I have a runt...

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ml830
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I have a runt...

Post by ml830 » Sat Apr 26, 2014 7:49 pm

I know runts don't really happen with birds, but one of my 16 day old babies is smaller than the rest and it's body/torso is reddish compared with it's siblings. I've peeked in on them several times, and he seems to be moving about just like the others. Is this normal? I decided to let nature take it's course when I discovered him earlier this week. When I first peeked in on them Monday, I saw 2 babies, then 3, then yesterday when all 4 parents were out of the nest box, I opened the lid and saw that they have 5 babies (yea!!!). Any words of wisdom about my tiny one?
Mary
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Re: I have a runt...

Post by Nerien » Sat Apr 26, 2014 8:05 pm

He may just be the last baby hatched, and so actually be a few days behind the others. He may have gotten fed a bit less than the others, and so not have grown as much yet. He might not be as strong or healthy as the others.

As long as it appears he is being fed, I'd just leave him be.

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Ginene
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Re: I have a runt...

Post by Ginene » Sat Apr 26, 2014 8:20 pm

I agree with Nerien. My runt is the same size as all of his siblings now. You would never know he was the last to hatch and fed the least. Congrats and keep us posted :)

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lovezebs
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Re: I have a runt...

Post by lovezebs » Sun Apr 27, 2014 12:01 am

I agree with what others have said. A last infant to hatch from amongst the eggs. In nature these babies sometimes don't survive, because parents tend to concentrate on the bigger loudmouths. If you notice that he's not thriving I guess you could handfeed (?)
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Re: I have a runt...

Post by Mands » Sun Apr 27, 2014 2:27 am

Recently I had a clutch of 6 baby Gouldians fledge. Firstly 5 did then the next day the 6th did, it was much smaller and not as feathered as the rest. We had to put it back in the nest for 5 nights, then it started flying around much stronger. Now, it has nearly caught up, the only way we can tell it apart is that it doesn't have as much colour as its siblings, but it is doing great. Sometimes the last ones just need a bit of help here and there....within reason of course.
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Re: I have a runt...

Post by finchandlovebird » Sun Apr 27, 2014 9:20 am

I don't remember what birds you have besides Gouldians, but could it be a chick from a different bird :?:
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ml830
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Re: I have a runt...

Post by ml830 » Mon Apr 28, 2014 2:42 pm

finchandlovebird wrote: I don't remember what birds you have besides Gouldians, but could it be a chick from a different bird :?:
I have socieities only, for now. I keep checking in on the babies when all 4 parents are out feeding. The amazing thing is that the little one is always partially covered by one of the other babies. I wonder if that's on purpose? Maybe a mama is moving him under one of the others. They're very nurturing birds. If that's the case, I'm amazed. I'll choose to be amazed. :wink:
Mary
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ml830
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Re: I have a runt...

Post by ml830 » Sun May 04, 2014 4:16 pm

My little runt is still the runt, but doing well. I noticed his wings have tiny feathers coming out, finally. He must have hatched at least 6 days after the other 4 hatched. They are all feathered, and getting bigger daily. He is always in the middle of the others, so he's being kept warm. And he's slowly growing, so that's good! I can't wait until they start coming out of the nest. I think they started hatching on the 13th of April, so they should be 3 weeks old today. Did I reaad somewhere that it takes about 40 days for them to fledge?
Mary
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MiaCarter
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Re: I have a runt...

Post by MiaCarter » Sun May 04, 2014 7:56 pm

Congrats on your little guy! I'm so happy to hear he's doing nicely!

I've got a little guy too! He's on the latter part of day 11 or the first part of day 12. I'm loving watching him develop! I bet it's even more fascinating with multiples!

That's so wonderful that he's doing well. I've read that the much younger babies often don't survive/thrive.
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Re: I have a runt...

Post by Nerien » Sun May 04, 2014 7:58 pm

Nope, it's 19-25 days to fledge, and then maybe another week or two to wean. So if your hatch date is right, they could be leaving the nest any day now.

When they fledge, the parents will still feed them until they can feed themselves. They will make a lot of noise, and follow the parents around demanding food. If the first four leave the nest, but the little runt is still in there, make sure they don't forget to keep feeding him. With the others out and being so bothersome, he could indeed get forgotten. If so, you will need to take over feeding him until he's ready to be out in the cage also, and then maybe until he's eating and drinking on his own as well.

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30 Seconds to Bob
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Re: I have a runt...

Post by 30 Seconds to Bob » Sun May 04, 2014 9:10 pm

I had a java chick I would have sworn would have remained an eternal runt - but didn't. Was very slow to grow, feather, and fledge. stood very tiny compared to it's siblings for around six or seven months, then it finally caught up. Turned out the same size as it's parents, which were fairly large birds. Bob
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Re: I have a runt...

Post by Zebrafincher » Sun May 04, 2014 10:59 pm

Hello mhl30,

I've had several runts, and they have been the most wonderful pets. My current runt, Merl, is the tiniest finch I've had, but he's such a bossy boots! He tries to boss my top bird, my canary, Kevin, around, and fails dismally/eternally, at this. He can't fly, but is a real sweetie. I've never regretted getting him.

Good luck with yours

Kind Regards

Zebrafincher

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Re: I have a runt...

Post by TheWhiteFinchAviary » Sun May 04, 2014 11:31 pm

I've had runts too! I use supplements to fix my flock's fertility, so it happens a lot more often to me with 5-6 clutch sizes than it did with 2-3.

Runts are born a few days behind their siblings in my experience but it seems like 1-2 weeks apart developmentally. They're weeded out by the parents and most often I'll find them tossed. Parents can sense things that we can't and I've found that a few of them didn't survive because of deformities that couldn't be treated much less figured out by the DVM. Totally heartbreaking.

I've had runts who grew up to be perfectly fine in comparison. A few of my hand-raised finches who were runts and significantly behind their clutchmates ended up as perfectly healthy little adults.

Sorry this is happening Mary and I hope this little one does well. He is lucky to have you caring for him!
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ml830
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Re: I have a runt...

Post by ml830 » Wed May 07, 2014 11:57 am

Wow, thank you all so much for the support and words of wisdom. I'm so lucky I found this wonderful forum.

My tiny baby's little wing feathers are coming out nicely and his eyes are open and he's holding his head up looking around. He seems healthy, but his little crop doesn't look full of seeds and food like it has. I wonder if he's not getting as much food as the older ones.

I got out my dropper and then started reading some research on hand feeding, but decided to wait a bit because of what I read. I don't want to encourage the parents not to feed him, so I'll wait a bit. He doesn't seem lethargic. How will I really know if he's being fed or not? If I do feed him, can I water down some of my egg bread and feed him a paste of that from the dropper? Just a tiny bit at a time?
Mary
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Miss Black & Elton, chocolate societies
& 5 growing babies!

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Re: I have a runt...

Post by TheWhiteFinchAviary » Wed May 07, 2014 12:54 pm

You did the right thing, hand-feeding is a huge commitment! If the parents are still feeding him then you may be seeing him in between meals which may explain why his crop wasn't completely full.

If you notice his crop becomes empty or he seems dehydrated (head lolling or drooping constantly) then that would be a good time to step in, but it doesn't sound like that will happen. As long as the baby has food in his crop his parents are still feeding him. (Or someone is!)

If the parents do stop feeding him and his crop becomes empty, you could set him up in a different cage with the other 2 adults as foster parents. Societies are really good about taking care of babies who need it, even if they're not their own.

Keep us posted & good luck!!
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