My hen's clutch3 babys and 3eggs were attacked by another hen this morning and all died except one. I have put them in a seperate cage and the mother is now refusing to feed the baby. It is really cold and I have brought it inside under a heat lamp. I am planning on returning it to it;s parents tomorrow morning as she will not sit on it. Just wanted to check that sounded alright. I have given it a hand feed with Roudibush formula 3. Seems to be doing well. I have handfed babys before but never one this young. She is normaly a really good mother and none of the other hens are sitting on eggs or chicks so I have no one to foster too as she is who I usually foster the babys too...

WoW your brave

 

Good luck

Sounds like you might have a tough job on your hands as budgies will abandon babies if they are disturbed too much.

do you have any other hens who have eggs or young chicks who can foster the baby??

(((((Hugs))))) i hope the little one makes it

Yes i am sorry to say it does not sound good for this little one as she will most likely not sit on the baby again do you have any friends with a hen you can foster it to? I am very sorry for the rest of your losses also goodluck with the little guy!

Sounds to me like you might need to hand raise this one

I have handreared many different types of parrots, and from one day old they are extremely extremely hard. It needs to be kept very warm and fed every few hours - yes, all through the night as well! The handrearing mix needs to be diluted for the first few weeks ( it should give you instructions on the back of the container). And you need lots and lots of luck as well. Dont get your hopes up, like I said it is very very hard when they are only just hatched.

Was she not feeding it as well as not sitting on it? In all honesty at that age handrearing is going to be almost pure luck as far as whether the baby makes it. I think I would be bringing the chick, box and parents inside and supplementary feeding the chick and taking a chance of having the parents in the cage in the hopes that they would start feeding again. There is a chance they might attack the baby of course but weighed against the chances of successfully handrearing a day old bub I would be taking y chances with the parents.

I really didn't want to hand rear this baby. But It just got too cold outside and still had not been fed and still moved when I touched it but had stopped chirping for food. It has improved incredibly since bringing it in and warning it up. I was just so lucky I was there at the right time to save her. I am relly sad about her two older siblings that were dead, and the 3 eggs had been pecked and one I could see the formed chick inside but it was dead too. I am stressed and freaked out about rearing the chick whick I have called lucky and I am so determined to keep her alive... I know there is a chance she will not make it, but I have to try. My daughter (4years old) made a fairy wish with the glitter she has been keeping from the fairy shop here( they say that if you make a wish with it the fairys will grant your wish), she asked for lucky to be okay... Just like getting up to a new born baby- well I've done that before so I can do it again for our new baby..

 

Photo's to come will put them onto the computer tonight...

Thankyou all for your help and support!

Now With Pictures!!

 

 

Looks like its crop is really full - I'm speaking from experience, try not to fill it up too much, as at this young age, sour crop can set in.Its better you feed it small amounts often than a lot less often. Good luck! Have you got a thermometor in with it? You will need to keep it really warm!!

The hazards of colony breeding How many birds were in what size space, breeding where the nestbox was attacked ?

The hazards of colony breeding How many birds were in what size space, breeding where the nestbox was attacked ?

 

 

The Aviary is 3m / 3m square and there are 12 Birds in there 6 hend and 6 cocks. There are 10 nest boxes. There is one young hen who sits in the a different nest box alot but just hasn't bred- she is 14 months old. She was the one that attacked the chicks to take over the box- I don't know why. But she is now in the box. I would really like to set up a breeding room- But we have had so much trouble with my husband being sick and my father too that we just cannot afford it. So the aviary is the only option for me at the moment. Do I have too many birds in there?

Not too many birds

 

Why not put a little table in one end of the aviary with a couple of breeding boxes sitting on it. No need to have a seperate room.

The hazards of colony breeding How many birds were in what size space, breeding where the nestbox was attacked ?

 

 

The Aviary is 3m / 3m square and there are 12 Birds in there 6 hend and 6 cocks. There are 10 nest boxes. There is one young hen who sits in the a different nest box alot but just hasn't bred- she is 14 months old. She was the one that attacked the chicks to take over the box- I don't know why. But she is now in the box. I would really like to set up a breeding room- But we have had so much trouble with my husband being sick and my father too that we just cannot afford it. So the aviary is the only option for me at the moment. Do I have too many birds in there?

 

Perhaps you could section off an area of your aviary and set up some breeding cages in a part of it, to stop the fights. Very sad and disheartening when you look forward to chicks growing and another hens kills them. Good luck with your baby, its a hard thing to raise them from this age. Warmth is key, and sleepless nights for you to see to its welfare.

 

Sorry MB to disagree, you DO have to have breeding cages seperate and not in an aviary where other birds will land on the cages and intefere with the breeding process.

Edited June 4, 200816 yr by KAZ

Looks like its crop is really full - I'm speaking from experience, try not to fill it up too much, as at this young age, sour crop can set in.Its better you feed it small amounts often than a lot less often. Good luck! Have you got a thermometor in with it? You will need to keep it really warm!!

 

 

I do not have a thermomoter with it, Should I? What temp should it be constantly. I check it regularly.

I have a heat lamp setup-which I use for my ringnecks too and I talk to my local vet nurse- she works with Bob Donnerly (who I think is the best Avian Vet in Toowoomba!!) But she works heaps and I try not to bother them too much. I had just fed when I took the picture, but I'll try not to feed as much, the crop is emptying in about 1.5 hours to 2 hours. Is there anything else I should know about the feeding?

I really appreciate all the help and information I can get. I have handraised birds before, IRN's and 2 Budgies but never from so young- and Ringneck chicks are a lot bigger.

MB, place more nestboxes on a lower leavel will increase more fights, Hen perfer the higher the better when nesting - ....

I agree with Kaz, in making a breeding cabinet section .......

 

Good luck wiht the little babby

Neat by breeding boxes I meant breeding cabinets not nest boxes

 

I plan to put my double breeding box in the aviary but with a double wire front on it. How far away do you ctually have to keep the other birds? I would assume that as long as the birds can't bite each other through the cages then that would be fine.

having other birds land on top of the cabinets will disturb the breeding birds. Its best to divide the aviary - put up a wire wall with a door then your cabinets behind it

Rah I have to commend you for all your efforts. I really hope and wish, for you and your daughters fairy wish that you baby makes it

I dont think I could do what you are doing to be quite honest and I really admire your dedication :hap:

How is he doing today?? Keen to hear of his progress.......

How is he doing today?? Keen to hear of his progress.......

 

 

Really good! I am so happy we got through the first night without any problems. Such a little trooper. Supprisingly easy to feed and quite strong today compared to yesterday. Will take some more photo's this afternoon.

 

 

 

Moderator’s Message

changed arvo ~ afternoon. please do not use shortcuts - use only approved shortcuts found in guidelines.

Edited June 5, 200816 yr by birdluv

Oh that's such great news. Im keeping my fingers crossed

Congratulations on getting him through the night! It's good to have a thermometer in with him so you know how warm his surroundings are . I would try and have it around 37 degrees while he is still tiny. I container of water gives him some humidity as well otherwise the air gets too dry. I see by the photos you have him in a dish? Is it out in the open or is his bed enclosed in a box or similar?

Edited June 5, 200816 yr by jenene283

Congratulations on getting him through the night! It's good to have a thermometer in with him so you know how warm his surroundings are . I would try and have it around 37 degrees while he is still tiny. I container of water gives him some humidity as well otherwise the air gets too dry. I see by the photos you have him in a dish? Is it out in the open or is his bed enclosed in a box or similar?

 

 

The dish is out at the moment. I did have it in a larger cardboard box during the night last night. Should I shave a small dish of water close by in the box or in the bowl with him?

I would suggest using a small cup so that there is no way he can wiggle himself into it when you aren't looking or simply hang a damp face washer near him, then you can put it fairly close to him. When they are under their mum she keeps the air fairly hmid but under a light it is very drying.