okay, I must have really bad luck or something, but here goes....

 

As you all know my thrid chick didn't make it and i just reported with pics earlier that my other two babies were doing fine. I check on the chicks earlier today and the one had a very full crop and the other was some what empty, but I could still see some food in it so I let it go. I just checked again (it's 10 pm here) and the crop is totally empty now (deflated balloon). Since this mother rejected the other chick and this chick is now not being fed I did not want to chance it and thought I'd give it a feeding. This chick should be starving and gulp down the hand rearing food but it won't even open it's mouth.... ???? What is going on? I've heard of the mum not feeding the chicks but I have not heard of a chick not eat? Please help me, if I lose this chick that's it... I won't breed anymore. I'm so distraught right now.

The chick is weak and thats why it wont eat. Have you had lessons in crop feeding at all ? Its a good idea if breeding to learn how to crop feed as not all parents will do the right things by their babies.

The chick is weak and thats why it wont eat. Have you had lessons in crop feeding at all ? Its a good idea if breeding to learn how to crop feed as not all parents will do the right things by their babies.

 

I haven't had one on one lessons with anyone but I read and read and watched videos. I am using the end of a toothpic (matchstick as others suggest). I've dabbed it on it's beak to allow it to take it in (I even gave a gentle tap on the beak with the toothpic) and she WILL NOT open up for me???

A weak chick wont open its beak and will not swallow. Thats why the skill of crop feeding is a great tool to have and a crop needle is vital when rearing chicks. ONLY solution at this point is to crop feed. You havent a crop needle have you ?

A weak chick wont open its beak and will not swallow. Thats why the skill of crop feeding is a great tool to have and a crop needle is vital when rearing chicks. ONLY solution at this point is to crop feed. You havent a crop needle have you ?

 

 

No, I do not KAZ. I tried to find a "breeding kit" with all the needs in it here in USA, PA, but was lucky to find even two can of rearing formula on the shelf of one of the largest pet supply stores here.... this means this chick will die, there's no other way to help??? He doesn't seem weak... he was active, and moving around when i picked him up (kicking his legs and trying to turn himself over with his wings)????? You can see form the picture I took this morning that his crop was FULL. And it still had food in it this afternoon, how can it become sooooo weak soooo fast?? It can only be like 4 hours since there was last (some) food in there?

Edited September 20, 200816 yr by chrissy0705

Advice by PM as you know. Try and get a drop or two of glucose into him. They will suck it into the beak. If he isnt even doing that there is no chance apaprt from crop feeding. Watch he doesnt aspirate into his lungs.

*Hugs*

I hope the little chick will be okay

 

Great advice Kaz

*runs out to shop and gets crop needle*

*Hugs*

I hope the little chick will be okay

 

Great advice Kaz

*runs out to shop and gets crop needle*

You need more than one crop needle Liv. Different sizes and types for different ages of chicks.

So if this chick doesn't make it through the night because of this, I have pretty much written his death sentence.... :hap: :hap: My fault !! No more breeding, I'm done.

So if this chick doesn't make it through the night because of this, I have pretty much written his death sentence.... :hap: :hap: My fault !! No more breeding, I'm done.

 

Not exactly. There could be an illness, an underlying issue. BUT crop feeding is a skill that should be learnt before breeding. Even for non breeding budgie owners, crop feeding will help sick birds get instant food, will help administer meds etc. EVERYONE should learn to crop feed. Everyone on here that has even gone to the vet should come home with crop needles and lessons having been taught. A vitally important skill.

You cannot blame yourself for not realising the importance of some of these things. Breeding is fraught with things that go wrong. If you expect EVERYTHING to go wrong then you will be prepared for all eventualities. Most people just idealise budgie breeding and expect it all to go smoothly. More often than not it doesnt go smoothly and then there are dramas and emergencies. :hap:

I agree. Parents dont normally stop feeding a baby for no reason. you may find there is something wrong with it anyway - parents are very clever at seeing things we cant.

 

I was shown how to crop feed at my local vet - next time you visit your vet ask them to show you too :hap:

Kaz, I will get different gauge needles :hap:

a 14 guage 3 inch straight needle works for most chicks 2 weeks onwards. I will have to check what my smaller one is.

okay I'm being hard on myself but I feel rightiously so. I am too soft hearted and the littlest things, when it comes to animals suffering, kills me.

 

Can I ask another question, cause I think I may have paniced for no reason. I came down this morning and checked on the chicks, both crops were empty. I figure okay it's morning, as they do every morning they will fill up on food and then feed. And they did. Mum and dad were both out of the box again so I checked and this time both the chicks have food in it now (not packed full, but some) and she fed the smaller one first?? Is it possible that she just doesn't have it in her to keep up with both of them? I though they always fed the eldest and biggest first? Why did she feed the smaller one (I thought was doomed) first? Is the father not helping enough (sometimes he seems to be more interested in shredding newspaper than eating and feeding)? Should I put food in the nest box with her? I must have prayed hard last night, because the little one has been fed this morning??? I wonder why it wouldn't open for me though when I tried to feed?

 

I guess I should just be happy that she has fed them, God answered my prayers.

Edited September 20, 200816 yr by chrissy0705

I was going to say maybe you had happened to check the chick just before feeding time for it. If you are worried its empty check again within half hour, then an hour. A small chick can be fed and empty again within the time you specified.

What i have seen and been told the mum feeds the oldest one first ( when they are young) - Yes it could have been the timing with you checking and the crops being empty - RE: crop feeding go see a vet ( avain ) as ask for a lesson it is FANTASTIC and not hard like it looks

 

What are you feeding the parents???

What i have seen and been told the mum feeds the oldest one first ( when they are young) - Yes it could have been the timing with you checking and the crops being empty - RE: crop feeding go see a vet ( avain ) as ask for a lesson it is FANTASTIC and not hard like it looks

 

What are you feeding the parents???

 

The parents get a mix of seed, fresh greens, veggies and eggs right now.

 

As for checking between feedings, then if his crop was empty why wouldn't he take food from me?? Was the crop empty but the belly full? I still don't understand why he wouldn't eat for me, and not even open his mouth. Are budgies like babies, if they don't want to eat they refuse to open up??

So pleased the bub was fed

 

You can put some millet in the box for the hen to eat

There is nothing set in concrete that says they feed the oldest chicks first...they will feed the one closest to them or begging the loudest. You are doing all you can to be sure the parents have what they need to be able to feed the chicks easily. As I stated before dont put food in the nestbox ...its get fouled and tipped over. You can however put a large sprig of millet in there. I do that for all parents feeding chicks from the 2 weeks mark onwards. I also do it for any hens sitting on eggs who dont come out much to feed. At two weeks of age the chicks also peck at it which teaches them early where their food comes from and how to get it.

Well sad to report the other chick did not make it. I am down to one last surviving chick. I came down this morning to find her flat on her back like the other one. The worries of the mum not feeding her were for nothing, she fed her and fed her well the last two days, infact when I pulled her from the nest box this morning there was still food in her crop... I think she must have been sick. She was born on the same day as the other chick, yet she was at least half the size... and barely feathered. This is her on the top. :rip:

 

 

The other chick "seems" to be doing well. She is holding her head up a bit, eyes are open now and has feathers filling in.... Here she is... (please pray for her).

 

 

 

 

Sorry to hear this mate ..

 

Another breeder i know is having issues with babies dying lately too -

 

Fingers crossed for this little one

Fingers crossed and good luck with the little one- it looks rec pied?

Fingers crossed and good luck with the little one- it looks rec pied?

 

 

How in the world could you tell that at this age????? Please tell me what you are looking at to know this?

 

I don't think so though. Mum is dom pied and dad is opaline (unless someone is split for it?)

Just the markings on the wings- you have some clear patches on the black, and I thought recessive not dominant because there is a black patch on the tip of one. I could be wrong though it is early.

((((Hugs))))

I hope your baby makes it.

I agree is a bit young to tell for sure, put i do see some pied markings too