Hi guys,

Just a quick question. What is the best age to take the babies out of the nest for hand rearing them??

I have 5 eggs that will hatch in a few days. Would like to hand rear them, I have hand rear a bird before just not budgies.

 

Thanks

10-14 days is the norm

10 days is too young. The norm is to wait unti as late as three weeks, but I found that by that age they were too close to fledging to bond with me or take to the formula. So I think two weeks is a good age.

it's meant to be as their eyes are opening right?

Hi It is possible to start as on hatch day. If your confident enough in your ability. BUT the earlier

you start the harder the work you have to do to keep them alive. It is possible to allow the parents

to do all the feeding while you handle them say twice a day for a few minutes & as they get older

you can play with them for say 15 then on to 20 min at a time......B.J..

On top of what BJ said, it's actually healthier for the chicks to be fed under the parents for a certain length of time... I forgot why, and I forgot when... just do it

Hi It is possible to start as on hatch day. If your confident enough in your ability. BUT the earlier

you start the harder the work you have to do to keep them alive. It is possible to allow the parents

to do all the feeding while you handle them say twice a day for a few minutes & as they get older

you can play with them for say 15 then on to 20 min at a time......B.J..

 

Strongly strongly advise to NOT do it from day one.

 

It depends on your time and schedule you have to dedicate, I personally have never had success in hand-rearing budgies, and find the birds are much tamer just being handled in the nest 2 times a day from about 2 weeks on.