I've got a male who feeds the hen and eldest chick. Then the eldest chick goes in and feeds the younger siblings. It is amazing that the eldest chicks will feed the younger ones.

That is gorgeous with the DF spangle eating out of your hand :sad:

I love that they eat as soon as they come out the box. makes the whole weaning process so much easier for everyone

So KAZ, say if I had oats in the nestbox as nesting material, Do you just chuck seed on top of that or do you clean out the nest box and just use the seed as nesting material

i also do this and your are right kaz the other older chicks feed the younger chicks also

this carrys on to the babby cage then aviry

all chick do become a lot more plump

Thanks for that Kaz, might do that myself... ill start putting millet in the box's including my cockatiel's.

So KAZ, say if I had oats in the nestbox as nesting material, Do you just chuck seed on top of that or do you clean out the nest box and just use the seed as nesting material

I pour a cupful in regardless of nesting materials

ive heard that hens give some out some sort of milk outof their crop when they regurgitate seeds. i was wondering whether ci=hicks are missing out some of their nutrients from that

ive heard that hens give some out some sort of milk outof their crop when they regurgitate seeds. i was wondering whether ci=hicks are missing out some of their nutrients from that :glare:

In what way would chicks be missing out ? What do you mean ?

Edited July 12, 200915 yr by KAZ

CSB, from what i read, the parents also eat the seed and then feed the chicks. they are not weaned when the seed is put in.

Hello, I stumbled upon this wonderful forum while investigating the weaning process. Not my first parakeets, but first time my pair mated. (I'm keeping a video diary on youtube, http://www.youtube.com/user/LucyAndHorton )

This is a wonderful idea, will try it during the next cleanout. I'm not sure about pouring seed into the bottom as I worry about it getting mixed in with the poop (the youngest is just 2 weeks old today). But I will put a small millet sprig in 2 of the corners.

Hello, I stumbled upon this wonderful forum while investigating the weaning process. Not my first parakeets, but first time my pair mated. (I'm keeping a video diary on youtube, http://www.youtube.com/user/LucyAndHorton )

This is a wonderful idea, will try it during the next cleanout. I'm not sure about pouring seed into the bottom as I worry about it getting mixed in with the poop (the youngest is just 2 weeks old today). But I will put a small millet sprig in 2 of the corners.

 

 

Hi Kate,

you will find that babies in the nestbox scrounge around the bottom of nestbox and peck and eat at anything so whether or not the peck up poop being a worry to you.......they do that anyway. So no need to get fussy about putting millet sprigs in the corners. it wont stay where you put it anyway.

Edited August 4, 200915 yr by KAZ

Hi Kate,

you will find that babies in the nestbox scrounge around the bottom of nestbox and peck and eat at anything so whether or not the peck up poop being a worry to you.......they do that anyway. So no need to get fussy about putting millet sprigs in the corners. it wont stay where you put it anyway.

 

Thanks Kaz you are right, checking back at cover-up time I see the millet in the middle (nibbled-on) and the chickees taking the corners for themselves :-)

Edited August 4, 200915 yr by KAZ

I have been adding millet sprays and seed to the nest boxes ever since reading Kaz's first post on the subject. The results are excellent, all the chicks can feed themselves by the time they leave the nest

I have been adding millet sprays and seed to the nest boxes ever since reading Kaz's first post on the subject. The results are excellent, all the chicks can feed themselves by the time they leave the nest

Works well for early independance and less chance of sooky sulking chicks who wont feed themselves.

Kaz....I learnt this off you a few months ago and the last lot of chicks I had were eating seed before leaving the box so it's great...thank you...

 

I put a millet spray in the box as the chicks are hatching for mum....is this okay?..., I need to change it every other day so she is eating it...once all the chicks have hatched and are starting to get pin feathers I put oats as the nesting material and add millet every day and put in a cup of seed....

Hi All, Read about this in Kaz's post and my first season breeding, I also tried it. Worked great, especially when I had 8 chicks in nest,took a big load off Dad as well as helping chicks. Good job Kaz. Will be continuing this next season.

Kaz....I learnt this off you a few months ago and the last lot of chicks I had were eating seed before leaving the box so it's great...thank you... :laughter: I put a millet spray in the box as the chicks are hatching for mum....is this okay?..., I need to change it every other day so she is eating it...once all the chicks have hatched and are starting to get pin feathers I put oats as the nesting material and add millet every day and put in a cup of seed....

Perfect

Hi All, Read about this in Kaz's post and my first season breeding, I also tried it. Worked great, especially when I had 8 chicks in nest,took a big load off Dad as well as helping chicks. Good job Kaz. Will be continuing this next season.

Works great doesnt it Robyn ? Best practice I ever employed.

Very Interesting