I'm a bit worried about the newborns... The three first babies are getting pretty big, and as I took a look inside the nest this morning, I noticed that the seventh baby which was born two days ago is getting thrown around pretty wildly by its older sibblings (And the first one is getting more and more aware that legs are made for running). I'm not even sure it's being fed properly, the parents must have a hard time reaching it with the godzillas running after mama and dadda all the time! And somehow I have the feeling it isn't growing very fast. I tried looking if the new baby was fed quickly this morning, but it's hard to do it. The nest's door is on the side and when I open it I have to be careful the three fatsos don't fall out... I didn't have time to take them out so I could access the tiny brats...

 

So my question is, should I be worried about the tiny ones in there? X_o is there something I can do for them? I can't feed them myself that's for sure, I can't bring them at work...

Edited June 26, 200717 yr by Michelle

Michelle, with a big batch like that, I’m afraid that you could have a problem with the last smaller ones. I have more than one batch going at a time & if I get so many in a batch I will try to foster it to another batch with less babies or babies the same age, but you haven’t got that choice. It depends on the parents, some are amazing & will rear them all, but others just don’t manage it. It may be a good idea to not look at them too much for a day or two, to give the youngest ones a chance to get some size. As I’m sure you notice as you disturbed them, the older ones will mill around & also maybe the mother, which wont be so good for the littlest ones. With breeding & with keeping anything like Budgies, regrettably you will get some losses sometimes, sometimes it can’t be helped. I know it can be sad, but that’s life not everything makes it.

I would have said "foster", but obviously you can't. Seven is a pretty big clutch, and under the circumstances there's not much you can do. Just make sure the parents have plenty of good food within easy reach and hope for the best.

 

Good luck,

KathyW.