August 19, 200816 yr Wonderful news PS dont bother with the little capful of seed. Babies fossick on the ground....so throw a good handful or more in on top of the rolled oats. If you are using the rolled oats as bedding it might be fine instead of the wood shavings.
August 19, 200816 yr Author The dad may not sit in the nest at night, so put some wood shaving in there if you have them. If not some rolled oats if you have them in your pantry cupboards. Also put about a cupful of budgie seed in the nest, The chicks will pick at it and the Dad will too while he's in there and it will help him to feed them. Give Dad the easiest soft food you have ...even if its wholegrain bread soaked in water Thanks for those suggestions Kaz.....I've put them into play....I actually have some of the biscuit/egg mix out there but he doesn't seem too interested in it....i put a seed/honey stick out there....some small spinach....as well as the regular seed & water which he seems to draw to...Thank you for all your help....we are all so encouraged....the chicks are soooo cute...
August 19, 200816 yr Make the egg and biscuit into a sloppy mixture and put it right next to the nestbox. Consistency of sauce.
August 19, 200816 yr Author I believe there are a number of top breeders who take the hens away from the chicks at 14 days and leave the rest of the parenting to the fathers - As horrible as it is, your hen passed at a good time for her babies to have a great chance of survival Yes Liv....i have to agree....she hung in there as long as she could....in hindsight I'm thinking i should've got the other male out of there sooner...he was no doubt stressing the mum & dad out probably....but she did depart at a good time...the chicks are looking good this morning and dad is right in there feeding them....it's so exciting watching nature doing it's thing....thank you for your adviceMake the egg and biscuit into a sloppy mixture and put it right next to the nestbox. Consistency of sauce.Oh okay....that makes sense....thanks for the tip KazI agree with the others... looking good! It sounds like things are going well now, I'm so pleased. Usually with chicks in the nest I check them twice a day... morning and night. I suggest you do the same, and (maybe) add another check midday??? You don't want to check them too much, but also need to keep an eye on them. I'm pleased he is now able to pay 100% attention to his chicks with the other male out of the way... Awsome news!!! Thanks Maesie.....it is so encouraging for all of us.....as luck would have in I'm home all this week from work so i can keep a watchful eye on them....i'm so glad i don't have to feed them myself...i was dreading it just if i made a mistake....anyhow it's all looking good....thank you for your advise and encouragement.
August 19, 200816 yr Its really really important to keep the Dad healthy and happy and well fed right now. Healthy Dad means healthy babies. Best of luck
August 20, 200816 yr Egg and bicky mix = sauce :hu: ... I have always ,made it into a crumble ... Will try this one next rounds
August 21, 200816 yr Author Its really really important to keep the Dad healthy and happy and well fed right now. Healthy Dad means healthy babies. Best of luck Hi Kaz..... I have tried the mix and put it right next to his seed and water but he doesn't seem interested at all. It's almost like he's afraid of it! I've also hung a honey/seed stick on the cage and a millet spray but he just draws to the seed only. At least he's eating that well.....he likes his seed. Yesterday I watched him fly to the ground of the avairy which is made of sandstone red, yellow greyish stones laid with cement by the former owners. The avairy is about 10 yrs old...was here when we got the place. Anyhow...he was really picking at the sandstone with his beak. I swear he was eating it...making like little holes and nibbling into it. The mum used to do that to. I'm starting to freak out a bit thinking....is there something in the stone that can make them sick? I have put shell grit into their food from time to time, like twice a week with their seed. like a teaspoons worth with 20 teaspoons of seed. There's plenty of food around him...the babies are still alive and I see him in there feeding them...so ??? Everytime i go to the avairy to check and change his food (about 3 times day) i always blow out the husks and put fresh seed on top and he always comes over when i leave the seed like;.... 'ohhh what did he bring this time??" but like I say, when i introduce new food like the mix he is either wary or disinterested. I put the mix in around 4:00 pm yesterday....this morniing it was still there seemingly untouched except for a bit of poo in it....lol!! Thanks for all your help.
August 21, 200816 yr All budgies are different. BUT when they are feeding babies they are more inclined to try new things, so keep trying. Mashed boiled egg and some grated carrot maybe ? Look forward to photo when you can and of the Dad
August 21, 200816 yr Firstly, Budgies don't need shell grit, so I wouldn't worry about giving them that. I also agree with Kaz about them trying new food when they have bubs. My budgies are not keen on veggies etc, despite their daily servings. With my last clutch, I put in a mix of mashed boiled egg, carrot, corn, greens etc... Usually this would get left untouched. BUT, with Mum in the nest box on eggs, the father ate so much of it I couldn't believe it. He is also NOT tame, but would greet me at the door and eat off the dish as I was putting it in. Once Mum had bubs which were bigger, she'd leave the nest box to feed and she too scoffed the soft food. Keep at it and try sprinkling his seed on the soft food/veggies you are serving. Maybe also try serving it in a bowl/dish that is/looks the same as his seed dish. I know my birds sometimes freak out when they are not sure about different things.
August 22, 200816 yr Author Firstly, Budgies don't need shell grit, so I wouldn't worry about giving them that. I also agree with Kaz about them trying new food when they have bubs. My budgies are not keen on veggies etc, despite their daily servings. With my last clutch, I put in a mix of mashed boiled egg, carrot, corn, greens etc... Usually this would get left untouched. BUT, with Mum in the nest box on eggs, the father ate so much of it I couldn't believe it. He is also NOT tame, but would greet me at the door and eat off the dish as I was putting it in. Once Mum had bubs which were bigger, she'd leave the nest box to feed and she too scoffed the soft food. Keep at it and try sprinkling his seed on the soft food/veggies you are serving. Maybe also try serving it in a bowl/dish that is/looks the same as his seed dish. I know my birds sometimes freak out when they are not sure about different things. thanks for the suggestion maesie...i thought it might be the serving bowl too....i'll try and add a little to his seed mix so he inadvertantly takes it and realises it's actually food.
August 23, 200816 yr Author Firstly, Budgies don't need shell grit, so I wouldn't worry about giving them that. I also agree with Kaz about them trying new food when they have bubs. My budgies are not keen on veggies etc, despite their daily servings. With my last clutch, I put in a mix of mashed boiled egg, carrot, corn, greens etc... Usually this would get left untouched. BUT, with Mum in the nest box on eggs, the father ate so much of it I couldn't believe it. He is also NOT tame, but would greet me at the door and eat off the dish as I was putting it in. Once Mum had bubs which were bigger, she'd leave the nest box to feed and she too scoffed the soft food. Keep at it and try sprinkling his seed on the soft food/veggies you are serving. Maybe also try serving it in a bowl/dish that is/looks the same as his seed dish. I know my birds sometimes freak out when they are not sure about different things. hi maesie....mixed some mashed boiled eggs with shredded carrots....looked disinterested, then watched him nibble at a bit of carrot.....it fell to the ground and he went after it....bingo!! gave him a small dish of shredded carrot only any he ate the lot in one go!! Gave him some more and he ate half of that in one go!! Shredded carrrots.....I'm going to introduce some other foods now....small servings the same way...maybe corn.... thanks for the advice....it really helps! have a great weekend!!
August 23, 200816 yr Excellent!!! You could try 'hiding' things in with the carrot, like the egg etc... good things to try include boiled egg, corn, silverbeet... keep it up and have an awesome weekend too
August 23, 200816 yr hi maesie....mixed some mashed boiled eggs with shredded carrots....looked disinterested, then watched him nibble at a bit of carrot.....it fell to the ground and he went after it....bingo!! gave him a small dish of shredded carrot only any he ate the lot in one go!! Gave him some more and he ate half of that in one go!! Shredded carrrots.....I'm going to introduce some other foods now....small servings the same way...maybe corn.... thanks for the advice....it really helps! have a great weekend!! Terrific Now dont panic if you see the chicks crops all orangy red looking...it will be the carrot Dad has fed them
August 24, 200816 yr Silver beet??? What is that ??? is it Spinach?? Neat, silver beet isn't spinach, I can tell you that . I have been wondering about the differences in feeding them to birds though, as I have read that spinach can interfere with calcium uptake....? Is this different for silver beet...?
August 24, 200816 yr Silverbeet is similar to spinach, and pretty much smells the same to me, though I am now sure how different the two are. There is some interesting info from DrNat about it under a topic about apple cider vinegar. Here is that topic http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....rbeet&st=20
August 25, 200816 yr Thanks Sunnie, that's a good article. I guess in a nutshell then, feed them a good balanced diet and they'll take what they need, when they need it....!
August 25, 200816 yr SILVERBEET... SPINACH I've always given silverbeet and my guys and girls LOVE it to bits!!! Again, I agree with the consensus, variety is the spice of life! They'll eat what they need, and that is also why I feed seed and not pellets. With seed the budgies can pick out what they want to eat/need to eat...whereas with pellets, it's all just in there! (Off The Topic sorry) Edited August 25, 200816 yr by maesie
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