One of my show pair had 4 babies in a nest, one adopted and three their own. A week ago the hen stopped being interested in her chicks and they were going unfed and also dropped some feathers due to poor nutrition. No real reason for it, as their food and supplements were sufficient. She also was sitting on the nestbox perch which stopped the father from going in and checking on or feeding the chicks. I crop fed the babies for a few days, and than made a choice. I blocked off the nestbox hole so noone could enter. I got all four chicks and put them in a bowl with wood shavings in it for warmth and put them on the floor of the breeding cage. Either it would force the parents to feed them....or NOT. The results could have been horrible but I had to take a chance as the chicks were "failing" just on crop feeds.

Here they are in their bowl ( fourth and youngest chick is having a nap )

Dad has realised he has a job to do and the chicks have all had full crops since being "moved" into their new location.

Edited May 25, 200718 yr by Kaz

I have heard of that happening Kaz.But have never had to try it.I have been lucky ,haveing another pair

to put them with.By the look of those chicks.Its worked a treat :beer:

Yep, fantastic solution that has worked well. Well done

 

 

Feathers.

FANTASTIC - I will remember this one....

Why did the mum stop??

FANTASTIC - I will remember this one....

Why did the mum stop??

Who knows ? Sometimes if they aren't up to par, they stop caring for the chicks. I will give her some special attention and extra vitamins.

 

I have heard of that happening Kaz.But have never had to try it.I have been lucky ,haveing another pair

to put them with.By the look of those chicks.Its worked a treat :beer:

Yep. Macka I usually foster too, but all my others had chicks the wrong ages, too many or just starting egg incubation. Timing was off.

Awe Karen....you must have felt like your heart was in your throat......I have no doubt if they didn't

have you they out come would be grim..

What you did seems to have worked Kaz, in the same situation, I was going to say if the young were feathered enough to keep them warm, I would have taken the mother out & let Dad do the job.

glad it worked Kaz great solution plus you knew if they didn't do something in a certain amount of time you would have jumped it so I am sure in all reality there was never a risk.

I am really happy it worked so that it doesn't interfere with Kaz's special weekend. Mind you, I am sure that Cheeta or I would have volunteered to hand feed them if we needed to.

 

 

Feathers

What you did seems to have worked Kaz, in the same situation, I was going to say if the young were feathered enough to keep them warm, I would have taken the mother out & let Dad do the job.

Only two were part feathered, the other two not enough feathers to keep warm in the bottom of the cage. In the dish with the wood shavings they huddle and keep each other warm. As the parents have to pass them to eat themselves, they feed the babies.

 

glad it worked Kaz great solution plus you knew if they didn't do something in a certain amount of time you would have jumped it so I am sure in all reality there was never a risk.

EXACTLY ....you know me so well ...close monitoring was the order of the day. :budgiedance: