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It is currently Sat May 10, 2025 10:16 pm
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Chipper
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Post subject: Re: Caring for new chicks and parent birds  Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 9:02 pm |
Cockatiel |
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Posts: 1645 Joined: Nov 2014 Gave happy chirps:
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Got happy chirps: 49 times
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Thank you. I am very frustrated with the situation. Here are the problems
1- Mom started to lay eggs (3 by now) and she is very quietly sitting in the nestbox all day long. She doesn't even eat. She comes out to eat in the morning to the kitchen table (where I used to feed them when they were feeding first clutch) and basically this is it. She used to be craving mineral block - not anymore. I am not saying about veggies, maybe a tiny peace in the morning. I guess she comes out a few times during the day to drink some water and maybe eat some seeds (this is all she can find in the cage).
2- Dad is being..... hmmm... I would call him a jerk, or he is simply not very intelligent (sorry, Trillie). He is not eating much as well. Just because he copies that the hen does, and she is not eating. I really doubt he has anything to feed the chicks.
3- chicks are losing weight and I am very concerned. For example, one lost 4g during the day today (evening weight vs morning weight), another one lost 2g, two others showed the same weight as in the morning.
They have lost a lot compared to the peak weight at about 3 weeks. Bella was 106g at peak, now she is 86. Stella was 95g, now she is 79. Our younger chick, Tator Tot, was one of the biggest (103g) - now he is the smallest at 78g. Sammy was 96g, now he is 79g. Is it the way it's supposed to be??? The chicks are 4 weeks old.
Now how they spend a day. In the morning dad goes to eat to the kitchen with mom. Then he pretends he doesn't know this chicks. He may feed some of them a little bit Or pretend he fed. Then they all fly, chasing him and begging for food. I put him in another cage today and took him to the basement during handfeeding time so he wouldn't distract them. It didn't work. They are still not eating formula. I shouldn't force chicks eating, right? The chicks don't look at nice as they were. The feathers are dirty from the formula that I try to clean but can't clean completely. I am concerned I am blocking their noses with formula that dries there. They just don't open their beaks and some don't even stand still. My family told me that he fed them "a lot" while I was gone, but I doubt he would have a lot to give them. Then in the evening we have another lovely "flying all over" game, and this it when I am trying to feed them. He is escaping from them and they are trying to chase him. Our cock isn't tame so I can't just put him in the cage and take him down. They go to sleep after 10pm when we are finally done with everything (hungry, I bet) What is also surprising is that chicks aren't really trying to do much. Probably saving energy to chase the father. In this situation, is it better to separate the chicks completely? This weight loss isn't normal I guess. They also look and feel much smaller that they were. What can I try ???
_________________ Cuddles and Trillie (cockatiel parents) and their 8 children
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Chipper
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Post subject: Re: Caring for new chicks and parent birds  Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 9:54 pm |
Cockatiel |
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Posts: 1645 Joined: Nov 2014 Gave happy chirps:
19 times
Got happy chirps: 49 times
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Thank you. The only experienced avian vet that I know about is very far away, more than an hour drive. We also have a bird store in the city and they buy chicks for future sell when they wean. I am pretty much sure that our chicks would start eating formula if there is nothing else to eat.
I am posting on another forum too, they have some experienced people there.
_________________ Cuddles and Trillie (cockatiel parents) and their 8 children
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Chipper
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Post subject: Re: Caring for new chicks and parent birds  Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 11:06 pm |
Cockatiel |
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Posts: 1645 Joined: Nov 2014 Gave happy chirps:
19 times
Got happy chirps: 49 times
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Yes, the store handfeeds babies and they accept them at age 3 weeks. All babies are in the nursery in cages, getting fed several times a day all together, aren't handled other than this, are not let out to fly and not given anything except formula and some pellets/seeds. Sure, its better than starving to death. I can sell them my babies. Do you mean that they would send somebody to me house to handfeed in my house?
what you think of separating them from the parents? When they realize that no other food will be coming, won't they start eating? my feeding is not that bad, I think I would be able to feed the bird who is wishing to be fed. I regret that I don't allow them to sleep in the nestbox, they must be weak. Especially I am worried for the one who is the youngest.
_________________ Cuddles and Trillie (cockatiel parents) and their 8 children
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Chipper
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Post subject: Re: Caring for new chicks and parent birds  Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 4:59 am |
Cockatiel |
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Posts: 1645 Joined: Nov 2014 Gave happy chirps:
19 times
Got happy chirps: 49 times
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If I need to transport chicks, how do I do it in the really cold weather that we are having?
_________________ Cuddles and Trillie (cockatiel parents) and their 8 children
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Chipper
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Post subject: Re: Caring for new chicks and parent birds  Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 10:38 am |
Cockatiel |
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Posts: 1645 Joined: Nov 2014 Gave happy chirps:
19 times
Got happy chirps: 49 times
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The lady I need to talk to isn't in the store today. I left her a note. You see - the situation is a little ambiguous, they were offering to buy my chicks some time ago but I was stubborn. I was also asking on forums if I needed to interfere in feeding some time ago, the answer was no. I wonder if this situation could be foreseen and prevented. I have a feeling we are not doing that bad though (I was afraid somebody died overnight but they all looked OK). After I fed the smallest chick this morning, he measured 5g more than before feeding. The chicks are cleaning themselves, picking up small food on the floor, etc. Sure they still need more nutrition. I will keep monitor their weight and keep feeding them.
Is it better to feed them in environment they are well familiar with, or an opposite? I took one chick downstairs today to feed as I didn't have time to chase the father downstairs, and he had no place to run away from me as he was put on the table he hasn't been before. I still had to force him eating but he ate some food.
I wipe their noses right away if I see food in the nostrils, but it still gets stuck inside. Is this dangerous or not?
_________________ Cuddles and Trillie (cockatiel parents) and their 8 children
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Chipper
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Post subject: Re: Caring for new chicks and parent birds  Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2014 10:46 am |
Cockatiel |
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Posts: 1645 Joined: Nov 2014 Gave happy chirps:
19 times
Got happy chirps: 49 times
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I want to put it clear. I don't mind selling the chicks and I am not going to keep them for long (I just can't). I just wanted to give them more time to learn from the parents what they can, to learn how to fly, etc. One chick got inside the nestbox while I was gone to class and mom doesn't mind. I wonder if I should give them similar nestbox to spend a nite ... Is it crucial that they sleep on the perch? Some prefer to sleep on the floor.
_________________ Cuddles and Trillie (cockatiel parents) and their 8 children
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