Hi all,

 

I would appreciate some advise to confirm or refute some information i was given by a breeder in relation to fledging chicks from breeding cabinets.

 

I have been told that when chicks are placed in kindy/ nursery cage it is a good idea to place an adult cock bird ( not father) in the cage with them and he will teach/feed them and assist them to adjust.

 

Your thoughts please?

Hi all,

 

I would appreciate some advise to confirm or refute some information i was given by a breeder in relation to fledging chicks from breeding cabinets.

 

I have been told that when chicks are placed in kindy/ nursery cage it is a good idea to place an adult cock bird ( not father) in the cage with them and he will teach/feed them and assist them to adjust.

 

Your thoughts please?

 

It would really depend on the cock bird - I did have one who would raise chicks and was fantastic in the kindie cage, but he was more an exception to the rule.

 

Non-related cock birds are more likely to ignore the little fledglings, maybe I am wrong but I wouldn't risk it.

 

I usually put in either a hen or cock bird from a Cabinet on a ratio of 1 adult to 5 chicks when their young ones are ready to fledge.

Edited September 14, 201113 yr by renee

I wouldnt put babies in a kindie cage until they could eat. When they fledge the nest the Dads show them how to in in a breeding cage. If you take my advice re seed in nestboxes then they come out of the nest eating anyway.

 

Read this....it may help http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index.php?showtopic=22446

Edited September 14, 201113 yr by **KAZ**

This is correct but I agree with Kaz. The chciks should be able to eat susccessfully before puting them in the Kindy cage.

 

I leave my chicks with the parents till they are at least 6 to 7 weeks old and i see them eating well.

All chicks are eating as I followed your advise Kaz and put seed and millet in nest box.

 

The hen has started to lay again, up to her second egg. Should I remove them now.

 

Daz you refer to putting in a hen or cock at a ratio of 1 adult to 5 chicks. Which adults do you use, parents or unrelated.

Edited September 15, 201113 yr by **KAZ**
removed double post

If the chicks are eating you dont need to put anything in the cage with them other than other fledged chicks.

All chicks are eating as I followed your advise Kaz and put seed and millet in nest box.

 

The hen has started to lay again, up to her second egg. Should I remove them now.

 

Daz you refer to putting in a hen or cock at a ratio of 1 adult to 5 chicks. Which adults do you use, parents or unrelated.

 

I don't do this. I fine my chicks are fine by themselves.

 

I do keep an eye on them and if the seem to suffer, i put them back with the parents for a week

okay thanks for the advise guys.

If you are certain they are eating well enough when you put them in a kindie cage with other babies you will find they encourage each other to eat.........good time to give them the extras like soft food, grated carrot, finesliced bok choy or spinach, corn on the cob, beetroot, apple, eggfood etc.

Will do. They all seem to be eating thanks to your nest box advice. They are however fledging early. Some as young as 4 and half weeks are constantly on the breeding cage floor despite me continuously returning them to the nestbox.

 

Is this normal?

Babies fledge between 4 wks and 6 wks usually. At 4 wks they are fully feathered so as long as they are eating and well and fully feathered its fine to leave them out.

Is it fine to place them in a kindy cage with other fledglings at this age or should I leave them on the breeding cabinet floor for longer

I would leave them in the breeder cage on the floor of the cage for about 2 wks and then into a kindie cage.

okay thanks for the advise. Will do

I try and leave mine in the breeding cabinet until they are 6 weeks, sometimes they stay there until they are 8 weeks if the parents don't mind.

When I put them in the kindy cage I make sure there are some older babies in there because they help them too.

I had one chick that wouldn't feed himself no matter what he stayed with his dad until he was 9 weeks old.

My chicks start jumping out around 4 to 5 weeks and I just keep putting them back.