FINCHforum

I boiled three eggs on Wednesday. I only usually only prepare one egg at a time. I cracked one, and the yolk was just ever so slightly under cooked, so I cracked the other two and they all were the same. so I mashed them all together an put them in the microwave for a minute to finish cooking the yolk.

However, since then the mom and chicks (dad has been separated for picking on the family) have not been eating as much. I am currently boiling three new eggs.

Question is: could the under cooked eggs have harmed or turned off the mom and chicks??

I have been home for less then an hour and they are kind of puffed in a huddle, and they didn't jump down as usual immediately as usual when I put the egg and veggie in there. I should mention, they did eat most of the food I gave them this am while I was at work.

anybody? did I word my question wrong? I'm so so sorry to be a pain, I am still learning here.... ugh

Jennie, it doesn't sound like you fed them undercooked eggs as you said you microwaved it and it was only ever so slightly undercooked to begin with. I'm sure it was fully cooked by the time you removed it from the microwave.

It might just be that it has a tougher taste or something from being cooked a little different that they don't really care for. I've noticed that sometimes the vaguest difference in preparation and they don't like it as much.

The only thing you've mentioned that concerns me at all is that you mentioned they seem a little fluffed and in a huddle. Are they on the floor of the cage or on perches? You might want to offer a heat lamp to one side of the cage in case they truly aren't feeling well. Be sure to allow them an area that they can go to if they wish to avoid the heat. If they are on the floor rather than perches, I would be more worried than if they are on the perches.

Lisa Thank you so much for your reply.

I have a full spectrum light towards the right side of the cage during day time and a heat lamp far away on the left. they sometimes are on the floor of cage but mostly on a perch. Even mom huddles... I keep the room at 72-74. They mostly perch, but sometimes in a huddle against a corner of the cage.

I am worried that they arn't getting enough food/calcium because only mom is feeding.. I had no choice as to remove the dad.. he was plucking and chasing and causing chaos.

Thanks Lisa for your help

Jennie, if the pic above is what you meant about huddling, it looks like you have nothing to worry about. They're just cuddling with their mom... probably settling in for the night. What a sweet picture

They look good in that photo. The mom is perfectly capable of feeding three chicks by herself, so they should not be lacking--they look well-fed.

I agree with Lisa and Sally, they all look great!

WheW!! I get paranoid easily Someone told me that if they are puffed they are hungry. I probably misinterpreted the info.

Yesterday was the first full day they were alone so I got nervous.. Maybe I should change my name to NELLY

Thanks for the feedback. I am grateful!!! xoxoxoxo

Nanajennie Yikes: I just posted the same thing!!! Bad cooks we are, huh? I'll read the answers you get on your post

Everyone has to figure out their timing based on their stove and cookware, but when I do eggs, I put a dozen eggs in each saucepan in cold water (I will have three of them going at one time). Once the water comes to a full boil, I turn the heat off and let the pans sit for 15 minutes (I have a ceramic cooktop, so it stays hot for a while, gas cooktops would cool down immediately). Then I drain off the hot water, cool down with cold water just till I can handle the eggs, and place the eggs in the dish drainer to dry off a bit (water on the shells will wet the eggs). Then I toss 6 eggs at a time in the food processor shell and all and pulse 5-6 times. From this point, I add the dry ingredients I want so that the eggfood is drier and finished.

finchandlovebird hahahaha.. I thought I was a fairly good cook until the finches came along! LOL


@Sally Is it possible my eggfood is too wet? it does feel a bit when I scrap it off the utensil... I heard of adding bread crumbs, but then was once advised not to... ? when I scrape it off the utensil, it feels almost slime like, even if only from morning til night in the fridge. always in a air tight container

thanks!

I have found mine like it drier and more "crumbly" also.

Nanajennie My birds do like it drier, plus my eggfood stays out all day without any problems. You can add bread crumbs or yellow cornmeal, but those items really don't add a lot of nutrition. I prefer to add things like commercial eggfood, nestling food, handfeeding formula--whatever you might have on hand that is meant for birds, as it will usually have vitamins and minerals added to it also. I add anywhere from 2 to 2 1/2 cups dry material to a dozen eggs. Here are a number of eggfood/eggbread recipes posted by members: http://www.finchforum.com/viewforum.php?f=73

Thank you everyone. I am going to the pet store tomorrow to modify the eggfood a bit. You are all too kind and I am very grateful.

sorry for the impatience in the beginning of this thread..... I tend to be a worry wart.

God Bless you all

I boil 3 eggs, then shell them and put them in paper towel into the fridge for 6+ hours. I think it was Liz that taught me the fridge trick. The fridge will help to dry out the egg, so it isn't so wet and sticky.

I put 2-1/2 eggs in a mini processor. My wife gets the white of 1 of the eggs.
To that I add 1 teaspoon of corn meal and 1 teaspoon of ground up Kaytee pellets. These help to dry out the egg a bit more.
4 or 5 pulses and I'm done.