One of my chicks is dying... It looks horribly frail and I don't think it will live through the night. I think Bud and Pat too gave up on it. We tried feeding it but no avail. We can't open the tiny tiny frail beak. It's a couple days old and looks as if it was a newborn. It's undergrown, and well, I can't help but feel awful about it.

 

I wonder, should I leave it in the nest? In case it's sick or anything...

Edited June 27, 200718 yr by Michelle

Are they incubating it? If not then it may only get cold in the nest. Make up a very liquidy mix and dab it on the side of its beak with a toothpick. The baby should lick it up. If not you may have to feed it with a crop needle. Look at its crop while you are feeding it to see if any food has gone in.

Milk is a good place to start if you don't have any rearing formula. Then if the baby survives through the night okay, go and buy some rearing formula.

I thought birds were lactose intolerant...

Hi Michelle, you are right, but they are okay with cultured milk products. Yoghurt would be better.

 

Feeding Chicks from newly hatched. The first feed of the day for three days should be a quality yoghurt with a high live organism count.

 

Quote taken from this FAQ: http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/faqs/i...=120&artlang=en

 

 

 

Feathers.

Edited June 27, 200718 yr by feathers

Yoghurt? Like what I had for dessert? O_o Like Activia? Flavored with fruits?

 

...that should be worth a try...

I dont think the fruit flavoured ones would hurt, but plain, natural yoghurt with high good bacteria counts would be best. With my smallest babies I used a toothpick to get them to take food. Load it with yoghurt, rub it on the side of it's beak and it should open up to accept the food.

 

 

Feathers.

Edited June 27, 200718 yr by feathers

Feeding Chicks from newly hatched. The first feed of the day for three days should be a quality yoghurt with a high live organism count.

 

Quote taken from this FAQ: http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/faqs/i...=120&artlang=en

 

This place is just so chock full of useful information and people! Damn I'm so glad I joined, you guys really rock! I've kept budgies for over 35 years, but I've picked up more in these last few weeks that I have in years of trial-and-error. Now all I have to do is remember it all!

 

Michelle, I hope it works out for you and your chick. Looks like you couldn't have found a better place to call for help.

 

KathyW.

Should be at Blood Temperature or the chick will chill and die.