Update on 1st Gouldians Bri & Audy

[lovezebs]

Babs

I would not pull the babies Babs.

It's important for them to be with the parents. I would feed if parents are not feeding, or not feeding enough, but I would leave them in the nest.

If by some chance (and I hope not) Dad tries to toss them, then you might try pulling Dad.
If by some chance (and I hope not) Mom stops feeding, and both parents attempt to bury the chicks, and start a new clutch, I would pull both parents, and try a couple of your Societies in the flight. They might take over parenting duties (maybe).
If all else fails, then I would pull the chicks (as a last resort).

For now though, I would keep a close watch on the situation. I would offer feedings, if infants are not being fed (or not being fed enough). As babies get bigger and stronger, they will let themselves be heared loudly, and hopefully Mom (and hopefully Dad too) will pick up the pace on feeding.

Let me know how things are going.

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

Yep the ultimate goal is to have them raise these guys. Checked just this morning late 10:15am (plenty of time to give the parents a chance to get the kids their morning meal).

Looks like they are feeding nothing but some boiled egg and miracle meal. Their growth is not what I would expect for one of them now being 5 days old.

Thankfully they are all about the same size now (probably due to the oldest being underfed, but that could be a blessing so they all come up the same size). Very little in the crops and still only getting one side of the crop filled.

Im checking Debbie's growth chart, and they look exactly at the 3-day mark (which isnt too bad since the smallest is 3 days old ). Heads are darkening a bit, wings stubs are still pink. I'll feel better when that dark color starts to spread to their wings.

But they are getting louder, and I gave them a supplement feed. I think we may be able to pull this off with me just helping a few times a day until they get more demanding.

Trust me Elana, putting them in the brooder is the last thing I want to do. ;) That brings up all kinds of problems although my brooder has been sitting on standby at a steady 95 degrees for a week, you never know if its going to malfunction.

Best momma keeps sitting. Shes more reliable than a brooder for sure ;)

[lovezebs]

Babs

Mom and Dad, just haven't figured out how much food these little ones need, but at least Mom is trying. Sometimes (as you know), it's trial and error, but it seems cruel to allow the chicks to starve (just as a learning experience for the parents), when they're trying so hard to survive.

Are the babies a little more lively with the extra food going in? I bet they're pretty excited to see your face appear over the horizon. lol.

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

Yeah, its nice to not be the scary giant. ahahaha. When I tap their mouth with the dropper, those wobble-heads start all kinds of noise! And yes they are more lively today, much more.

Bri keeps chomping millet and pays me no mind. With the amount of millet that gal is eating (and not a single one in the crops), she gonna be one FAT bird if she doesnt start giving some of it up to the kids.

Im gonna have the fattest gouldian on the forum

Audy has calmed back down and isnt trying to sing, probably because Bri isnt having that nonsense.

She really is quite serious about sitting, just wish she would unleash a little more of that magic vomit!

Cant say I dont absolutely LOVE this part of the process. And I dont mind being included with their permission.

[lovezebs]

Babs

Maybe cut back on the millet a bit, if she's overdoing it. If she gets too fat, that's not healthy for her. She should be eating other things as well. She's becoming a millet addict, and too greedy to share with her babies.

Glad to hear, that babus are getting a bit more energetic with th e extra food going in. You should be starting to see some fairly rapid growth happening in the next few days.

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

I spent the last hour or so on the couch quietly watching (not so much time to do that during the week). Her last munching session was straight into the boiled egg and back into the nest....babies seem to be very noisy upon her arrival. That is a good sign

Ive been keeping two large sprigs of millet in there daily. So I'll cut it back to one.

She gets egg twice a day, so I can refresh the batch from morning. Im going to introduce a bit of swiss chard this time. She's never touched it before, but she might be more receptive now.

I am definitely looking forward to hearing louder chirps from that nest! I'll do a crop check in the early evening and see if it looks like she's stepping it up. If not I will give the kids a bottle right before lights out. Amazing how much louder they are just hours after I gave them a good feeding.....and the chirps do seem to be putting the pressure on Bri. This is groovey!

[Madcat]

Good luck! !! The chick looks great. Very proud of you!!!!

[debbie276]

Good work! They will get louder everyday which also kicks in the parents to feed more.
Best of luck

[lovezebs]

Babs

You're just sitting there , and loving every minute of watching your birdlings, aren't you?

I know the feeling, I love doing the same.

Great news, that Bri, is getting into the eggs, and running into the nest. That's what I was really hoping to hear. Usually once those infants get enough strength to really start squawking, it gets the parents into feeding mode (sort of like lactating, when you hear your baby crying )

I wish Audy, would get his lazy feathered a-- in gear, and start helping Mom. I'm surprised that she isn't giving him hell about his er.... negligence in this department (maybe because she doesn't know any better). He needs a 'nubie baby feeding course' with Cackle boy, to get the gist of how it's supposed to be done , lol.

Keeping my eyes crossed for you all, over here.

[Babs _Owner]

Madcat debbie276 lovezebs

Awww you guys are great! Thanks!! Last night and this morning I put a bottle in them.

However...........

Tonight I watched her gorge and as I warmed up formula to go and give them a spot feed, she was early into the nest.

So I peeked into the little hole in the back of the nestbox (without opening it). There was my girl Bri steady feeding those wobble-heads for about 5-7 good minutes before lights out.

So I skipped the night feeding because it looks like momma is taking the wheel.

And yes Elana, Audy is a gentle bird, but he is lazy, lazy lazy! Hmmph

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

Ya know, come to think of it....remember when KoJax and CackleJax were feeding and once in a while they would get tired and slack off and I would have to do a spot feed?

Well, CackleJax would silently get jealous and would immediately start to feed them right AFTER I did. He got so jealous, that all I would have to do was stir the little formula bowl around the cage and he would suddenly start to feed.

Ha! She started feeding them just as I was mixing the formula on the coffee table. LOL Clever girl!

[lovezebs]

Babs

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

I think this is bird-talk for "Stop messin' with my babies!

Hey she calls the shots, eh? Ill just be like

[lovezebs]

Babs

Well, all the good to her, AS LONG AS SHE KEEPS FEEDING THEM ENOUGH FOOD !

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

Yep, Im gonna keep checking those crops! Bubba's camped out on the couch in camouflage with infrared huntin' binoculars.

I didnt even know he was THERE til I went into kitchen and saw the mud tracks into the livingroom from his steel-toed Mack boots.

Oh lawdy. He falls asleep on me and snores like a bear in hibernation, the societies are gonna come outta that clown-car like a flock of pigeons and scare the crap outta the whole house