My sweet little handfed update 2/14

Post by **Sally** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 11:26 am

How is your little one, Donna? I agree with the others that it may be too much food at once. They will keep begging long after they are full, so it is easy to overdo it. The banding tool is a safer way to feed, but I have also switched over to the syringe when they get bigger, as it is just a bit easier, plus I can see on the markings just how much they are eating.

Course, I should talk, I just lost 4 BCCB hatchlings one by one--seemed to be doing fine one feeding, refused food the next feeding, gone the next feeding--that fast.

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 11:37 am

Sally, I am so sorry for your loss. It is difficult when hand feeding, you worry they are getting enough or if it is just right.

Donna, hope your little one is getting better. Keep us posted.

MLaRue · Post by **MLaRue** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 11:40 am

Sally,

I'll be getting the little gem today to help Donna with him overnight... I can't wait to see him.

I find the hardest to hand raise is the Waxbills !!! I've tried with Fires and Cordon Bleus and they always die within 24 hours of one another and usually around 7 to 10 days.

Last time I even gave more protien and that still didn't help.

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 1:07 pm

Good luck, it is wonderful that you are going to help the little guy. Keep us posted.

MLaRue · Post by **MLaRue** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 1:21 pm

I have him now and he looks pretty good actually

Tight feathered and the poops don't look too bad either. A good bath and he will be good as new

When Donna was petting him he shook his tail like a female does for a male when they are courting... so I think she might have a female.

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 1:31 pm

Misty,
I have noticed that most all of my handfeds will shake like that when stroked. I think it is a reaction to preening, stroking.... Sort of a modified fluffing.
They have turned out to be both male and female

MLaRue · Post by **MLaRue** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 1:50 pm

Really - none of mine did this and I too have raised female and male. The only one that makes any movement when we touch him is Igor because he likes to be scratched like a dog! He will throw his head back to get his chin scratched and when you put him right under your nose and breathe on him he will flutter his wings out... silly bird.

But then now that I'm thinking about it I never really stroked the Gouldians the way Donna did her baby. I always just cupped my hand around them more than anything.

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 5:44 pm

I always preen/stroke and help crack the hard coverings on the quills. Naturally the parents do this in the nest. Once the chicks are almost finished feathered they love to be scratched between the wings on the back. These are the last feathers to loose the quill coating. They will ruffle and flit thier tails every time.

nixity · Post by **nixity** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 6:39 pm

I have never heard of parents preening the babies for them..
The quills should naturally open and fall off.. or be preened off by the babies themselves.
I never preened or cracked open the quills and my hand feds feathered out just fine

I think you run more risk hurting the bird especially if you pinch the quill at a part that still has blood supply coming to it

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 12:51 am

nixity wrote:I have never heard of parents preening the babies for them..
The quills should naturally open and fall off.. or be preened off by the babies themselves.
I never preened or cracked open the quills and my hand feds feathered out just fine

I think you run more risk hurting the bird especially if you pinch the quill at a part that still has blood supply coming to it

Yes, The quills will eventually fall off or be nibbled/preened off by the chicks themselves. But I have witnessed one helping the other.
My birds always preen each other, wheather it be parents/chicks, siblings/mates.... The quills do naturally open up and the quill becomes soft and powdery. This is what is mouthed and removed...not the bloodfilled developing feather ..... I have seen the parent goulds preen their youngs feathers. I have seen them preen each other.
They will also preen my own hair. They take a piece and run the length with thier beaks. If you ever have spent any time around hookbills, preening the powdered quills that they cannot reach easily is a great bonding technique. Kind of like scratching a dog on it's back where it cannot reach. They seem to enjoy the interaction.
As Misty will see once she strokes and scratches this little gouldian. They like it

Hope he thrives under your care Misty

MLaRue · Post by **MLaRue** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 10:52 am

The baby is actually weaned

I handfed it every two hours yesterday until 6pm (when I left work). I got home and put him right in the middle of my kitchen table and moved his millet spray up on the perch for him to eat from... I was in the kitchen for a good bit yesterday and I was able to see him eat and eat and eat that millet

I never did see him drink though... so I tried handfeeding him later after his eating on his own and he really didn't want anything from me but a few drops for moisture. The same thing this morning. I really think the baby is good to go on its own maybe trying to feed *HER* a few times each day to make sure she has liquids because I don't see the baby drink at all. I really think it is a female too

As for the preening

I have never seen my Gouldians preen one another or even so much as cuddle at any time. I've never seen the parents preen their babies either - ever. They leave them in the nest alone when they are naked so they wouldn't preen them at that time either. I know Zeebs and Goldbreasts preen each other - but not Gouldians.

I actually didn't stroke/rub/handle my handfeds feathers. I never wanted the oil from my skin to get on their feathers - especially when they aren't taking baths yet.

I'm happy you have seen a different side of the Gouldians though Candace.

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 12:41 pm

Sounds like the chick is well on its way

Do you think they ingest the keratin covering that comes off the feathers? Like a source of nutrition? I always assumed they did...but not sure now that others goulds don't do this behaviour.

Maybe I just have some extra lovey gouldians

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 12:50 pm

Well I returned to town today and got my little baby back! It thrived under Misty's care. (Thank you Misty!)

I am feeling so much better about it and it seems very happy to be home with it's friends in the cage. It went straight to the seed dish so that is a great sign. Hopefully it will be completely weaned by the time I get back to school next week.

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 12:53 pm

I am so thrill that this turned out so well for you. You did a great job with saving this precious little chick

It is looking great

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 12:56 pm

Thanks!!! That was with much help and advice from Misty!

The "girls" were glad to have her back in the cage also. They all came down to watch over her as she ate.

FINCHforum

My sweet little handfed update 2/14

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