I lost my second chick to ants today. Just got home from work and there were shells on the ground and when I opened the nest box, the chick was black(covered in ants!!!!) What do I do??? I have moved mum, dad and eggs inside in a breeding box??? but not sure if she'll sit on the eggs or not? Should I remove them and tryto incubate them? never done that before. What temp do they need to be kept at? Both have cracks in them? I also own lizards, and there temp is set to 25 and 30 respectively. Should I put the eggs in there to keep warm and hatch then give them back to mum, or will she still not look after them??? Please help :sad: I'm freakin out... gonna cry!!!!!

 

More news. Mum threw the eggs out og the nest box!!! I now have them in a container in one of the lizard cages to keep them warm. Do they need to be fed asap when they hatch. Will they call out to mum at this age? I'm worried she'll just kill them anyway if she even goes in the nest box at all. Should I just disgaurd them? It's so upsetting. I'm also not sure if the chick today died and was thn covered in ants, or the ants killed it... It's so upsetting, I feel sick!

Edited November 30, 200717 yr by maesie

Oh gosh, measie... . I'm so sorry.

 

Ants are really annoying, but once they start to kill...they're really, REALLY anoying. I am so determined to find a solution to get rid of ants in aviaries once and for all.

 

:sad:

Oh gosh, measie... . I'm so sorry.

 

Ants are really annoying, but once they start to kill...they're really, REALLY anoying. I am so determined to find a solution to get rid of ants in aviaries once and for all.

 

 

 

Thanks so much! There is not enough swear words in any language to cover how cross I was when I found them :sad:

I'd throw out the eggs unless you are very experienced in raising from an egg. You need an incubator and also need to turn the eggs regularly even through the night. Then the 2 hourly feeding.

 

The first thing i'd do is to get rid of the ants before trying to breed again.

I'd throw out the eggs unless you are very experienced in raising from an egg. You need an incubator and also need to turn the eggs regularly even through the night. Then the 2 hourly feeding.

 

The first thing i'd do is to get rid of the ants before trying to breed again.

 

 

Thanks Daz, already done. I have never hand raised babies full stop and these poor eggs have been left cold by their mum, fostered, and now moved around. Before disguarding them I checked them (candled and listened), and with them over due, the chicks weren't moving, no noises were heard, and the air sack was quite largeand red lined (blood?) On opening, the little guys had no chance. Poor little buggers. I am pretty bummed, but also believe everything happens for reason, and perhaps my hens weren't ready for raising babies. So... thats all for breeding for now. Tomorrow is the big avairy clean up, ANT DISTRUCTION, and new toys etc... for my budgies. Thanks everyone for your advice and help xx

oh my goodness...... maesie, l'm very sorry to hear of your loss

((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))

We have huge ant problems where I live, I have to (ant)dust around the base of the aviary with ant powder frequently, they like to come in for the seed on the ground- especially if it gets wet. Getting wet is unadvoidable as I need to hose the aviaries once it gets over 40C.

Ants are also attracted to eggs...broken ones and the eggshells from newly hatched chicks. Try ands keep the eggshells removed. Corn attracts them too.

Ants are also attracted to eggs...broken ones and the eggshells from newly hatched chicks. Try ands keep the eggshells removed. Corn attracts them too.

 

 

Thanks all. I went on an ant killing spree on Saturday. Used some vinegar inside the avairy and outdoor ant/insect spray outside (i was very carerfull to avoid drifting) It seemed to have worked at the moment so I just need to keep on top of it. Is Ant Sand safe? I was worried they would take it into the avairy and the birds mite eat it?!

 

I agree Kaz, one of the budgies dropped an egg, and wella, they were all over it. I also notice they love the corn too. The birds are getting used to the fact that they must eat it FAST before I remove it before th invasion starts!

For the corn....if you get a plastic plate or bowl....put a base plate of wood under it with a nail sticking through...or two plastic picnic plates sandwiched together with silicone...a nail with a large flat head, sticking up through, point upwards. Then you push the corncob onto the nail ( vertical ) and you fill the plate with water. No ants will go through the water and the birds can also drink from it.....as well as eat the corn.

For the corn....if you get a plastic plate or bowl....put a base plate of wood under it with a nail sticking through...or two plastic picnic plates sandwiched together with silicone...a nail with a large flat head, sticking up through, point upwards. Then you push the corncob onto the nail ( vertical ) and you fill the plate with water. No ants will go through the water and the birds can also drink from it.....as well as eat the corn.

 

ohh, love that idea. Will definately try that! However, I have also found ants in the water bowls too! Maybe the ants in my area like water :sad: Thanks though, will try anyway.

boy you guys with outdoor aviaries have problems we dont see here, i want to build a summer flight for my pair to play in in summer, but would still have to bring them in at night, i sure sould like to come to australia, i have an australian cattle dog, and always wanted to dive on the reefs there, i sure hope you get the buggys handled, we have bugs to, but i think the cold keeps them somwhat at bay. sorry you lost the eggs,.

juliet

boy you guys with outdoor aviaries have problems we dont see here, i want to build a summer flight for my pair to play in in summer, but would still have to bring them in at night, i sure sould like to come to australia, i have an australian cattle dog, and always wanted to dive on the reefs there, i sure hope you get the buggys handled, we have bugs to, but i think the cold keeps them somwhat at bay. sorry you lost the eggs,.

juliet

 

Thanks Juliet. Australia is a pretty good place to live. We have lots of bugs here too... flys, mozzies, bees, spiders and ANTS. Some definately worse than others! At present, the ants are behaving. :glare:

Ants are also attracted to eggs...broken ones and the eggshells from newly hatched chicks. Try ands keep the eggshells removed. Corn attracts them too.

 

 

Thanks all. I went on an ant killing spree on Saturday. Used some vinegar inside the avairy and outdoor ant/insect spray outside (i was very carerfull to avoid drifting) It seemed to have worked at the moment so I just need to keep on top of it. Is Ant Sand safe? I was worried they would take it into the avairy and the birds mite eat it?!

 

I agree Kaz, one of the budgies dropped an egg, and wella, they were all over it. I also notice they love the corn too. The birds are getting used to the fact that they must eat it FAST before I remove it before th invasion starts!

 

Yes...is Ant Sand safe? I would like to know too as I have a simalar problem. :glare: