for birds on hand? It may take a couple of doses, one drop on neck, repeat at 2 weeks if it's still present. If you last 6 all came from same place I'd do them all, if he has it they all could, it won't hurt them even if they haven't got mite it will clear any worms etc as well. If you haven't got Ivomectin you can smear feet and cere with vasaline to help smother the mites until you get the Ivomectin.

Hi, this looks more female to me, also very young as it still has it's head stripes. Good luck with the move, hope to hear how your birds settle in later on.

Just a guess but I'd say that green male, blue at back male r., obscured blue unknown, blue back left possibly hen, pied is the "iffy" my guess is hen.ONLY MY GUESS'S ONLY, anyone else feel free. All look nice healthy babies anyway. Good luck with your choice.

I think Bird love is on the right track I think I might add opaline, greywing I don't know mutations much either. Sadly we seem to be a bit short on mutations experts these days. So I guess it's read, read, and guess until we get close to the mark. l.o.l Baby is beautiful maybe classed as a pied/dilute even of some sort, also if male he should be split Albino. Love more pics as it colours up more.