So I have two clutches right now, 5 eggs each, nothing has happened yet but by next week the second clutch should be starting and the first clutch should be well under way if anything comes of them. These are my first clutches and I just want to get some advice on the do's and don't when they first arrive. If I peek in and see a baby has arrived, what should I do first if anything? When can or should I touch them for the first time? When should be their first vet visit? What age should they be weaned by? When do I remove the nest box completely? When can the mother and father and the babies be moved out of the breeding cage into a holding cage? Lots of questions, but wasn't sure where to find all these answers.

I can try to answer what I can

 

If I peek in and see a baby has arrived, what should I do first if anything?

 

I do nothing, if they are moving and don't have any egg shell stuck to them then I just left my guys. I just check to make sure that the box it clean, chick are not stuck to remaining parts of the shell and if you can without trying to pick them up check that they have food in their crop

 

When can or should I touch them for the first time?

 

7 - 10 days is what I have been told (other breeders feel free to correct me) this is around the time I was told to ring them so that's what I then do. After that I handle on a daily base as you have to check that there is nothing stuck in the ring. Also gets them use to you if you are planning on hand taming them

 

When should be their first vet visit?

 

That really depends, personally if I took all mine to the vets then I would be broke. If they are healthy and have no signs of illness then I would not. However if I am going to get their wings clipped for the first time I might take them for the pet types but the show types will not see a vet unless they need to.

 

What age should they be weaned by?

 

About 4 weeks I think, I have heard alot of different answers to this so I figure when they start eating on their own I will remove the parents and keep an eye on them that way if there is any issues I can put the parents back in for another week. I am planning on playing that one my ear but others might have a different answer

 

When do I remove the nest box completely?

 

As long as the Hen is not starting another Clutch then when the Babies no longer go into it.

 

When can the mother and father and the babies be moved out of the breeding cage into a holding cage?

 

around the 4 week mark I believe.

 

 

As I said this is going from what I have read and what I am going through now. Others on the board feel free to say I am wrong, still on a learning curve.

I don't want to let the hens lay another clutch. Is there a way to prevent this without getting rid of the next box too early. My parents were telling me that their birds would actually start laying the next clutch and the babies from the first clutch were incubating them. I don't want to do that right now. This first time has been stressful for me (a learning process) and I'd like to make sure I have homes for those I am not keeping before allowing more breeding.

 

About how old will the babies be when they stop going into the nest box?

 

PS THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH FOR THE REPLY!!!!!

Edited September 4, 200816 yr by chrissy0705

An article in our FAQ section has been written to cover a lot of your questions

 

here http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/faqs/i...light=care%20of

An article in our FAQ section has been written to cover a lot of your questions

 

here http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/faqs/i...light=care%20of

 

 

Thanks KAZ this is an unbelievable read!!! Thank you.