Please help me...

 

My beautiful budgies have just had their first babies. We have had two budgies in a large cage for two years (birthday present for my daughter) and we decided to stick a nest box in and see what happened. They laid a few times but nothing happened. THis time they laid six and hatched four - tiny beautiful babies! It has been wonderful. I have got so much advice from here and read so much wonderful info but now the wheels have fallen off...

 

Mum has done really well - she has fed them and fledged them - I check them a few times every day and everything has been great. Until this afternoon. All the babies were fledged this week except for one - it has always been the tiniest. I went to the nest box tonight and the baby is sitting in the doorway with blood everywhere. I pulled it out in a panic and it is okay - but three quarters of its beak is missing and mum has been in the box pecking its head! I think mum must have done this to it!

 

Please tell me what to do - should I separate it - but if I do who will feed it? What do I feed it and how? Will it ever be able to eat seed - will its beak grow back? It is fully feathered and it is still able to move and walk. It has been happy on my shoulder for the last half hour or so. But what am I going to do with this bird? And most importantly - how do I tell if it is in pain (I mean surely it is but what can I do for it?)

 

Why would mum do this? Is there not enough food in the cage? Is there not enough shelter - have I done the wrong thing by handling the babies so much.

 

Please please help!

Please help me...

 

My beautiful budgies have just had their first babies. We have had two budgies in a large cage for two years (birthday present for my daughter) and we decided to stick a nest box in and see what happened. They laid a few times but nothing happened. THis time they laid six and hatched four - tiny beautiful babies! It has been wonderful. I have got so much advice from here and read so much wonderful info but now the wheels have fallen off...

 

Mum has done really well - she has fed them and fledged them - I check them a few times every day and everything has been great. Until this afternoon. All the babies were fledged this week except for one - it has always been the tiniest. I went to the nest box tonight and the baby is sitting in the doorway with blood everywhere. I pulled it out in a panic and it is okay - but three quarters of its beak is missing and mum has been in the box pecking its head! I think mum must have done this to it!

 

Please tell me what to do - should I separate it - but if I do who will feed it? What do I feed it and how? Will it ever be able to eat seed - will its beak grow back? It is fully feathered and it is still able to move and walk. It has been happy on my shoulder for the last half hour or so. But what am I going to do with this bird? And most importantly - how do I tell if it is in pain (I mean surely it is but what can I do for it?)

 

Why would mum do this? Is there not enough food in the cage? Is there not enough shelter - have I done the wrong thing by handling the babies so much.

 

Please please help!

Unfortunately sometimes this does happen. I do not think you will be able to save the chick that was attacked. I would remove the hen asap and just leave the remaining chicks with Dad.

The mother did this to remove the chick from the nest to begin another round of egglaying. You need to remove the mother to another cage out of the hearing of the dad and leave him to care for the other babies. The one with the damaged beak will not grow it back. It will need handfeeding for its life most likely if its lost that much of its beak. Its all up to you now to feed this baby....you may have to try hand rearing formula off a syringue or bent spoon if it will take it.

Do not be swayed by how fine it appears right now as they go into shock and often die the next day as damage is often more serious than we first realise. You will need warmth for it due to the shock...a warm lamp near a little cage for it....best to keep it in one place with warmth than on your shoulder right now.

Edited January 18, 201015 yr by KAZ

Please help me...

 

My beautiful budgies have just had their first babies. We have had two budgies in a large cage for two years (birthday present for my daughter) and we decided to stick a nest box in and see what happened. They laid a few times but nothing happened. THis time they laid six and hatched four - tiny beautiful babies! It has been wonderful. I have got so much advice from here and read so much wonderful info but now the wheels have fallen off...

 

Mum has done really well - she has fed them and fledged them - I check them a few times every day and everything has been great. Until this afternoon. All the babies were fledged this week except for one - it has always been the tiniest. I went to the nest box tonight and the baby is sitting in the doorway with blood everywhere. I pulled it out in a panic and it is okay - but three quarters of its beak is missing and mum has been in the box pecking its head! I think mum must have done this to it!

 

Please tell me what to do - should I separate it - but if I do who will feed it? What do I feed it and how? Will it ever be able to eat seed - will its beak grow back? It is fully feathered and it is still able to move and walk. It has been happy on my shoulder for the last half hour or so. But what am I going to do with this bird? And most importantly - how do I tell if it is in pain (I mean surely it is but what can I do for it?)

 

Why would mum do this? Is there not enough food in the cage? Is there not enough shelter - have I done the wrong thing by handling the babies so much.

 

Please please help!

Unfortunately sometimes this does happen. I do not think you will be able to save the chick that was attacked. I would remove the hen asap and just leave the remaining chicks with Dad.

 

it has happened id say due to mum wanting to relay again

or dad paying attention to chicks more than her

all you can do is clean it up withwarm boiled salt water

then keep it warm inside as you are

how old are they

as it may beable to eat on its own

but with a tender beak may not

rearing mix in a dish for it so it can suck is an idea then vets for asesment on beak

it may pay to have the little darl put to sleep if beak is very bad

then it may heel if not to bad

salt water bathing will cause it to scab and if your really lucky it may seal the probblem

but vet vet vet mate truley

and remove her from aviary as ren started

Edited January 18, 201015 yr by GenericBlue

Please help me...

 

My beautiful budgies have just had their first babies. We have had two budgies in a large cage for two years (birthday present for my daughter) and we decided to stick a nest box in and see what happened. They laid a few times but nothing happened. THis time they laid six and hatched four - tiny beautiful babies! It has been wonderful. I have got so much advice from here and read so much wonderful info but now the wheels have fallen off...

 

Mum has done really well - she has fed them and fledged them - I check them a few times every day and everything has been great. Until this afternoon. All the babies were fledged this week except for one - it has always been the tiniest. I went to the nest box tonight and the baby is sitting in the doorway with blood everywhere. I pulled it out in a panic and it is okay - but three quarters of its beak is missing and mum has been in the box pecking its head! I think mum must have done this to it!

 

Please tell me what to do - should I separate it - but if I do who will feed it? What do I feed it and how? Will it ever be able to eat seed - will its beak grow back? It is fully feathered and it is still able to move and walk. It has been happy on my shoulder for the last half hour or so. But what am I going to do with this bird? And most importantly - how do I tell if it is in pain (I mean surely it is but what can I do for it?)

 

Why would mum do this? Is there not enough food in the cage? Is there not enough shelter - have I done the wrong thing by handling the babies so much.

 

Please please help!

 

hi,

Sounds like mum is going to nest again, hens become very intolerant sometimes if the chick doesn't get the hint and leave the nest. If mum has no eggs yet you could remove her to another cage and dad should take over feeding the chick if it is not eating seed yet. As for hand feeding i am unsure as i have always had foster birds to feed orphaned or injured chicks. Maybe take the chick to the vet to get checked out and they should be able to give you good advice. It's heart breaking when things go wrong but persevere, it is a very rewarding hobby.

lib

The mother did this to remove the chick from the nest to begin another round of egglaying. You need to remove the mother to another cage out of the hearing of the dad and leave him to care for the other babies. The one with the damaged beak will not grow it back. It will need handfeeding for its life most likely if its lost that much of its beak. Its all up to you now to feed this baby....you may have to try hand rearing formula off a syringue or bent spoon if it will take it.

Do not be swayed by how fine it appears right now as they go into shock and often die the next day as damage is often more serious than we first realise. You will need warmth for it due to the shock...a warm lamp near a little cage for it....best to keep it in one place with warmth than on your shoulder right now.

 

that

Edited January 18, 201015 yr by KAZ
fixed my own typos...kaz

Well thanks everyone.

 

I have learnt my lesson.

 

I actually have a 12 week old baby (the human kind) of my own - and my nest also includes a 6yo and an 18mnth... there is no way I would be going back for more as quick as she has! It didn't even cross my mind that she wanted the nest back for her own loopy purposes!

 

Thanks all for your advice.

 

Just for future reference - if this hen ever has more babies should I routinely remove her from them just when the last one is about to fledge?

 

And how long does she go into timeout for? When can I put her back in with the others?

 

And would removing the nest box have the same result as removing the hen?

 

THanks again

Well thanks everyone.

 

I have learnt my lesson.

 

I actually have a 12 week old baby (the human kind) of my own - and my nest also includes a 6yo and an 18mnth... there is no way I would be going back for more as quick as she has! It didn't even cross my mind that she wanted the nest back for her own loopy purposes!

 

Thanks all for your advice.

 

Just for future reference - if this hen ever has more babies should I routinely remove her from them just when the last one is about to fledge?

 

Yes you could although timing and observance is key..........some Mums start laying when babies are all still in the nest...I have had hens start again when chicks are two weeks old.

 

And how long does she go into timeout for? When can I put her back in with the others?

 

Give her a couple of weeks and dont return her to a cage with a nestbox

 

And would removing the nest box have the same result as removing the hen?

Yes......although she may still get annoyed at her chicks and attack them as chicks will be begging her to be fed and she will be hormonal and only have the next egglaying in mind. Varies with some females

THanks again

 

Dads are the primary feeders from chicks from 2 weeks onwards anyway.........he is best left with them now and she needs to be elsewhere for a few weeks.

Edited January 18, 201015 yr by KAZ

It's great to see four people jumping to your rescue and posting simultaneously!

 

You will have to decide what's best to do with the chick. Having a little one of your own to feed, I wouldn't blame you if you didn't have the time right now to hand feed the chick. If it is a permanent disability, and it will never eat on it's own, euthanasia may be for the best.

It's great to see four people jumping to your rescue and posting simultaneously!

 

You will have to decide what's best to do with the chick. Having a little one of your own to feed, I wouldn't blame you if you didn't have the time right now to hand feed the chick. If it is a permanent disability, and it will never eat on it's own, euthanasia may be for the best.

 

i agree if chicks beak is so bad it can not crack seed sleeping for long term is best thing for it

I agree with the others as in take the hen out and let the dad continue to feed them until they are weaned. As for the injured one leave him with dad also as long as the bleeding has stopped, and keep an eye on him to make sure he is getting fed hopefully he will feed him until he learns how to feed by himself or you can hand rear him.

I have had a few birds with beak injuries that have continued to be fed by the parents and gone on to learn to eat without most of their beak.

I have a red rumped parrot hen who had her top beak removed to just under the cere by another parrot who managed to learn to eat and later managed to raise her own babies, so it may be a matter of supporting this baby until it can manage on its own, you may have to offer it soft food for longer than you would normally do but it is worth a try.

 

Cheers Jenny

Is the little chick still alive?

I agree with the others as in take the hen out and let the dad continue to feed them until they are weaned. As for the injured one leave him with dad also as long as the bleeding has stopped, and keep an eye on him to make sure he is getting fed hopefully he will feed him until he learns how to feed by himself or you can hand rear him.

I have had a few birds with beak injuries that have continued to be fed by the parents and gone on to learn to eat without most of their beak.

I have a red rumped parrot hen who had her top beak removed to just under the cere by another parrot who managed to learn to eat and later managed to raise her own babies, so it may be a matter of supporting this baby until it can manage on its own, you may have to offer it soft food for longer than you would normally do but it is worth a try.

 

Cheers Jenny

 

 

That is good to hear. Maybe there is hope for this chick, too.