Oh no MB. So so for your losses... especially your crested chick.

I am so sorry

Sorry to hear that MB. Hopefully things pick up for you and your birds soon.

Well the hen that lost her green mate wasn't feeding the chicks so I've taken them out. I put them with the pied pair just while I figured I'd get some food ready and they seem to be looking after them at this stage so I'm going to leave them and see if they'll foster them. So that means that now all the surviving chicks from the three pairs that succesfully hatched chicks are under the care of the pieds. Two pied chicks, two chicks from the green pair and one crest bred chick

 

I'll give the green hen a short rest and then I might pick a new mate for her, I have a gorgeous grey boy that might go well with her.

 

The inos have layed again and this time the hen is actually sitting so hopefully they'll hatch something this time around.

 

The dilute hen who's cock broke his neck ages ago I decided to let back into the aviary so I had her in a flight cage within the main aviary and left the door open when I left for work and figured she'd go into the aviary when she was ready, got home and the flight cage door was shut, she was still in there and so was the dead cocks brother! They are having a lovely smooch so maybe I'll let her breed after all with his brother instead

good to see your keeping it in the family. hope you go well with the ino's in this round! Good luck!

Oh boy MB you have been so busy with all the ups and downs, I know I don't comment much here and there but I enjoy reading your journals.

Unfortunately this season there seem to have been more downs than ups after the loss of some of my best chicks and the two cocks that injured themselves. I feel like I have learnt alot though and I have made some changes which I hope will increase the chances of more successful clutches in the future :yes:

 

 

Currently I am topping up babies in the pied clutch as the parents only seem to be giving them about a half feed, ah well, I only need to get them through the next few weeks and then they should start to pick at seed a bit more

Chin up mate ... It can only get better ....

 

Sorry for the heart break you have had -

Oh no it can't Neat.

 

We lost another chick today, for no apparent reason, he was the younger f my pied clutch, had a nice full crop and looked perfectly healthy, he actually looked like he had be squashed

 

Plus I've just been inspecting them all and I have noticed that the crestbred chick seems to have a slightly wonky beak, like it one side of it is growing faster than the other side

Oh no it can't Neat.

 

We lost another chick today, for no apparent reason, he was the younger f my pied clutch, had a nice full crop and looked perfectly healthy, he actually looked like he had be squashed

 

Plus I've just been inspecting them all and I have noticed that the crestbred chick seems to have a slightly wonky beak, like it one side of it is growing faster than the other side

There's nothing easy about breeding is there MB. All kinds of issues. Sorry to hear you lost another. They all look squashed after death but no indication that squashed is a cause of death. I lost a healthy large chick yesterday with a full crop too. Seemed to have an obstruction in lower intestine.

Do you have a picture of the one with the wonky beak ? Could it be scissor beak issues ?

That's the way it looks Kaz, I still don't have a working card reader so can't upload a photo but I would say scissor beak. Is that a reason to not breed that pair again? I would be devestated if I can't breed them again as they are my first crested pair

 

I am starting to feel that many issues are coming from inexperienced maiden pairs, I have decided that for all but my super reliable pairs I am going to do a top up feed at least once a day with Neocare to give them a boost.

Sorry about your loss's MB but I agree with Kaz.

This year I has been bad for me too, I haven't lost many chicks maybe 4 but I have had clear eggs all over the place and everyone I know has been saying the same thing.

The worse thing I have had is 3 mops this year all unrelated.

OH and i lost a beautiful dilute hen, and my foundation hen died 3 days ago.

Wow, it is interesting that it has been bad for everyone prior to these clutches I have never lost even a single chick so it's very disheartening when this starts to happen.

 

I've never even seen a mop in the flesh! Did they survive?

 

I am consoling myself by picking up two tame baby ringnecks this arvo to make me smile

Sorry about your loss's MB but I agree with Kaz.This year I has been bad for me too, I haven't lost many chicks maybe 4 but I have had clear eggs all over the place and everyone I know has been saying the same thing.The worse thing I have had is 3 mops this year all unrelated.OH and i lost a beautiful dilute hen, and my foundation hen died 3 days ago.

My first round of breeding this season was mostly clear eggs too. Now I am seeing full eggs and chicks as we near the hotter weather.

Wow, it is interesting that it has been bad for everyone prior to these clutches I have never lost even a single chick so it's very disheartening when this starts to happen. I've never even seen a mop in the flesh! Did they survive?I am consoling myself by picking up two tame baby ringnecks this arvo to make me smile

At a budgie club meeting recently the breeding season was discussed and a lot of people were having a bad season and clear eggs.

Oh my, what a roller coaster ride you have been on

I am so sorry for all the troubles and losses you have been having.

I havent had much luck either this round

Edited November 3, 200816 yr by **Liv**

The inos and the cresteds are sitting on new eggs so I am hoping for a better outcome this time around, with the cresteds especially I will be taking no chances this time around, the sightest inkling of trouble and I'll be crop feeding chicks.

 

Worried about the chances of more scissor beak issues in the next clutch now though...

Scissors beak: Scissors beak is a lateral deviation of the rhinotheca. It is a developmental abnormality that occurs most commonly in cockatoos and macaws. It is thought to be caused by improper temperature during artificial incubation, genetics, or incorrect feeding techniques. Other possible causes include calcium deficiency, trauma, or a viral or mycobacterial infection.

 

Treatment varies with the severity of the problem and the age of the bird. In young birds with mild deviations, simply applying finger pressure to the appropriate side of the beak for several minutes 2-3 times daily, may correct the problem. In older birds, or those with more severe deviations, an avian veterinarian may need to perform surgery and apply a type of acrylic prosthesis (splint) to correct the abnormal growth.

Thanks Kaz, it sounds then that at this stage one chick with it isn't a reason to not breed them again. Given all the dramas I have had with this clutch it may simply be something to do with dietary issues, etc. I might try the pressure idea for a few days and see if it makes a difference and then take it from there.

 

The main thing would be to correct it enough for her to feed comfortably when she is bigger, perfection isn't an issue