[roxy culver]

So I've lost most of the clutch of Hershey's and Snowball's. Not really sure what is going on this time. New boxes, different (kaytee bedding) bedding this year, FSL lighting and cuttlebone, good diet (same diet from first time.) All the eggs hatched. That's what's getting me. So I'm wandering...is Hershey a bad mother? The first time they had the help of Fuzzy so I'm thinking, did Hershey actually do anything? Are these babies starving because Snowball is trusting her to do her job? I checked her droppings...they are normal (I compared them to srtiels site). So now I'm lost. I've been assist feeding, but last night I got home later then usual and I think that's why I lost the 3rd baby. Any ideas? All the babies look totally healthy (great intestines, chirping, everything) til I find them gone. Their beaks are bruised which I know means they were weak and mom/dad got frustrated and tried to feed them anyways. So confused...

 

[roxy culver]

They never got old enough to develop much, the two I have left are only 2 days and one day old. They did grow (the 3rd one lived to be three days old) but I don't know. Luckily I do still have the baby's body, so I'll take it to the vet today. I wasn't very satisfied with the last two necropsies they did for me (pretty much told me what they found but couldn't say what had caused it or give me anything to help the rest of the flock). But I have to figure out what is going on here!

 

[roxy culver]

Aside from the above, I have learned that a vitamin E deficiency is the main cause for weak chicks. Grrrr...The USDA changed their site. But I found a link on it where you can see what foods (it's a human foods site, but many foods we give are birds would be listed) contain Vitamin E: http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=22114
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Thank you! I'm going to do some research on this and use it. From what I know of their history, Hershey came from a breeder in Rancho Bernardo, CA. Her parents were not like to like (he gave me a card and I lost it in the move, its in a box somewhere in the house). Snowball came from a pet store in San Diego, but the breeder knew the owner of the pet store (I met him in their parking lot to pick Hershey up) SO there is still a possibility of them being related. The only reason I doubt this is because they have FIVE healthy chicks. Vit E deficiency sounds like it might be possible. I'm going to look into it in any case. Also taking the baby for the necropsy on Friday, I ran out of time today and tomorrow I wont be home all day thanks to school. To be honest, I don't expect these chicks to make it since their siblings didn't, but hopefully I can find out what's wrong and have successful future clutches.

 

[roxy culver]

So I was doing some research (with Casey's help) and it turns out sunflower seeds are high in Vit. E. Not one of my birds eat sunflower seeds, I always end up throwing those out when I change their bowls. So, how do I get them to eat them?

 

[roxy culver]

Haha tielfan, yes it is!!! Guess I'm buying a bag of only sunflower seeds tomorrow and shelling them. I'll keep a bag of shelled seeds in their room and add it to their food every day. Tricky lil buggers I have!

 

[roxy culver]

That's great to know thanks!!! Gonna check out the store tomorrow in between classes! So this makes me wonder...formula has vit e in it right? So by feeding it to the babies am I helping them at all?

 

[roxy culver]

So it might not save them at all, only prolong their lives...seems like each one lives one day longer than the last. And this could be affecting ALL three clutches. Crap, why are my birds so lazy?

 

[roxy culver]

I've been adding the spice remedy to the formula when I feed it so that's gonna help right?

 

[roxy culver]

Update on babies...older one is 4 days old now at 12g and younger one is 3days old at 10g. This feels good to me. I'm going to continue the assist feeds (they made it through the night last night without one, but I'm not taking any chances.) I'm also going to get garlic cloves and place those in the cages. And continue to put garlic on the parents food until I see them eat the cloves on top of buying shell-less sunflower seeds for them.

 

[roxy culver]

Baby Pictures!!!

Here are the pix as promised...first one is baby 5 the other two are of baby 4. Getting so big! Did have a weird question though. I can see their tummies move when I feed them, is that normal? I've just never watched a baby's tummy before and it looked weird to me lol.

 

[roxy culver]

Thanks! The oldest opened his eyes this afternoon so that's encouraging. Will post pix tomorrow.

On another note, Bubbles first baby is hatching and he hasn't absorbed his yolk yet but decided to pop the top of his egg already. And Bubbles pushed him aside and wouldn't sit on him. Luckily Squiggles will so hubby moved him under Squiggles and I wrapped him up in tissue paper. Gave him some honey water and keeping my fingers crossed. Why must they be so difficult this time?

 

[roxy culver]

O good I was worried that was unusual I'm glad it normal. Is there any particular reason why I've now had two chicks try to hatch before their yolk was absorbed? Maybe not enough humidity?

 

[roxy culver]

The hatch date was on time, 17 days. The weather has actually been warmer than usual, 45-50F.

Lost oldest baby during the night, he would've been a week old today. Going to take his body in for the necropsy instead as he's bigger so it might be easier to find something out.

 

[roxy culver]

Thank you! Bubbles first baby is still absorbing the yolk, been going at this all night. We put him under Squiggles because Bubbles had pushed him aside and he was cold (hubby did this while I was at work) and Squiggles doesn't move from her eggs so I figured it couldn't hurt. He made it through the night now I just have to hope he absorbs the last of the yolk.

 

[roxy culver]

This has been an on-going process for us, ever since we got to WA we haven't had any lucky with babies. I just want to figure out what's wrong so I can help the rest of the babies I have on the way.

 

[roxy culver]

It sure has...its warm here now which is SO surprising. And humidity could also be an issue, I'm gonna spray the wall of the boxes for good measure and prolly spray the parents as well. My hubby is getting so sad that none of the babies are making it again (after I figured out this issue last year, this is just confusing.) Its not the bird's fault, they're doing everything right, so I have to figure out what I'm doing wrong.

 

[roxy culver]

I also wandered if maybe altitude might play a role? We're at higher altitude now then we ever were in CA.

On another note, I've got a concern. Bubbles first baby has been fully out of the egg for over 12 hrs. Hubby has hand fed him twice, since Fuzzy and Bubbles haven't fed her. But when I looked at her just now a tiny small piece of the yolk is hanging out, like she never absorbed that piece. What do I do about it? I don't want to burst it, but I don't know if after all this time he can absorb it?

 

[roxy culver]

OK I'll tie it off this morning, I don't have antibiotics, I dumped all of hubby's old pills before we moved. Would putting peroxide on it to prevent infection help? I wont do that unless its OK, but I will tie it off. Little one is super active this morning and well fed, I feel better about leaving him alone through the night.

Completely forgot, I took pictures of Snowball's only baby this morning, he feeds well so that's encouraging. Eyes are open but the lil brat wouldn't open them for pictures. Weighs 14g with crop almost empty, not as heavy as I feel he should weigh but we can work on that.

 

[roxy culver]

How high are you? My tiels produce well at an altitude of 3000 feet

I don't know, I will have to look it up and find out.