Do we have any important points which needs to be considered before/during fostering chicks to foster parent pairs....like chicks should be within some minimum/maximum age limits, whether more than one chick can be fostered at the same time to the same fostering parent pairs....etc

It is preferable to foster with a clutch that has chicks about the same age (ie, you wouldn't put a newborn in with a clutch that is about the fledge) You can foster more than one chick as long as you don't overload the foster parents. Just as personal preference if I have the choice I try to foster with a clutch that is a c;early different mutation so there is no confusion, eg. put a green series chick in a blue series nest. Of course that's only if the option s there

Generally the chicks that are being fostered should be under 2 weeks old. The pair that are receiving them should have chicks of a similar age or be sitting on infertile eggs. Hens that are still laying eggs are usually not suitable. Identifying the foster chick is sometimes a problem. If they are too small to put a ring on they can be temporally marked with twink (tip-ex)

Agree with all that has been said

If fostering to a hen who only has eggs, make it a newish chick not an older one.

Never foster to a hen with no eggs or chicks.

Fostering a chick of a different type will be easier to spot in the nest later if you cannot ring or mark the chick..... for instance an ino chick in a green nest etc. A blue series chick in all all green nest etc.

Never expect a hen with no eggs to take on eggs from another hen.

If anyone has anything else to add please do I am going to compile the information here and add a FAQ for Fostering a Chick.

Thanks for all of your responses .

 

It is preferable to foster with a clutch that has chicks about the same age (ie, you wouldn't put a newborn in with a clutch that is about the fledge)

What can be the maximum age difference between the receiving foster clutch last chick and the new chickbeing fostered.

 

You can foster more than one chick as long as you don't overload the foster parents.

What is the ideal clutch size that will not overload the foster parents?

 

Generally the chicks that are being fostered should be under 2 weeks old.

Some time back I have also read this in some article, but I don't know what is the exact reason behind this. I think because at the third week chicks start showing the feather colouring and Budgies are good in differentiating each other based on there feather colourings, is my thinking correct or I am totally wrong.

 

If fostering to a hen who only has eggs, make it a newish chick not an older one.

Whether we can immediately foster a newly hatched chick or wondering whether we have to wait for minimum one or two days before fostering this chick.

 

Never foster to a hen with no eggs or chicks.

Assume we have a hen1 with only one chick of age 10 days with NO eggs and another hen2 has 4 chicks with first chick of age 6/8 days. Now whether we can foster one or two chicks from hen2 to hen1.

 

If anyone has anything else to add please do I am going to compile the information here and add a FAQ for Fostering a Chick.

In similar lines, we can also include about fostering eggs in the same article or as another new article. So that finally we will have a complete article about fostering. Sorry for adding some more additional work to you. :hap:

 

Also I have another question, whether we can foster the chicks/eggs at any time during the day, say morning or afternoon or evening or there is some best recommended time for doing this without much disturbing both the breeding pairs.

 

Sorry for asking too many questions.

Thanks for all of your responses .

 

It is preferable to foster with a clutch that has chicks about the same age (ie, you wouldn't put a newborn in with a clutch that is about the fledge)

What can be the maximum age difference between the receiving foster clutch last chick and the new chickbeing fostered.

Try to foster to a nest with similar size and similar aged chicks

You can foster more than one chick as long as you don't overload the foster parents.

What is the ideal clutch size that will not overload the foster parents?

Depends on the foster parents...good feeders...as in really good parents can handle around 6-7 in total but ideally closer to 4-5 .... but only if one clutch and not tired from another previous round of chick rearing

Generally the chicks that are being fostered should be under 2 weeks old.

Some time back I have also read this in some article, but I don't know what is the exact reason behind this. I think because at the third week chicks start showing the feather colouring and Budgies are good in differentiating each other based on there feather colourings, is my thinking correct or I am totally wrong.

More because a fully feathered and coloured chick would represent an intruder in the nest more than one of their own.

 

If fostering to a hen who only has eggs, make it a newish chick not an older one.

Whether we can immediately foster a newly hatched chick or wondering whether we have to wait for minimum one or two days before fostering this chick.

Yes, you can do this with no trouble at all. Best to wait until its had its first feed though if possible

 

Never foster to a hen with no eggs or chicks.

Assume we have a hen1 with only one chick of age 10 days with NO eggs and another hen2 has 4 chicks with first chick of age 6/8 days. Now whether we can foster one or two chicks from hen2 to hen1.

Yes...this would work quite well

 

If anyone has anything else to add please do I am going to compile the information here and add a FAQ for Fostering a Chick.

In similar lines, we can also include about fostering eggs in the same article or as another new article. So that finally we will have a complete article about fostering. Sorry for adding some more additional work to you. :hap:

 

Also I have another question, whether we can foster the chicks/eggs at any time during the day, say morning or afternoon or evening or there is some best recommended time for doing this without much disturbing both the breeding pairs.

best to do this while the mum is off the nest feeding and you can get her to get out while you do it ...and best in the morning too as if it doesnt work out you will know before nighttime and can make another arrangements.

Sorry for asking too many questions.

Thanks very much for your imemdiate response Kaz.

 

Never foster to a hen with no eggs or chicks.

Assume we have a hen1 with only one chick of age 10 days with NO eggs and another hen2 has 4 chicks with first chick of age 6/8 days. Now whether we can foster one or two chicks from hen2 to hen1.

Yes...this would work quite well

Whether receiving foster hen1 will not get totally surprised by seeing few new additonal chicks in her nestbox without any eggs....from where these chicks have come etc...

 

Also read in another forum thread that foster parents fed the new forstered chicks for a day or two and then suddenly stops to feed...etc. Why and what are all the necessary precautionary measures we need to take or be aware off before fostering chicks/eggs.

 

Okay let me ask a very very basic question, on what are all occasions do we may need to foster chicks? As far as I know:

 

1) Sudden death of the parent rearing hen and if cock is not feeding.

2) For some reasons, parents STOPPED feeding the chicks.

3) Too many chicks in the clutch and if we have option of another rearing hen with less number of chicks.

 

That's all I know and other members can feel free to add to the above list to make it complete.

Thanks very much for your imemdiate response Kaz.

 

Never foster to a hen with no eggs or chicks.

Assume we have a hen1 with only one chick of age 10 days with NO eggs and another hen2 has 4 chicks with first chick of age 6/8 days. Now whether we can foster one or two chicks from hen2 to hen1.

Yes...this would work quite well

Whether receiving foster hen1 will not get totally surprised by seeing few new additonal chicks in her nestbox without any eggs....from where these chicks have come etc...

Hens dont count their chicks...so you can slip in a chick or two amongst their own and they will not notice. Doesnt have to relate to an egg hatching.

Also read in another forum thread that foster parents fed the new fostered chicks for a day or two and then suddenly stops to feed...etc. Why and what are all the necessary precautionary measures we need to take or be aware off before fostering chicks/eggs.

Parents that stop feeding is just a pure behavioural thing and you cannot anticipate this or prepare for it. No specific reason for it. Like humans there are good and bad parents. Can be affected by using young and inexpereinced parents in budgies

Okay let me ask a very very basic question, on what are all occasions do we may need to foster chicks? As far as I know:

 

1) Sudden death of the parent rearing hen and if cock is not feeding.

2) For some reasons, parents STOPPED feeding the chicks.

3) Too many chicks in the clutch and if we have option of another rearing hen with less number of chicks.

4) inexperienced, young or just plain stupid budgies will do this too. Like people there are some intelligent budgies and some really "not very smart" budgies

That's all I know and other members can feel free to add to the above list to make it complete.

Thank you very much Kaz :laughter: