I have a pair of Lutino budgies breeding at the moment. They have one baby that was born on the 19/4/11 (24 days old). I removed 5 eggs from the nest box as they were infertile yesterday. Tonight she wouldn't go into the nest box and this morning (fri) i found the baby on the floor of the breeding cabinet. It is very cold here of a night at the moment. I have locked her in the nest box tonight to keep the baby warm but im worried whether that was the right course of action as she is quite a defensive and doesnt like being handled. She is a first time mum. Has anyone faced this situation before or is it normal?

 

 

at that age most parents don't stay in the box for long periods of times, the babies are older, bigger, able to control their body heat and don't need mom to sit on them so much so what she was doing was normal they'll go in and feed and then come back out for a while

 

Also locking her in making her stay- how is she going to eat? the male can't feed her if she can't come to the nest box hole, she can't come out to stretch, poop get a drink or a bite to eat on her own.

She may get really mad that she can't get out and take it out on the baby which can result in death for the baby

 

when ever you find a baby on the cage floor if its cold or chilled Warm the baby up before placing it back in the nest box - or the parents will keep kicking it out thinking there is something wrong with it

 

sometimes babies start exploring at this age and get out of the box but can't get back in, Sometimes mom is sitting on them and goes to leave the box and the baby gets caught and falls out of the box when mom leaves and can't get back in the box.

Edited May 13, 201114 yr by K&M Breeding

I only lock her in of a night time to keep the baby warm and remove the blockage at dawn so that she can come out of the nest box to feed, drink etc. Is it a good idea to do that or should I let her perch in the cage with the male of a night.

Please stop locking her in the nest box... it's a bad idea. Make sure you have plenty of nesting material in the nest box to keep the baby warm, and when you find it out of the nest box, put it back in.

last night was the only night I did that. I wont do it anymore. Thanks for the advice

at that age most parents don't stay in the box for long periods of times, the babies are older, bigger, able to control their body heat and don't need mom to sit on them so much so what she was doing was normal they'll go in and feed and then come back out for a while

 

Also locking her in making her stay- how is she going to eat? the male can't feed her if she can't come to the nest box hole, she can't come out to stretch, poop get a drink or a bite to eat on her own.

She may get really mad that she can't get out and take it out on the baby which can result in death for the baby

 

 

I agree