Hi All,

 

Im a fairly experienced when it comes to Budgies, but i need help with the following scenario.

 

I have a pair of nice English Budgies. The Hen is 2 Years old, Yellow Face Blue. Cock is a Cinnamon. I checked their cage this morning, Baby number 6 has hatched. The hen is experienced and looks after her babies well.

 

When i checked the cage this morning the cock bird was dead att he bottom of the cage. No visible signs of why he died.

 

What do I do with the Hen bird, will she be able to look after all 6 babies, should i foster a few babies out? Should I introduce a new cock bird to her that may help with the feeding?

 

Any advice would be appreciated..

I wouldn't introduce a new cock bird...

 

How many more eggs are you expecting to hatch? If you were only expecting 6 I would foster the 2 oldest out if possible... If you are expecting more, foster the oldest two out and once a new chick hatches to continue foster the oldest chick out.

 

Good Luck. And please let us know how it all goes :hap:

Edited December 14, 200816 yr by JimmyBanks

I agree with JB....

 

DO NOT introduce a new cock... he may not accept the chicks and could kill all of them.

 

The hen will be able to care for the chicks, but it's going to be hard on her. You need to make sure there is plenty of fresh soft foods for her (e.g. egg/veggie mix, etc...). This will make feedings easier on her and the chicks. If you can foster some, go for it, any help she can get will help. But as JB said, foster the olders first if you can (they are more demanding) unless the nest you are fostering to has much smaller babies, then foster the chicks comparable in size to the chicks the foster mom already has. I was just given this same advice about fostering and it has been 100% effective for me... have 11 chicks and have not lost a single one.

 

Best of luck and please update us. I am so sorry for your loss.

Edited December 14, 200816 yr by chrissy0705

I've always fistered the younger birds out when i have large clutches becasue i find other birds except the smaller babies easier.

 

Can you guys recommend how i foster larger birds out, should it be to a pair that has no eggs, a pair that already have other babies etc.

 

Any advice would be great.

Definitely do not introduce another cockbird. I would foster out the youngest babies, but you would have to consider the ages of babies in other nests and foster appropriate age babies with similar age babies.

I've always fistered the younger birds out when i have large clutches becasue i find other birds except the smaller babies easier.

 

Can you guys recommend how i foster larger birds out, should it be to a pair that has no eggs, a pair that already have other babies etc.

 

Any advice would be great.

 

It should be to a pair that has babies hatched out already. If not foster one of the smallest babies out to a pair that is due to have chicks hatch any time now.

Wayno I just did this last week myself. I had one hen with 8 fertile eggs and one with 4... 8 was going to be too much on one hen so after several hatched I took the 6 largest babies and gave them to the one mum and gave the other mum the 5 smalles babies and the one egg still due tonight to hatch. The hens don't even know the difference, especially if you foster chicks that are comparison in size to the chicks they already have. If you foster the smallest to one that already has chicks it could get steped on or not fed because the larger chicks in the nest are too demanding for mum to feed the tiny ones. If this hen still has more chicks to hatch yet, foster the larger one out to another mum. Just put them in there and keep an eye on them. You will be surprised. I checked in on them several times and listened for signs of distress of the chicks. All went well. So your best bet is pick the foster mum, look at the size of her babies and pick the babies from your hen you feel are close in size to the foster mums bubs. Give her one or two and see what happens. You have to take the chance, if not you can lose the mum because she is overwhelmed and all her babies. Better to try with one or two and have sucess than not try at all and lose more than just the cock.

Edited December 15, 200816 yr by chrissy0705

What ages of babies are in the possible foster nests ?

There are no more eggs to hatch, there were 6 in total and 6 hatched.

 

I have pairs with babies at different stages. I have a few pairs with small babies so i might try and foster the 3 smallest babies out.

 

If i was to fister the larger babies out and i add them to a nest that has say 2 babies and then i add a third wont the foster parents know there is an extra baby in there?

There are no more eggs to hatch, there were 6 in total and 6 hatched.

 

I have pairs with babies at different stages. I have a few pairs with small babies so i might try and foster the 3 smallest babies out.

 

If i was to foster the larger babies out and i add them to a nest that has say 2 babies and then i add a third wont the foster parents know there is an extra baby in there?

Budgies dont count their babies so it would be okay. BUT its best not to foster fully feathered babies into a nest...so as you didnt say ages, I just thought I had better add that.

There are no more eggs to hatch, there were 6 in total and 6 hatched.

 

I have pairs with babies at different stages. I have a few pairs with small babies so i might try and foster the 3 smallest babies out.

 

If i was to fister the larger babies out and i add them to a nest that has say 2 babies and then i add a third wont the foster parents know there is an extra baby in there?

 

No, they will just think another egg hatched... and really they are not counting... all they care about is feeding when they hear crying... so they will feed it just as it's own chicks. And just remember not to overwhelm the foster mum with too many fosters. If she already has chicks or still has eggs to hatch keep in mind the total number she will have with her bubs and the fosters. If you have one with two chicks but she still has 5 eggs to go keep that in mind, but if you have one with 2 chicks and she has no more fertile eggs give her the bubs that are closest in size to her own chicks. Please let me know what you do...

okay thanks,

 

As soon as i get home later today I will look at what pairs have what and take 2 or 3 of the young out to lessend the burden on the Hen.

 

Thanks for all your advice and i will let you know how i go.

 

Wayno

Wanyo that sucks. The other guys have given you great advice. Hope it all goes well, my bubs that I have fostered out are all doing well.