Posted February 9, 201015 yr 6 babies, hatched in two groups of three. Mother was removed and eventually returned to the aviary after a nice break. Youngest 3 are just 4 weeks and the older 3 just 5 weeks. Youngest 3 have serious problems, all unable to stand on their legs - which aren't splayed and seem a little underweight. While the older 3 since leaving the nest at 4 weeks have been slow to develop compared to the previous round. Any how, I think the father was feeding the older 3 in the cage but neglecting the ones still in the nest (hunch) leaving them weak (only noticed this defect in them recently). So the older babies are now in an aviary with another recovering mother and my very friendly Rosella - hopefully they learn the ropes there. While the weak chicks are flopped on the cage floor in view of the father - who'll hopefully feed them a bit more and give them a chance. They could simply be lame and need to be put down, but I'll wait and see...
February 9, 201015 yr Time to learn to crop feed and if you had that skill you could have supplemented the feeding earlier on. All babies should have been out in the breeder cage to be fed not some in the nest and others out. Edited February 9, 201015 yr by KAZ
February 9, 201015 yr Author This is all true... though I only began to suspect something was a miss late last week and was away for the weekend and my brother filled in for a day or two. Crop feeding is a must learn. Won't make the same mistake with the nest that is 10-12 days behind this one.
February 9, 201015 yr Why move the hen out , she would have still been feeding the young in the nest.
February 9, 201015 yr Daniel, Matt is right, your chicks were too young to remove their mother and dad could not feed all six. Therefor the chicks are under fed, hence you will have to feed them or try returning mum, but whatch her closely incase she attacks the chicks after being out of the nest. cheers Clearwing
February 9, 201015 yr Author Was removed to avoid round 3. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Don't think the 6 were a problem a such, was more putting 3 in the cage and leaving 3 in the nest. Anyway, the 3 I removed seem to be eating on their own.
February 10, 201015 yr Was removed to avoid round 3. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Don't think the 6 were a problem a such, was more putting 3 in the cage and leaving 3 in the nest. Anyway, the 3 I removed seem to be eating on their own. Throw the eggs away to avoid round three , dont risk the lives of the young for that. I always put all young back in the box at night , reason the older chicks feed the younger ones in the nest , if their on the floor the young ones wont get much from dad . You will need to supplement feed .
February 10, 201015 yr Gee Matt you cant do that,throw the eggs away,that to easy,all the over night experts,will be up in arms now.
February 10, 201015 yr Was removed to avoid round 3. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Don't think the 6 were a problem a such, was more putting 3 in the cage and leaving 3 in the nest. Anyway, the 3 I removed seem to be eating on their own. Throw the eggs away to avoid round three , dont risk the lives of the young for that. I always put all young back in the box at night , reason the older chicks feed the younger ones in the nest , if their on the floor the young ones wont get much from dad . You will need to supplement feed . I agree with Matt.
February 10, 201015 yr Author Crop feed, 15 minutes on and they are fine, so don't appear to have hurt them. Was mainly water and some honey (they'd be a bit dry after not being feed properly for a while, didn't want to shock their little bodies either), will give them something more solid in the morning. All 3 gave me a shake of the head when enough was enough. I learnt some lessons and hopefully haven't cost them their lives...
February 10, 201015 yr im sorry but really things like this really annoy me the birds would not of started round three until the chicks were at least 5 to 6ix weeks on in which as matt said removal of eggs would of been the best answer hens should not be removed untill they try to harm young or cock and for no other reason unless due to health eg weaight loss crop infection illness in general which is really rare assurance i do realize you stated the oldest were 5 weeks youngest 4 but still was their eggs at all or a atempt to stop eggs happening i just hope you really did learn and remove eggs next time rather than risk chicks lives not being nasty mate just does my head in reading stuff like this i hope all turns out fine for you seems you got a handle on it now im glad to hear Edited February 10, 201015 yr by GenericBlue
February 10, 201015 yr Author Wow, doesn't half come across nasty. Clearly you've never made a mistake and learnt by it. I bow to your greatness. Get over yourself.
February 10, 201015 yr Aww, Daniel. You haven't been around long enough. GB has a big heart. Get to know her better, and please, don't take offense so easily.
February 10, 201015 yr Members here are just giving you their opions Daniel81... If you did not want them, than the answer is simple don't ask for help... But we are all allow our opions which are our own... You have them and so do we... Please don't take offense to them as we are only trying to help from our experiences and what we know and believe about this wondeful hobby... It is up to you on what you do with the help and opions we give you...
