hey guys i'm just a little concerned about one of my chicks atm.... the foster parents appear to be feeding him large amounts of undigested seeds.... normally i wouldnt be concerned but this time i've noticed the young bird is pooping out whole seeds... as though he's not processing them... could this be a cause for concern? it doesnt seem too bad maybe a little dehydrated so we've given it water and dilute hand rearing mix but he's not really a baby i'd like to lose from a mistake ... any help would be appreciated thanks oh and yes the parents have been provided soft foods (vegies) as well as seed and their water but not egg and biscuit as they wont have a bar of it

cheers libby

How old is the baby Libby ?

quite young kaz... i dont know exact days but he's small with pins his eyes are fully open and have been a while but he's small... he's still smaller than the "size" of a chicken egg... i can also see the seeds in his stomach through the skin... i dont take that to be normal :S because i've never seen it before :S he's the only offspring thats remaining from my bird that you said is a BES and the hen who's the mauve CF opaline i dont know if this will work try it :S

Edited September 24, 200717 yr by *libby*

With my chicks at that age, Libby, I can often see whole softened millet and seeds in their crop, looking through the skin of their crop. Some younger parents can feed their babies the seed the minute they eat it and thereby not softening it up for them. If the babys crop feels solid and you can feel the seeds like it is dry, it can be a worry. If the crop feels soft it should be okay. If those parents are feeding seed immediately to the babies, it may pay to substitute their seed for a tray of soft food with grated carrot, greens and seed mixed through it at a point where the seed will soften a bit before they get it. Also make sure they have heaps to eat, as any bird feeding chicks will go through a lot of food and if they have eaten all you gave them and you put more in...at that stage is usually when they will feed the chick immediately they have eaten the seed themselves. It can be dry in the crop and some chicks get impacted crop and die from a parent who feeds that way. Have you ever crop fed any chicks ?

never crop fed with a crop needle but i'm good with a normal siringe which is how i've given it some water and diluted down hand rearing mix

the mothers been removed because she's getting far too skinny which has left the dad to it he's seems really good and it eating the veggies constantly and flying down into the box every now and again to give them food... the seeds in the stomach i meant are in the lower part near it's vent... i had a picture but it wont upload :@ his crop has softned now with the added moisture by us and the rearing food and i'll keep a close eye on him over night and continue to feed him food if his crop seems stiff again we've looked into crop needles at the local shops but **** is sold out of budgie ones and the other pet stores dont stock them so looks like it may be a trip to **** ***** sometime soon oh and i thought i'd let you know we lost our little french moult chick last night my partner was quite upset it was his favourite but you win some you lose some just gotta do the best we can for this chick thankyou for your help

Edited September 24, 200717 yr by KAZ

never crop fed with a crop needle but i'm good with a normal siringe which is how i've given it some water and diluted down hand rearing mix

the mothers been removed because she's getting far too skinny which has left the dad to it he's seems really good and it eating the veggies constantly and flying down into the box every now and again to give them food... the seeds in the stomach i meant are in the lower part near it's vent... i had a picture but it wont upload :@ his crop has softned now with the added moisture by us and the rearing food and i'll keep a close eye on him over night and continue to feed him food if his crop seems stiff again we've looked into crop needles at the local shops but **** is sold out of budgie ones and the other pet stores dont stock them so looks like it may be a trip to **** ***** sometime soon oh and i thought i'd let you know we lost our little french moult chick last night my partner was quite upset it was his favourite but you win some you lose some just gotta do the best we can for this chick thankyou for your help

PM me for crop needle details as the places you were going to shop are too expensive.

Are you sure the seed is going straight through the baby or could it be seed stuck to its butt from sitting on it ?

Sounds like you are keeping on top of things anyway. Let me know if I can help anytime ,,,,cheers Kaz

 

PS sorry you lost your other chick

Edited September 24, 200717 yr by KAZ

hehe yeah positve it's going straight through the baby:P it pooped on my hand haha... or rather...seeded muchly appreciated