What a great place to ask questions and read from other's experiences...

 

So here's my story in hope someone can help...

 

A month ago, Bobette took an afternoon to dig a hole in the ceiling tiles...

 

She kept returning there everyday even though i changed the tile until she didin't come out anymore. So i went to check i she dug a hole in the ceiling tiles and layed 4-5 eggs.

 

So i haven't distubed her from there... I have been putting food up in the ceiling near her, and a bowl of water. I go and poke my head every day, and give her a small millet spray- and i talk to her. She chirps a lot but she trusts me, she knows i won't harm her...

 

Since 2 day, when i go, she is not on the nest anymore, she is running about. So i took the flashlight today, and i say little chicks, and heard little chirping... They're not old. I can't see if all the eggs have hatched.

 

Now what do i do? How long do i have to wait until i can safely put the babies into a separate cage with their mommy?

 

The father :bb: hasn't visited her and helped her any. He is presently courting my 2 y. o. female tiel , and yesterday, i saw them mating. ..

 

so what do i do now?

 

Thnaks in advance...

Nat

Edited August 28, 200519 yr by Natouk

Sorry, I can't help you, but someone will be on soon to help you.

 

She has done very well if Dad hasn't been helping to feed. Good luck with your rather unique problem!

I wouldn't try moving mum & chicks until they are at least 3 weeks old, that way if she refuses to feed them you can finish raising them yourself. They will still need to be in some kind of nest so if you don't have a nest box fashion one out of a tissue box (and hope she doesn't eat it). Maybe even put it where she is now & put the chicks inside including any feathers she has pulled to line the current 'nest'. You will soon know if she doesn't like it as she won't go in.

That's my thoughts, maybe someone else will come up with something better.

Welcome to the forums!

 

You ought to have removed the eggs as soon as you discovered them really. Its not an ideal place for chicks to hatch and be raised. But you didn't so its too late.

 

What are you going to do with the chicks when they fledge and what about the budgie/cockatiel problem?

 

You need to think seriously about how you keep all your birds - what if one of the babies has a problem up in the ceiling and you can't see?

 

We have an RSPCA here - do you have the same? You could maybe contact them and ask for help in the situation - they may even help you find homes for the babies.

 

Good luck

Budge I think we should work on getting these little ones out of the roof and knowing they are getting the care they need now then worry about rehoming.

 

 

I wouldn't try moving mum & chicks until they are at least 3 weeks old, that way if she refuses to feed them you can finish raising them yourself.  They will still need to be in some kind of nest so if you don't have a nest box fashion one out of a tissue box (and hope she doesn't eat it).  Maybe even put it where she is now & put the chicks inside including any feathers she has pulled to line the current 'nest'.  You will soon know if she doesn't like it as she won't go in. 

That's my thoughts, maybe someone else will come up with something better. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I idea of a tissue box is good, if you can't get hold of a real one (she would chew the cardboard rather quickly if she got a hole into your roof in a day)

But if she did take this shelter then you would at lest have a safe way to trainsport her and the babies out of the ceiling. I would rather move them all as so as possible simply becuase you can not keep an eye on them all where they are now. You need to know that the mother is feding, be able to see them if they are having a problem with movment or development. Maybe someone else will have the perfect way to move the, soon.

 

As to the teil and male you need to seperate them. (once you get the hen and chicks down you will need to do this anyway) If he has not been feeding the hen then it might not be an idea to let him near her and the babies, he might not be interested in raising these one but starting all over again.

 

One question do you know how many eggs there where? Could you reach the nest before? Can you now?

 

okay so that was more an one

Budge I think we should work on getting these little ones out of the roof and knowing they are getting the care they need now then worry about rehoming.

 

 

I wouldn't try moving mum & chicks until they are at least 3 weeks old, that way if she refuses to feed them you can finish raising them yourself.? They will still need to be in some kind of nest so if you don't have a nest box fashion one out of a tissue box (and hope she doesn't eat it).? Maybe even put it where she is now & put the chicks inside including any feathers she has pulled to line the current 'nest'.? You will soon know if she doesn't like it as she won't go in.?

That's my thoughts, maybe someone else will come up with something better.? 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I idea of a tissue box is good, if you can't get hold of a real one (she would chew the cardboard rather quickly if she got a hole into your roof in a day)

But if she did take this shelter then you would at lest have a safe way to trainsport her and the babies out of the ceiling. I would rather move them all as so as possible simply becuase you can not keep an eye on them all where they are now. You need to know that the mother is feding, be able to see them if they are having a problem with movment or development. Maybe someone else will have the perfect way to move the, soon.

 

As to the teil and male you need to seperate them. (once you get the hen and chicks down you will need to do this anyway) If he has not been feeding the hen then it might not be an idea to let him near her and the babies, he might not be interested in raising these one but starting all over again.

 

One question do you know how many eggs there where? Could you reach the nest before? Can you now?

 

okay so that was more an one

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yes i know thats why i suggested the rspca -

You mentioned being able to see into the nest? I think that it would be difficult to move the babies and mum without seriously distressing both until they are at least 2-3 weeks. Then, as Karen said, you'd be able to hand feed them if mum doesn't like her babies being played with. Offer mum a cuttlebone and lots of veggies as it'll be draining for her feeding herself and her babies especially if dad's not helping.

This must be a really unique problem.

My gut feeling is to say leave them where they are for a while,Mum seems to have coped really well so far. I would be tempted while she is out of the nest to pop them into something because as they get more mobile there might be a risk of them falling into a part of the ceiling you can't get to?Can you make their little area safe? Like blocking off the back so they can't get further and further in?

Then once the mum is used to that bit of change you could think about slowly moving the box somewhere more suitable? Do you have a high cupboard or shelf near to the ceiling where the nestbox could eventually sit?

Julie

leave them put food up there when they are approx 3 to 4 weeks put soaked millet up there so the chicks can start to feed then as soon as they start on that bring them all down

Welcome to the forums!

 

You ought to have removed the eggs as soon as you discovered them really. Its not an ideal place for chicks to hatch and be raised. But you didn't so its too late.

 

What are you going to do with the chicks when they fledge and what about the budgie/cockatiel problem?

 

You need to think seriously about how you keep all your birds - what if one of the babies has a problem up in the ceiling and you can't see?

 

We have an RSPCA here - do you have the same? You could maybe contact them and ask for help in the situation - they may even help you find homes for the babies.

 

Good luck

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Bon bon bon

 

i don't need a recture here...

 

my finches live in a very large aviary, they breed and they are as happy as captive bird can be with their flock

 

as for the rest of the flock (the 4 tiels, the 2 budgies and the goffin) they are quite happy too thank you.

 

I let my budgies fly around the room. I built this room especially for the birds last year. So one of them decided to have it in a complicated way. She had been laying eggs all over the place. I offered 3 different nesting oppotunity. She didn't want that. She kept returning to the ceilling, even though i changed the tiles, barricated the place, i tried everything.

 

So i deced to have repect for the creature, and to let her do her thing. Of couse it's not ideal, otherwise i woulnd be here asking for some advice.

I will keep and raise the babies, as i did with every other babies my birds have deciced to have. Even if it mean getting a bigger cage and adding new blood to the gene pool... I'd rather that, then keeping the beast locked up all the time, because she is finicky about the nesting locations... It was the first time she had baby and she was quite nervous about it too. Maybe next time, she will trust the nests i offer...

 

 

If a baby has a problem, well that's life. I've had baby finches with problems, I even hand raised to tiels that nearly died because they got sour crop. One of them tiels i saved is... my actual toto, who's being courted by Bob the budgie.

 

What am i going to do about the budgie/tiel?

 

i don't know, that's why i was asking...

 

In any case, i won't do much... What is there do do? If they like each other, who am i to interfere with this? so there not the same species... They don't seem to care... I'm not a racist either

 

I am looking for solutions, not criticizing, i can do that myself thank you and i do it, believe me...

 

So about the nest - 2-3 weeks you think euh?

 

i haven't found a nest with which she feels confortable... she just paniced when i introduced a new nest...

 

*** i hope that's going to work

 

hey i got an idea...

 

Wait...

Wll i feel stupid not to have thought of it sooner.. Talking with you guys gives me ideas...

 

So here it is

 

the nest in the ceiling

 

it is rudimentary, but it serves the purpose...

 

So

 

as you can see, it is confortable for her - it is only a pain for me

 

this baby is not old, 2-3 days huh?

This must be a really unique problem.

My gut feeling is to say leave them where they are for a while,Mum seems to have coped really well so far. I would be tempted while she is out of the nest to pop them into something because as they get more mobile there might be a risk of them falling into a part of the ceiling you can't get to?Can you make their little area safe? Like blocking off the back so they can't get further and further in?

Then once the mum is used to that bit of change you could think about slowly moving the box somewhere more suitable? Do you have a high cupboard or shelf near to the ceiling where the nestbox could eventually sit?

Julie

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

mmm, this is aleady the highest place in the room, it is a 1/2 stories room. - the good thing is that the ceiling is encased with cement - the room is an extention of the house...

 

I wanted to transfer the whole thing to a cage 1-2 weeks after the last babies hatched... Should i try to catch the mother too, or wait to see if she joins the babies from her on?

 

Do babies hatch everyday? Why is there only 1 egg that hatched?

 

I can't reach the nest - i am going to have to remove the tile nest to it to recup the nest - i even though of cutting around the nest portion (like in cartoons) and recup the whole thing intact without touching anything...

 

That i can do - they're soft tiles... What's why they are so yummy to her...

Welcome to the forums!

 

You ought to have removed the eggs as soon as you discovered them really. Its not an ideal place for chicks to hatch and be raised. But you didn't so its too late.

 

What are you going to do with the chicks when they fledge and what about the budgie/cockatiel problem?

 

You need to think seriously about how you keep all your birds - what if one of the babies has a problem up in the ceiling and you can't see?

 

We have an RSPCA here - do you have the same? You could maybe contact them and ask for help in the situation - they may even help you find homes for the babies.

 

Good luck

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Bon bon bon

 

i don't need a recture here...

 

my finches live in a very large aviary, they breed and they are as happy as captive bird can be with their flock

 

as for the rest of the flock (the 4 tiels, the 2 budgies and the goffin) they are quite happy too thank you.

 

I let my budgies fly around the room. I built this room especially for the birds last year. So one of them decided to have it in a complicated way. She had been laying eggs all over the place. I offered 3 different nesting oppotunity. She didn't want that. She kept returning to the ceilling, even though i changed the tiles, barricated the place, i tried everything.

 

So i deced to have repect for the creature, and to let her do her thing. Of couse it's not ideal, otherwise i woulnd be here asking for some advice.

I will keep and raise the babies, as i did with every other babies my birds have deciced to have. Even if it mean getting a bigger cage and adding new blood to the gene pool... I'd rather that, then keeping the beast locked up all the time, because she is finicky about the nesting locations... It was the first time she had baby and she was quite nervous about it too. Maybe next time, she will trust the nests i offer...

 

 

If a baby has a problem, well that's life. I've had baby finches with problems, I even hand raised to tiels that nearly died because they got sour crop. One of them tiels i saved is... my actual toto, who's being courted by Bob the budgie.

 

What am i going to do about the budgie/tiel?

 

i don't know, that's why i was asking...

 

In any case, i won't do much... What is there do do? If they like each other, who am i to interfere with this? so there not the same species... They don't seem to care... I'm not a racist either

 

I am looking for solutions, not criticizing, i can do that myself thank you and i do it, believe me...

 

So about the nest - 2-3 weeks you think euh?

 

i haven't found a nest with which she feels confortable... she just paniced when i introduced a new nest...

 

*** i hope that's going to work

 

hey i got an idea...

 

Wait...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

hum - i didn't mean to sound like i was lecturing - i suggested geting help from the rspca. If you think its okay and want to continue letting your budgie bring up young in the roof then who am i to say anything.

Good luck

Of course not, that is not what i want - i just want to move them in a safe way - without hurting the mother of the chicks...

 

that is why i ask the professionals that you are...

 

there is nothing wrong in taking advice from the more experienced...

like you said the roof is as good a place as any and she seems happy there!

 

keep posting the pics! its an interesting unique 'problem' (Laughing out loud)

Hi welcome Hope you will posting pictures from time to time on the little babies.

Hi welcome Hope you will posting pictures from time to time on the little babies.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sure will guys...

 

it'just so funny i didn't think of it sooner...

 

Even for me it's good

You mentioned being able to see into the nest? I think that it would be difficult to move the babies and mum without seriously distressing both until they are at least 2-3 weeks. Then, as Karen said, you'd be able to hand feed them if mum doesn't like her babies being played with. Offer mum a cuttlebone and lots of veggies as it'll be draining for her feeding herself and her babies especially if dad's not helping.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My birds don't like beggies - they'll eat chips, which i hardly considerer at all like food...

 

But other than they're seeds, and their millet spray, it is wuite hard

 

i will shove brocoli up there ans a piece of spinach - it can't hurt i guess - maybe the babies will try it eventually...

 

That's a good idea...

 

I have mixed her usual gourmet seed mix with a great deal of Hagen's fiches Tropimix. There is egg food in there, which should be very good for them, neh?

Eek.

 

The fact that she's chewing on the ceiling is bad enough without raising chicks up there. How can we know that there isn't anything toxic that she or the chicks may get into? What if one of them falls out the hole and onto the floor, especially once they get older and start moving around more.

 

What ways did you try blocking the hole and why didn't they work? I hope that once you get them out of there you find a good way to keep this from happening again. It must be very worrisome.

 

About the veggies--most birds don't like them at first but they're an absolutely MUST in a budgie's diet and the only way to get them to eat veggies is to be persistant and sometimes a little creative.

 

Good luck!

It must be very worrisome.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

quite

 

i've had the same thought when i saw what she was doind

 

 

what it is toxic, i't not good for her... I tried changing the tiles, blobking acces to the ceiling (yeah right), putting tape where she would hang to discourage her - closing her hole. Since spring (northern hemisphere spring i mean) she has been trying to get upthere.

 

She is an extremely resillient little thing let me tell you

 

she gets an A for that...

 

Yes at one point i gave up and i let her go with it to see what she would do. I brew the coffee, now i must drink it i guess...

 

as for the veggies, the only veggies they all eat without question is lettuce...

 

Is that good enough?? There is almost no vitamin in that stuff, neh?

how on earth did she manage to grapple onto the ceiling to make that hole? Did she hover in mid air to do it? Can i borrow her some time i need a hole drilling in my kitchen ceiling for my new t.v - her holes are perfectly round

 

sorry for the delay in enquiries about it but im a bit slow....

those look like polystyrene tiles. they lift up really easily, budgie probably could have hooked her claws under the grey frame.

 

did you know that polystyrene tiles are a fire hazard? and modern polystyrene tiles used in office blocks have to bee sprayed and treated with fire retardant chemicals. such chemicals could indeed be toxic to your budgies and the chicks...

 

you might want to reconsider your choice of tiles for these reasons and to stop her doing it again at a later date.

in fact i told my bf that we shoul build a gyprock ceilling

 

that would be safer...

 

but winter is coming soon here...

 

and yes to my amazament she does hoover and grasps onto the gray frame...

 

and her holes are perfectly round - she can drill that hole in roughly 2 hours...

 

the next nest i am building for her will mimic that nesting entrance...

 

maybe she will adopt it more easily...

you are breeding her again?

Yes I think if you can mimic that entrance(without using polystyrene!) then you will have a better chance of her accepting the new nest as long as you mean for the babies that are in the ceiling at the moment? Could you then fix or place it near the ceiling?

Julie