[roxy culver]

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

 

[srtiels]

You know what I used to do years ago when I was studying and practicing natural and holistic routes for my birds. I would put a peeled clove/piece of garlic in the cage when I set them up. It is an excellent source of selenium, A,B,C and E which I thought at the time covered the bases if I was lacking in those nutrients. The birds that needed it would nibble on it, especially the hens prior to laying. After the babies hatched the parents would also take tiny nibbles the first week of life. Since it seemed to work well I started adding garlic powder to the formula of the babies I pulled for handfeeding.

 

[srtiels]

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

---------------------------

yes...the spice remedy would work also In fact it was from my garlic venture with the parents that I came up with the Spice remedy.

 

[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.

 

[DyArianna]

Great news! Go babies! Pics.. pics.. pics..

 

[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.

 

[lperry82]

Aw so cute

 

[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?

 

[srtiels]

I can see their tummies move when I feed them, is that normal?
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Ok....while they are digesting there will be visible movement from two areas. At the base of the crop are muscles....these muscles will churn the food to deliver it into the proventriculus which is the opening to the digestive tract. OK, just below the ribs is a hard muscle, is the ventriculus, aka:gizzard , which further grinds and processes the food before it enters the intestines. It is the gizzard that gives the chick the bottom heavy look as the muscle developes and gets larger. As the baby gets older and grows into it's shape this muscle is smaller and less noticable.

 

[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?

 

[srtiels]

any particular reason why I've now had two chicks try to hatch before their yolk was absorbed? Maybe not enough humidity?
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Was the hatch date on time or was it early or late? What has the weather been like the last week before hatch?

 

[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.

 

[srtiels]

Yes....it will be interesting if they can tell something from the necropsy. Also bring a sample of the bedding just in case. I once had suspected the seed and a vet can send it for free analysis with USDA for any aflatoxins that may effect babies and not adults. This will rule out environmental related causes.

 

[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.

 

[lperry82]

Im so sorry roxy

 

[DyArianna]

So sorry to hear about this. Really, really, tough time with clutches lately.

 

[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.

 

[sunnysmom]

I'm so sorry. I hope everything goes okay with the rest.

 

[RexiesMuM]

So sorry hun , Hopefully you can figure out whats going on . I would think weather could be a factor . It's been so weird on the west this season from winter to fall and spring like conditions and so erratic

 

[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.