Can someone please tell me what exactly is involved in hand rearing a chick. What do I need to keep the baby in, what do I feed it and how often, how warm should the baby be kept.

 

I am worried about a baby I have. The mother is not in the nest that much but is feeding it. I picked the baby up this morning and its crop was full but it was very cold. I am not sure how old the bird is, I would say a week at the oldest. Should I just leave it in and let nature take its course and let the mother keep doing as she is? Any tips and information would be greatly appreciated. Jodie (cheekychucky)

Can someone please tell me what exactly is involved in hand rearing a chick. What do I need to keep the baby in, what do I feed it and how often, how warm should the baby be kept.

 

I am worried about a baby I have. The mother is not in the nest that much but is feeding it. I picked the baby up this morning and its crop was full but it was very cold. I am not sure how old the bird is, I would say a week at the oldest. Should I just leave it in and let nature take its course and let the mother keep doing as she is? Any tips and information would be greatly appreciated. Jodie (cheekychucky)

 

Is she a first time mother?

 

Well at least she's feeding it, but keep observing her behaviour. How warm does it get in the box? She might feel hot and leave when she feels its fine.

I've just started to hand rear a baby, about two weeks old, I'm using a supplement called Granivore to give to the chick, look for formulas at pet shops and vet clinics. You should only hand raise a chick when absolutely sure it is the best option. A friend also told us to create a nest made with a foil base to trap heat but make sure to cover the foil with other material.

If anyone has any more advice I would also like to read about it. This is my first abandoned chick.

It is her first clutch. I think I will wait and see how she copes over the next few days. Thanks for your advice.

Yes, I would wait and see how he goes for the next couple of days. Is there a foster parent that could adopt it?? As the weather is starting to warm up the mother might not need to sit on the chicks all of the time. As long as she is feeding them I wouldnt worry too much yet.

It is very time consuming to hand rear budgies and also a lot of hard work. I handreared all my chicks last year and you have to be prepared to feed them every couple of hours all through the night as well. You would also need a brooder to keep them warm so unless you absolutely have to handrear I would leave it with his mother for the time being. Let us know how you get on.

Thank you. I have decided due to all your fine advice that I am just going to let nature take its course and with fingers crossed the mum will continue feeding the baby and all will be well.

Please keep us updated.

I have the same thing happening, my hen is out alot more. But crops are all full, I put it down to the warmer weather too.

It is great seeing both Mum and Dads (I have two males playing Dad) working in partnership feeding/caring for the babes.

I don't even know who the father of my bubs are. Matilda is a bit of a tart and heheh well we will just have to wait and see what the bubs look like I suppose

 

i have been taming budgies for about 3 years and i have not had the best run with them but i have only in 3 years lost about 8 i think that is pritty good i mean i would like to have a better run but what can i do.

 

um when i tame my bugdies i leave them in the nest for about 2-3 weeks and let them get there strengh up and so the mother can keep feeding them after this time i will take them out of the nesting boxes and i will hand tame the i feed them 5 -6 times a day and i take the out when i am watching tv or doing think that they will have to get use to when they are older.

 

i have one tame budgies of my own called nugget and he is so nice he gives me kisses and comes when called i just founf out he was figgerd out how to say shut up witch i think is really funny he has a little bro that i sold to a close family freinds so i can see him ever now and they are ne is the best one i have ever tames hims name is baby and he so so cool he like chases a ball and the dog around the house.

 

so i would say leave the babys in the nesting box and let the mum do what she does and if u what to tame them get them out after about 2-3 weeks and yer

 

Good luck let me know how u go

 

Thanks. I had decided to leave the baby i the nest. Everything was fine until yesterday. They die so suddenly, fine and chirpy one hour and gone the next. I work afternoon shift so when i thought about it since matilda was feeding the bub and keeping it warm etc i thought i would just let nature take its course. I wish I hadn't but I'm sure there will be more babies and I am learning as I go.

 

 

OMG i had the same prop all my baby where fine and 3 have died i dont know y um yer i am sorry to here about your loss and i know it is hard its hard for me to but if we chosse to do this it is hard wokr and many die

 

Its a real shock looking in the nest box and they are lifeless! Keep us updated on your remaining babies. Good Luck!!!