I was just wondering what was the standard procedure for feeding greens to birds rearing young. Do you limit it, do you cut it out or do you just feed as normal?

 

I have just lost 2 chicks about to leave the box - they has diarrhea like discharge around their vents and I wondered whether this is due to over feeding of greens. The 3rd chick had the same discharge and is seems to be doing well.

 

The greens in question are silverbeet, milk thistle and bok choy.

 

Most upset, any help on this topic for future refrence, would be greatly appreciated.

 

Stendorosa

I fed my birds their normal diet, with some egg mix, when they were rearing. I wouldn't think greens, as long as you haven't left them for too many hours, would cause any kind of problems with the young. How are the parents? are they healthy? Any other birds in the cage? How are they? And their droppings? Someone with more experience than me will be on later, with some advice, but they would need that information to have a better idea. I hope whatever the problem is, it can be sorted easily. It is always hard to lose a bird. My thoughts are with you

Thanks for the advice Lin - her are answers to the questions that you thought I should answer

 

Parents are both healthy, no signs of discharge

 

The box is in a flight aviary with 20+ other birds

 

I have noticed today however, that one other hen has slight discharge

 

My birds craved even more green food than usual when they had babies. I gave them as much as they wanted without any problems. I can't say that in your case the greens aren't to blame, but I've never experienced any ill-effects, diarhhea or otherwise from feeding a lot of green foods. But mine preferred spinach, broccoli, kale, and carrot tops. I've never fed what you are giving them. Since you have another bird beginning the same problem, you could either cut down or cut out green food and see if they improve, or have an avian vet do a gram stain on the feces to make sure the problem is not bacterial in nature. You don't have to take the bird in for a gram stain. Do you have an avian vet you use that you could call?

 

I think I would maybe do both, since you have doubts about the food too.

The parents seemed to like more greens when the babies were born and all the babies (I keep track of them even after they have gone) love vegs! I gave them a mix of romaine, spinach, chickweed and brocolli and occasionally substitute mixed baby greens from a package.