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feeing chicks, rearing

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2018 5:50 am
by The Maltese
I have a Eumo Zebra Finch sitting on 3 nestlings. When i check their crop there is very little food in it so my guess is that she is not feeding them enough and i am afraid they will die.

Can i rear the chick say once a day to make sure they are getting enough food or will the hen abandon them if I feed them once a day?

Re: feeing chicks, rearing

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2018 6:34 am
by Icearstorm
The Maltese

How old are the chicks, and when are you checking for food? Hatchlings typically only have food in one side of their crop for the first three or four days, and if you are checking in the early morning, the parents may not have had enough time to feed the babies since waking up.

Re: feeing chicks, rearing

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2018 7:31 am
by The Maltese
I checked in the evening.

Re: feeing chicks, rearing

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2018 7:51 am
by Babs _Owner
The Maltese

How old are the chicks? As long as mom is feeding them I would leave them. Some of my gouldians pack their kids to the brim, other parents feed smaller amounts and the kids still come out healthy.

When the kids start vocalizing loudly to be fed, that usually kicks the parents into gear.

The 1st few days their crop are so small, it only can fit a drop or 2 of food and the kids absorb it quickly. May look like the parents aren't feeding them....when in actuality they are.

If you feel the need to supplement once a day......you have to know your parents very well and trust they wont abandon. Don't take the chicks out of the nest to feed. Do it while they stay in the nest. And be quick about it.