Hi

 

Before I start, I just wanna say yes I am a new to breeding, and didn't fully research, so please don't have a go at me

 

I had my first chick hatch late yesterday/early this morning. As yet, it has not been fed. Should I be worried, or just give them time to become accustomed to the new addition(dad has bred before, mum hasn't)? I am worried as the baby is singing out, and has nothing at all in its crop.

 

Thanks in advance

okay yes be worried. Firstly are you realy to hand feed the chick, do you have a hand raiseing mixture, if so start to read the instructions for a newly hatched chick and get an eye dropper and start feeding him.

If you don't have hand rearing mix mix egg and bisciut very very dilutely with warm milk (not hot). get an eye dropper and start giving small dropps of mixture to the beak. he will eat it.

 

If you don't have egg and biscuit use milk and glucose.

If you don't have glucose just use warm milk.

 

As you feed him you will see that his crop will fill. Keep feeding him until he either takes no more or his crop looks full. Feed every hour until the mother gets the idea and starts to feed him. Hopefully it won't take long.

 

If he is calling for full, that worries me because it should stimulate the hen into feeding him.

 

This mix will give him strength, but you will need to get him onto the proper formular by tomorrow morning.

 

Good luck and let us know how you go.

He's gone

 

I went out to check him, but I was too late. She is on three more eggs- so do I assume she won't feed those either(how long after hatching should she feed?)? I am prepared to hand feed- I have hand fed other animals successfully- I know birds are different but I am more than willing to dedicate the time and patience required. Can they be hand fed from hatching successfully?

 

Thanks for the advice Daz, I'm just disappointed I checked back a bit late..

hugs birdie

I am no expert and I know they will come. I would watch and see what the mother does, and yes if she doesn't feed them, don't wait just get in there and start. If she new at this too? Where is the father? They help with the feeding too.

Since she didn't feed the first one be watch full with the next, if she hasn't feed it ( and I would be worried after 3 hours but that's just me) Do as daz said then return the chick to the box. Keep doing so until mum gets the idea or if she doesn't you will have to take over and feed all the time.

I am sorry that I was late with the advice. Odds are that she wont feed the next one. So I would prepare. The next one is due Tonight or Tomorrow morning.

I thought I'd give an update

 

The 2nd egg was empty, and the 3rd and 4th were dead in shell I am so dissapointed my first attempt ended this way, but these things happen.

 

On a happier note, my other pair have 2 eggs I've been spending alot of time reading up on budgies and breeding, so am prepared this time :hap:

Edited April 13, 200619 yr by birdie

I thought I'd give an update

 

The 2nd egg was empty, and the 3rd and 4th were dead in shell :ausb: I am so dissapointed my first attempt ended this way, but these things happen.

 

On a happier note, my other pair have 2 eggs

 

Hi

Dont be too disapointed, I'm sure your other pair will produce some babies for you!! I have been breeding budgies for a long time and you are always bound to come across some sort of problem or another. Because your hen is new to all this, she obviously hasnt got a clue what to do. (Like some human mothers!!)Hopefully next time round she will know what to do. It is very hard to hand rear birds that are newly hatched. I was faced with this problem with King Parrots and none of my chicks survived. Getting the right mix for newborns is very difficult and they must be kept warm at all times, so there is a lot of preparation involved I'm afraid. If you have another hen with chicks you might be able to put the un-fed ones under her, this works most times and saves you a lot of work and sleepless nights! Good luck! Keep us posted :dbb1:

Have you had a chance to read up on breeding so that you are prepared this time?