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 Post subject: Re: Caring for new chicks and parent birds
PostPosted: Sun Feb 01, 2015 6:14 pm 
Cockatiel
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one more change implemented here. Now all big birds go to sleep into the large cage, while babies are all alone in the breeding cage. The mom was the main trouble-maker when it was coming to sleep time. I think she didn't like to be in the breeding cage since she is not feeding anyone at night.

How many hours can babies be without food at night? I know it was said they are big enough not to eat overnight, but "night" can be different in different opinions. I certainly want to prevent more eggs, but I do want parents to keep feeding the babies.
Right now they are in the dark for about 10 hours. I know its not much. Evening is a hectic time here, sometimes I am not home til after 9, plus they are getting very excited in the evening (don't know why), normally I manage to cover them and turn off the light at 10pm. Then at 8am I uncover them, as I am concerned babies would be too hungry. It used to be 9pm - 7 am but it shifted recently.



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 Post subject: Re: Caring for new chicks and parent birds
PostPosted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 9:27 am 
Cockatiel
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Cuddles, the mom, has droppings that look like diarrhea. She still eating which I think means she is not very sick? I will keep watching her. I have read diarrhea can be dangerous.
Any danger to the chicks when she feeds them?



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 Post subject: Re: Caring for new chicks and parent birds
PostPosted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 12:34 pm 
Cockatiel
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She is more quiet than always. Sometimes eating normally with other birds, but sometimes standing still starring at one spot.
Another unusual thing: she stands by the box entrance, like she hesitates to enter or not, then she goes away.



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 Post subject: Re: Caring for new chicks and parent birds
PostPosted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 4:07 pm 
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Keep her warm and keep an eye on her because it sounds like she might be in trouble. If you have any cayenne pepper you could put a little pinch of it in her food - it won't harm her and birds can't taste the heat, but it can help kill bacteria if she's having a bacterial problem. A small amount of lemon juice or vinegar can help too. Make sure the babies are still being fed, but if she's the one feeding them then any infection that she has could be passed to the chicks.



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 Post subject: Re: Caring for new chicks and parent birds
PostPosted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 4:14 pm 
Cockatiel
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thanks. I saw her recent dropping, and it looked pretty much like it should but I will have to keep watching.
I don't know how to feed just her pepper or lemon or vinegar. They all are eating together from the same bowls. I hope she won't pass it to other birds. Or should I just add that stuff to everybody's food?
What signs of illness should I be trying to see in babies?



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 Post subject: Re: Caring for new chicks and parent birds
PostPosted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 8:42 pm 
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You can add a small amount to the food that they're all sharing - it won't hurt anyone, and might help if they're sharing bacteria with each other. If she seems to be OK now there's no need to do it, but if she seems to get worse again or if another bird starts acting "off" you can do it.



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 Post subject: Re: Caring for new chicks and parent birds
PostPosted: Tue Feb 03, 2015 8:16 am 
Cockatiel
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I think she is OK. I put new paper on the bottom of their cage, to be able to see her droppings, and they seem to be good. Parents are back to the breeding cage for sleeping.
I am blaming possibly eggs. Will be removing them sooner.
But we have another problem. Yes, every day there is a new problem, and by the way, I am back to school. She is hormonal and wants to mate.
It doesn't work to keep them sleeping longer in the morning because I guess its not dark enough as soon as the sun is out. Today some older kids were singing while still being covered (we have a couple of singers!), and I found both parents eating under the cover. So... I will need to work towards putting them to sleep earlier.
She didn't come to eat to the kitchen, like she always does. As a result, all other birds were watching and obeying what she wants to do (nobody came to eat). She played with the shredding toy, walked on the floor, anything but stuffing herself with food to feed the little ones. The cock was watching her.

They finally came to eat and I hope they will continue feeding the babies. All babies weigh around 100g, +- 6g. I don't see any interest to fledge yet. They are about 3 weeks old.
I can't recall when I should offer them millets and water? IS it before they fledge or after?



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 Post subject: Re: Caring for new chicks and parent birds
PostPosted: Tue Feb 03, 2015 11:44 am 
Cockatiel
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How in general parents act towards babies when they want to start a new clutch? Can they be aggressive?



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 Post subject: Re: Caring for new chicks and parent birds
PostPosted: Tue Feb 03, 2015 4:18 pm 
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Sometimes parents will pluck the babies when they want them to leave the nest.

You could put a thicker cover on the cage to keep it darker in the morning, or two covers. The best way to test how good a cover is at keeping light out is to drape it over your own head in the daytime and look toward a window, and see how much light comes through the cloth. If the birds are singing and eating when the cage is covered, it isn't dark enough inside.



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 Post subject: Re: Caring for new chicks and parent birds
PostPosted: Tue Feb 03, 2015 7:00 pm 
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I can see what going on. She wants some love and not interested in eating around the clock while cock still trying to deliver food to the babies. I would say that babies today cry more than usual. Actually they didn't cry for food before at all because they were fed. I guess its time to start assisting.



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