Hi all

I have 1 breeding pair with 2 chicks (3 weeks old) in our aviary.

I am going on holidays in a weeks tine and as it is a community aviary I was woundering If I could shift the whole family to a breeding cage. It would be easier to find the care they might require. Would this be too disruptive for my new parents and chicks.

In a weeks time, you could most likely shift the family as the babies would be 4 weeks old and soon to fledge. Most parents would be fine about the move. Some stop feeding the babies. So, whoever is watching them for you would have to watch out for babies still being fed. Putting some millet sprays and a small scattering of seed in the nestbox NOW would help the babies learn to eat a little sooner and help the transition. :budgiedance:

Thanks for the advice I will move them just before I leave.

You said you were moving them to a breeding cage....would the nestbox will closed ? Its best if it is closed off and the chicks can be placed in a container on the floor of the breeding cage. I use a plastic icecream container with a section cutout and lined with wood shavings. That way the parents will see them and feed them. If there is an accessible nesting box in the new cage the parents might well get busy thinking about a new family and not look after their chicks. At the age the chicks will be there is no need to put them into an new nestbox situation...the container will work fine.