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Posted by ciscobird on March 24, 2003 at 03:27:31:
I will break it down paragraph by paragraph with 'educated" responses... what I don't know I will admit.
I have a question...again, I have four babies I've been raising now for about 3 weeks. I have left two smaller babies with the parents. The two younger and smaller babies are now much larger and wiegh more being feed only birdseed. While the babies I've been feeding appear smaller and much thinner. (I've been using 'Instant Nutri-Start' Formula for the last year.)
You said "The two younger and smaller babies are now much larger and wiegh more being feed only birdseed."
I took that at face value and read it as they only get bird seed, thus my comments on nutrition and breeding.
It has been my expierence that the chicks stay thin while feeding and then when they begin to eat on their own they put on wieght. I would think that the formula would be much healthier for them than plain Cocatiel feed. I will admit due to working during the day, I feed them only twice a day; once in the morning and once in the evening. But I do feed them very good and there crop is never completely empty.
In the paragraph above you said you have been raising two of the chicks by hand for 3 weeks (so they are 5 weeks?) I looked up the feeding schedule for a 5 week old tiel and they should be fed 3 times a day. (at 3 weeks of age they are to be fed 5 times a day)
Also it is my understanding that filling a crop so that it is extended is not a good thing. You said their crop is never totally empty. How many hours a day do you work? If it is at least 8 then I believe that their crop should be empty by the time you get home. This led me to suspect that the crops may be impacted or sour. (remember that no one here is a vet and you can not expect the perfect answer especially from someone who has never seen your birds. I don't care who they are.)
Can anyone tell me if it's normal that chicks don't fatten up as much nor as fast with formula? Am I using the wrong formula?
That I don't know but was concerned that it could be a symptom of sour crop. Not an unrealistic concern.
Another question: What are your thoughts on takeing the babies away from the parents to hand raise? Do you think it trauma's them in any way? Its seems cruel to me. I was think of leaving the two chicks in the box and let the parents complete the raising process on thier own. But if you think its no big deal then I would rather take them out to hand feed.
If the chicks are 5 weeks old then its too late to take them from their parents. I read this tonight in the American cockatiel society web site. If they are only 3 weeks old then feeding them only twice a day is not enough. So I figured leave them with the parents as they would be better off.
Thanks again everyone for your help and advise.
Ps. It's looking like I may have a home for the parents once I've finished raising the babies.
That's good
Pss. Remember I told you about the female and her weakend condition not wanting her to lay any more eggs... Well, even though there are still chicks in the box they are attending...They are at it again and I fear she is going to lay yet another clutch assuring her demise. I'm not sure if seperating them is a good idea at this point because she may already be fertile and they are still feeding chicks. What to do.....drama.
On the subject of egg binding I am more educated than you might think. I have a hen that lays around 20 to 25 eggs a year. She has no partner. I have been consulting an avian vet over her and have learned a lot. You are absolutely right that she may very well die on this next clutch if she is fertile that is why I say go to a vet NOW. It will cost both you and your bird a lot less. My hen was in the hospital for 4 days after being egg bound and it cost $250.00. I later brought her in for a preventative hormone shot and it only cost $26.00.
Better to prevent than end up in another emergency.
Also later you mentioned that your birds are outside. Babies as young as yours need to be kept warm. Low temperatures can actually be a cause of sour crop. I know you are in CA but it does get chilly at night especially for a baby cockatiel that is supposed to be in a warm brooder.
So please forgive my jagged responses to your original post. It was overwhelming to read all that you wrote and try to sum it up. I believe you have been lucky so far that no babies have died and that your hen is still alive but it concerns me that that luck will run out.
I have read your posts in the past and am aware of your bird situation as best one can know on a cockatiel message board. I never forgot about your hen and have actually kind of worried about her since you wrote in here and said she was egg bound (and recovered) and that you think she will die if she lays another egg. At that time I didn't know you had babies too. Anyway, now your hen is in a position to lay more eggs and well the only answer I know is to consult an avian vet.
I am sorry that I did not give you a solution that was simple. My idea of a solution is taking all your babies and your hen to a vet as soon as possible. Or if you can not do that perhaps give them to someone who can.