FINCHforum

will a society take care of a zeb baby(no mother) (just hatched) if her babies fledged today? Will she even go bk to the nest? if not, can i feed the baby and if so how?

please let me know what to do...

had a zeb (lost her) she was sitting on an egg, didnt know what to do so i put it n the society nest, she had two babaies already, figured between all of em, the egg would be ok... well today it hatched, cant see any food in its crop, wondering since here babies fledged, is it too much of a time difference> or will the mothering instintcs kick in... Please advise me on what to do...
Adrienne

This is a tough one. I think the society being what it is will probably foster this one, if she can (i will explain what i mean below). Also, how newly hatched is it? I think when they hatch, they eat the sack they were in (or inhale it or something) but it ends up giving them their food supply for about 24 hours from hatching time.

I think the only thing to be worried about at this point is if the fledged babies, that return to the nest at night, because they will... beg so much and get all the attention and food that the little guy doesnt have a chance to get any food from the mom.

Keep an eye out and be on the ready to feed if the baby doesnt seem to have a full crop by tomorrow AM. Here is a link on what to do. I have never done it and its REALLY hard to do the first week.. so dont expect the little guy to live since you are new to this and he is so young.
http://www.finchinfo.com/breeding/handfeeding.php

Wish you the best!

Thanks Chris... Just hatched today... or during the night. We have VBS in the morning each day this week, do I am gone until lunchtime, I will ck in the mornin though and go from there... If she isnt feeding the baby, should I remove from the nest and put in a small cage? Haven't read the link yet, im sure alot of my questions will be answered there, I have a 9 yr. old, she will be devestated if this baby doesn't make it... Thanks again...

headed to read the link now...
Adrienne

It is hard to keep these newly-hatched babies warm in a small cage. There are instructions in that link Chris gave for making a brooder, or in a pinch, you can put a 60w incandescent bulb under a nestbox, but you have to monitor the heat carefully--you can dehydrate them with too much heat. All you can do is try it with the Society--there is no way to predict what she may do. The biggest problem is that the Society fledglings will be very loud and demanding, and may push the little one out of the way.

If you end up handfeeding, I have found an easy make brooder is to cut the oven light on and place a damp towel on the rack for humicity. I put the chicks in a container with soft papertowels and covered with a darker dishtowel. I have a thermometer to check the temp. My oven is so tight that even with just the oven light on it gets a little warm so I put a plastic spoon in the door to keep a small crack. It stay a nice 90% and with the damp towel, perfect humidity.
Also makes a great excuse to not cook.... go out and eat