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Conference 7.286::pet_birds

Title:Captive Breeding for Conservation--and FUN!
Notice:INTROS 6.X / FOR SALE 13.X / Buying a Bird 900.*
Moderator:VIDEO::PULSIFER
Created:Mon Oct 10 1988
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:942
Total number of notes:6016

389.0. "Help for new mother!" by USEM::RICHARD () Wed Jul 25 1990 14:49

    I have a pair of nesting Cockatiels who have been sitting on
    7 eggs for a time.  Well, the first one hatched and I kept my
    eyes on it as best I could and I found it dead after about 2
    days. When I went into the nesting box to remove the dead baby
    I also found another dead baby.  I was so upset and I removed
    the male to another cage.  I also discovered that one of the eggs
    was missing. So now I have 4 eggs.  Out of those 4, one has since
    hatched. It is now 6 days old and seems to be doing great. The
    moter is feeding it and seems to be taking good care of it. One
    egg looks as though it may not be fertile.  Yesterday the mother
    pushed yet another egg to the side and does not appear to be
    sitting on it.  So at best, I may have one more egg which may
    hatch. I'm really new at this and seem to be just muddling through.
    I don't really have any history on these birds, as they were given
    to me through my daughter who got them from someone she knew.
    
    I'm really enjoying doing this, but I sure had a hard time of it
    when the first 2 didn't survive.  
    
    Does anyone out there have any basic, practical words of wisdom?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Jeannie
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389.1This might help...SWEETP::EAGERWed Jul 25 1990 18:4336
    
    Hi Jeannie,
    
    	If this is their first clutch that might account for the problems
    you've had. Usually an egg is pushed to the side when the parent knows
    that it is a bad egg. My Love Birds have done the same thing. Check 
    around the nest box. You may find it buried somewhere in there. They
    may also have eaten it.
    
    	As long as Mom is feeding the chick things should go OK. Make sure
    you check the chick's crop every day to see that Mom keeps it nice and
    full. If not then you will have to take over feeding the chick or it
    will die.
    	
    	Just in case you don't know how to check the crop. It is located
    about where the adams apple is on a human. It's just a sack where food
    is stored and slowly digested by the chick. It should always be
    distended somewhat, (how much varies from parent to parent). Make sure
    that Mom has plenty of fresh food and water every day.
    	
    	If Mom stops feeding the chick then you can mix up some Gerber's
    baby food. I use one of the dry mixes and mix it with one of the jars
    of fruit mush, ( I can't remember the exact name, but it doesn't matter
    that much). Get a syringe and cut off the end. keep the food mix in the
    Fridge and load the syringe with mush and warm it up by placing it in
    a glass of hot water for a bit. Then just pumpt it into the chicks
    mouth.
    
    	It may not understand what you're doing at first but once it
    catches on it will be easier feeding the chick. You should feed it 
    often enough to keep the crop resonably full at all times. That can
    be a lot of feeding averaging about every 2-3 hours sometimes.
    
    
    						Good Luck!
    						   Mark
389.2keep it warmBPOV04::PULSIFERDoug Pulsifer GIA M&E dtn 296-3332Thu Jul 26 1990 08:4710
    Hi ,
    
    I hope that you don't have to hand feed it, but if you do, you should
    buy a candy thermometer and make sure that the mixture Mark suggested
    is warmed to between 103 and 110 degrees fahrenheit. If not warm enough
    the crop may not empty, if too hot you can burn the bird. If the crop
    doesn't empty quickly enough all kinds of problems can result.
    
    Good luck,
    Doug
389.3Thanks!USEM::RICHARDThu Jul 26 1990 10:5415
    Thanks all for the advice.  I appreciate it.  I took the chick out
    of the nest last night for the first time and she (Daisy) seems
    to be doing just great.  Her crop always looks full and mom seems
    to be feeding her on call.  I looked for the other egg and never
    found it. I would suspect that dad ate it.  I checked on the 
    calendar for the days that each egg appeared and the last egg should
    have hatched on the 24th.  I guess it's time to take the eggs out
    of the nest.  I thought the father was abusing the first chick and
    I'm sorry I didn't remove him sooner.  I think mom did a number
    on him though.  He doesn't have any feathers on his head.  I think
    she pulled them out. 
    
    Thanks again,
    
    Jeannie
389.4105 tops?CLOSET::COMPTONLinda DTN 232-2441 ACO/E47Thu Jul 26 1990 19:411
    Re temp in 389.2...Doug, I thought the top end was 105 degrees???/Linda
389.5maximum temperatureGLASHR::MOEHLENPA_EDThu Jul 26 1990 20:154
    I use 106.9 as a maximum, myself.
    
    Ed
    
389.6temp changeBPOV04::PULSIFERDoug Pulsifer GIA M&E dtn 296-3332Fri Jul 27 1990 10:086
    Linda,
    
    Its been over a year, but I seem to remember 110, but based on yours
    and -1 reply it should be lower. 
    
    Doug