Hi guys

I just got a baby bird looks about 3 weeks old to me. Apparently it was found in the neigbourhood and someone knew I love budgies so brought it to me I feel out of my depth. I know no one that has hand raised a baby budgie before. The first and last one I hand raised was 3 years ago.

 

I know you all like photos so here she is: http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad343/JC154949/6Janc.jpg

 

So I have some questions?

How old do you think she is?

She has made 2 quiet peeping noises the entire time I've had her (18 hours). Why isn't she calling for food?She is refusing formula; I've managed to give her 0.6mL all day today. Temperature is right, consistensy is right. Have tried a spoon, a syringe, a blunted toothpick. Nothings working. I physically have to pry her beak open to give her anything. She doesn't 'suck' it in when I just put it on her beak. I'm worried she'll starve :S

Apart from this she's really quite active and stretching her wings; walking around in circles. She even attempts to preen herself (all 6 feathers lol)

 

Another photo: http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad343/JC154949/6Jand.jpg

 

She also walks around pecking at the floor; almost like she is foraging. Is it possible she is looking for seed already? I offered her some but she ignores it

 

Thanks in advance, alicia

Edited January 6, 201015 yr by alicia

Hi Alicia, I would take her to the vet asap and hopefully they will show you how to crop feed.

 

You can get a crop needle at the vets or a pet store as well as some Budgie Handrearing Formula.

 

You can also do a search for CROP FEEDING, there is an instructive topic on it and there may even be a video too.

 

SEARCH function is Top Right of your screen, you can also look in Pinned topics on Breeding Tips and Help ...

 

Best of Luck!

Edited January 6, 201015 yr by renee

Hi Alicia, I would take her to the vet asap and hopefully they will show you how to crop feed.

 

You can get a crop needle at the vets or a pet store as well as some Budgie Handrearing Formula.

 

You can also do a search for CROP FEEDING, there is an instructive topic on it and there may even be a video too.

 

SEARCH function is Top Right of your screen, you can also look in Pinned topics on Breeding Tips ...

 

Best of Luck!

 

Thanks Renee. I have an appointment in 2 hours. no avian vets in the territory but i found a lady who is a vet studying to become an avian vet. take what i can get. she just seems so well otherwise. flapping and carrying on :S

Awww . Good luck with it all. I hope the vet visit goes well and I agree with Renee, get her to show you how to crop feed. That way you can get a decent feed into the chick. Also remember that you'll have to keep it warm too. Also remember, that if it doesn't make it, it is NOT your fault. Even if it was in the hands of an experienced breeder, it doesn't always matter. You don't know what has happened to it in the past, so what ever you can do for it, is more than it would have if it wasn't found.

 

Good luck again and please keep us updated.

Awww . Good luck with it all. I hope the vet visit goes well and I agree with Renee, get her to show you how to crop feed. That way you can get a decent feed into the chick. Also remember that you'll have to keep it warm too. Also remember, that if it doesn't make it, it is NOT your fault. Even if it was in the hands of an experienced breeder, it doesn't always matter. You don't know what has happened to it in the past, so what ever you can do for it, is more than it would have if it wasn't found.

 

Good luck again and please keep us updated.

 

Thanks Maesie. I've had it for 24 hours and I'm attached. So upset

Awww . Good luck with it all. I hope the vet visit goes well and I agree with Renee, get her to show you how to crop feed. That way you can get a decent feed into the chick. Also remember that you'll have to keep it warm too. Also remember, that if it doesn't make it, it is NOT your fault. Even if it was in the hands of an experienced breeder, it doesn't always matter. You don't know what has happened to it in the past, so what ever you can do for it, is more than it would have if it wasn't found.

 

Good luck again and please keep us updated.

 

Thanks Maesie. I've had it for 24 hours and I'm attached. So upset

 

I bet... I would be the same, but you just need to remember there is only so much us humans can do, and the rest is up to them. Sending happy and healthy vibes your chicks way.

if it was just found in the verinity then mabe it was discarded for somebodys stupid idea of a reason

your doing well to do what you are for it

i hope all goes well seems like shes a fighter or he

good luck

if it was just found in the verinity then mabe it was discarded for somebodys stupid idea of a reason

your doing well to do what you are for it

i hope all goes well seems like shes a fighter or he

good luck

 

 

I agree with GB. It seems odd that it would have gotten away from it's nest :rofl: Which is unlikely to have been in the great outdoors.

And you have no way of knowing if it was "discarded" due to some kind of health issue.

So, just hope for the best and keep trying, but don't beat yourself up if you are unable to save it. It was nice that the finder knew who to take it to. :hap:

Unless, of course, the finder didn't really "find" it. How well do you know this person?

The verdict is that he is fine; just hungry. In the last 12 hours, he has had 8.5mL of formula using a syringe deep in his throat (no crop needle used). He gobbles it all down willingly. 8.5mL seems like a lot for just 12 hours; I thought 8mL is more likely to be consumed in 24 hours! Either way, I'm feeding him when his crop is low, not based on volumes. Just keeping track of the volumes to monitor intake.

 

He is currently sleeping peacefully. I'm checking his crop hourly through the night because based on the last 12 hours, he empties it from full (but not overdistended) within 2 hours!

 

Thanks to everyone for their help and kind words of support

Shall keep you posted

Hopefully only good news to come

YAH... excellent news. I'm guessing you're going to be tired too, so look after yourself and your new little friend. xoxo

thats really good news your going t have a very special friend their

and yes be very tied 3 to four hour feeds i think

glad it all turned out well

Hi guys,

Mo still has no interest in picking at formula from a syringe tip or spoon; still requires 'force' feeding but is gaining weight daily and developing well. Very energetic, testing out his wings and racing across table tops. I'm not sure when he should be interested in taking it himself? I will take some more photos today (it's 4.30am at the moment).

 

Night

alicia

Great to hear that he is still going well. He will still require the force feeding for a couple more weeks because that is how the parents would be feeding him. Make sure his crop is allowed to completely empty once a day. Do you have him under a warm lamp?

Great to hear that he is still going well. He will still require the force feeding for a couple more weeks because that is how the parents would be feeding him. Make sure his crop is allowed to completely empty once a day. Do you have him under a warm lamp?

 

We don't have a lamp :S

But his makeshift nest box is very warm and we live in Darwin where it is currently 31 degrees. We aren't using fans or airconditioners in his room at all. I also check on him 2 hourly and he has always been warm.

 

Force feeding for another couple of weeks?!!?! I was hoping on getting some sleep.

Great to hear that he is still going well. He will still require the force feeding for a couple more weeks because that is how the parents would be feeding him. Make sure his crop is allowed to completely empty once a day. Do you have him under a warm lamp?

 

We don't have a lamp :S

But his makeshift nest box is very warm and we live in Darwin where it is currently 31 degrees. We aren't using fans or airconditioners in his room at all. I also check on him 2 hourly and he has always been warm.

 

Force feeding for another couple of weeks?!!?! I was hoping on getting some sleep.

 

By looking at the photos he is at the age where he should not be needing night feeds, when i have handraised budgies i used to give them a last feed at about 10pm and then would get up at 6am and give them a feed. I also gave mine a little fluffy teddy to sleep with.

I only checked him once last night he had one feed over 10 hours and still had some in his crop. Maybe I will get some sleep after all.

 

Him sleeping in my husbands old boxer shorts

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad343/JC154949/8Jana.jpg

 

Preening

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad343/JC154949/8Janb.jpg

 

Wing stretch

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad343/JC154949/006.jpg

Edited January 8, 201015 yr by alicia

Cute photos, hopefully you will get some sleep.

Oh no

I've now noticed a 9x3x3mm lump in his crop. The lump is mobile and feels rubbery. I'm quite sure its solid formula. I certainly haven't fed her any formula that is too thick. So maybe it has separated from the water in the crop.

 

Is it safe for me to attempt to massage it out myself or should I take him to the vet again?

He is still otherwise very well. I just don't want to risk him getting a crop infection when he's already had such a rough start to life.

I have another vet appointment in about half and hour

Goodluck , fingers crossed for the little fella and you.

Goodluck , fingers crossed for the little fella and you.

 

Thanks Matt. I feel a bit lost

Edited January 9, 201015 yr by KAZ
fixed emoticon

how old is he did you say again as i dontthink hes feathering propply when i look at my chicks at three weeks and him :what:

maby its just me

well u are doing everything you can dont feel lost its not easy raising a small chick and he seems bright enough

i think all should b okay

how old is he did you say again as i dontthink hes feathering propply when i look at my chicks at three weeks and him maby its just me well u are doing everything you can dont feel lost its not easy raising a small chick and he seems bright enough i think all should b okay

He is very bright. The vet says she doesn't know what the lump is but agrees its in the crop and is mobile. Says its too rubbery to be food and she tried to break it up by feeding him some Hartmann's solution and it didn't budge.She says as long as he keeps feeding well its not an issue. I was just guessing at 3 weeks based on my limited experience. I wouldn't be surprised if he's only just reaching 3 weeks now compared to other members baby birds.

how old is he did you say again as i dontthink hes feathering propply when i look at my chicks at three weeks and him maby its just me well u are doing everything you can dont feel lost its not easy raising a small chick and he seems bright enough i think all should b okay :what:

I don't think he's that small: Did you see these photos I posted yesterday? Now I'm worried he's small aswell :laughter: Poor little guyHim sleeping in my husbands old boxer shortshttp://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad343/JC154949/8Jana.jpgPreeninghttp://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad343/JC154949/8Janb.jpgWing stretchhttp://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad343/JC154949/006.jpg

how old is he did you say again as i dontthink hes feathering propply when i look at my chicks at three weeks and him :what: maby its just me well u are doing everything you can dont feel lost its not easy raising a small chick and he seems bright enough i think all should b okay

He is very bright. The vet says she doesn't know what the lump is but agrees its in the crop and is mobile. Says its too rubbery to be food and she tried to break it up by feeding him some Hartmann's solution and it didn't budge.She says as long as he keeps feeding well its not an issue. I was just guessing at 3 weeks based on my limited experience. I wouldn't be surprised if he's only just reaching 3 weeks now compared to other members baby birds.

how old is he did you say again as i dontthink hes feathering propply when i look at my chicks at three weeks and him maby its just me well u are doing everything you can dont feel lost its not easy raising a small chick and he seems bright enough i think all should b okay

I don't think he's that small: Did you see these photos I posted yesterday? Now I'm worried he's small aswell Poor little guyHim sleeping in my husbands old boxer shortshttp://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad343/JC154949/8Jana.jpgPreeninghttp://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad343/JC154949/8Janb.jpgWing stretchhttp://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad343/JC154949/006.jpg

 

yes i did its okay im sure hes fine if hes all bright and sparkle then all is good enjoy him more stress less

he will feather up he doesnt have the same crop food so will feather diffrent i guess i have no idea to tell truth dont listen to me

I do need to stress less. He's just such a sweet little thing.

Deserves to be healthy just like every other bird out there