FINCHforum

So I had 5 shaft-tail eggs the parents didn't have any interest in, so I popped them under a pair of societies. They hatched about 3 weeks ago. Everything couldn't be better. Yesterday I checked on them and 2 died. It doesn't look like the societies are feeding them. I gave them some hardboiled egg and they quickly fed them. Today, when I got home, they didn't look very lively. They are fully feathered, but their flight feathers are about 3 days from emerging completely.
I examined one and even though their stools are firm, their vent area is soiled. I've been extremely lucky with all the chicks that have hatched at my house. All things considered. I put some Dr. Rob Marshall KD water cleanser in the water. I'm not thrilled about giving probiotics or medication unnecessarily. This happen to anyone? They are so close to fledging.

I hate that when they get that far only to lose them.

I'm so sorry to hear that atarasi! I have one Gouldian currently with Society's and it is slow to develop and slow to fledge (1 week overdue).

Another chick looks bad this morning. It was out of the nest and on the floor of the cage. It was cold. I put it back into the nest and offered more egg. Not sure if I'm onto anything, but maybe the societies are wired to only feed for for set amount of time. If these were society chicks, they would be out of the nest by now. Not feeding them might be a way to get them to fledge?

Some Societies will feed till the babies stop begging, but some will go by the Society schedule, and stop feeding when they think the babies should be on their own. Since Societies fledge and wean much earlier than many other species, this can create problems. You could try handfeeding, though once they fledge, it is hard to get them to accept food from you. You wouldn't have to feed as often as when they are little, and you wouldn't have to feed during the night at all.

Societies make great fosters, but they aren't perfect. They will usually incubate, especially if they have eggs of their own that you can switch with, but they won't always feed, or they won't feed long enough, as in this case. It is so hard to lose those babies after all this time--hope you can save the rest.

Thanks Sally, I had to leave the house for several hours, so I removed the male and added a different society. Maybe she will feed them.

2 more passed way....
Just goes to show that with their delicate lives, they are never really out of the woods until they are weaned and even then....

That is so sad to hear. You did your best for them. Good try.

Sally wrote:You could try handfeeding, though once they fledge, it is hard to get them to accept food from you.

I just realized that I didn't make myself clear with this statement. It sounds like I'm saying that once they fledge, they don't want to take from from you, which is far from the truth. I meant to say, it is very difficult to START handfeeding once they have fledged, as then they don't want to take food from you. If you start handfeeding before they fledge, they should continue to see you as 'Mom or Dad', till weaning time. Am I making myself clear, or just confusing it more?

So sorry you have lost two more--yes, they are so very delicate when they are babies. Even when the parents feed, you can lose babies. You do what you can, and hope for the best.

Aw I'm sorry to hear about your losing those 2 also atarasi. Hopefully the next clutch will be more successful.

I know exactly what you're saying Sally. Since I haven't had to handfeed all this time, the last chick is reluctant in accepting food. With a little coaxing, I've been able to feed it. From this morning to this afternoon, it's looking a lot better. I swear the flight feathers have grown at least a half inch! Maybe the last chick will make it.

Thanks all for the encouragement. Funny thing is that I'm not even a big fan of Shaft-tails, but it's still sad nonetheless.

Well hopefully the last one will make it,good job at least your getting some food in him now

Sorry to hear about your loss! I have never had good luck trying to use Societies so I just gave up. Mine must have been duds as they wouldn't even raise their own. I had 6 of them and none of them were good parents. Cute little buggers though! I just either handfeed or hope for the best with parent raising. Good luck in feeding the last one! I am handfeeding a Gould right now who is about the age of your chick. We can compare notes.

I appreciate it, but I don't really have any notes to compare!
I don't really like to intervene too much. If they died because of an illness, then I suppose that is nature's way of doing things.
I'm going to do what I can, but I won't stay home from work to feed it.
Don't mean to sound cruel or irresponsible, but I'm not too hopeful that it will survive. It looks better now, but they can turn in a few hours.
I'll let you know what happens.

I changed my mind 180 degrees today. I stayed home from work and handfed the chick several times. It's not getting better or worse. With the chick out of the nest all day to feed it, I decided to put it back overnight.
Sounded like the cock was feeding it.

On a bad note, when I opened the nestbox, the hen was about to fly out, so I barely nudged it. It dropped to the bottom of the cage (10 inches) and drop dead from a heart-attack. I'm not feelin' so great right now. 2008 has been the worst year for me.