Suggestions?? Parents stopped feeding fledglings...

[eamurphy]

I've lost 2 of the 3 gouldian fledglings so far. We realized the problem when the second was getting weak and I saw the babies begging and not being fed. They are skin, feathers and bones. No meat on them. The feathers made us not see how skinny they were. I tried to save the second one who died, but the chick was too far gone and died. The last baby I've been tube feeding which is going okay, just not sure how often to do it. I'm using lafaber hand feeding formula. Occasionally I see a few pieces of millet in the crop after its full of formula, but definitely not enough to sustain the poor chick. He's very week. I'm thinking of pulling him from the cage and bring him to a different room so I don't disturb everyone in the room at night. Plus he would be warmer upstairs closer to us. We have a tri level and it's cooler in the lower level. I was thinking I might need to feed him around the clock for a few days as he's not gaining and getting weaker. I've only been feeding him a few times a day, but maybe I should be doing it every few hours? I'm no baby bird expert. The two clutches I have right now are my first two.

He hatched 9/24 and fledged on 10/20. The first died Saturday night/Sunday morning. The second one died Tuesday afternoon.

I should mention I'm an NICU nurse, and we show and breed Chihuahuas, so I'm fine tube feeding. I actually cut a puppy feeding tube and filed it down smooth so I could tube feed this little chick and the one who died. I didn't have any bird feeding tubes.

Parents weren't on eggs when they stopped feeding these babies, but they now have 3 new eggs. There is plenty of options of food for the baby in the cage. He seems to prefer the California millet right now, but he's so weak. I've been tubing him about 3 mL at a time of the formula.

Thank you so much for any advice!! I'm very worried and would like to save this little guy.

~Elizabeth

[cindy]

Hi Elizabeth, sorry you lost your one little one.

This is a guide on handfeeding, formula prep and how often to feed, brooder info, it is from the Finch Information Center

http://www.finchinfo.com/breeding/handfeeding.php hope this helps.

[lovezebs]

eamurphy

So sorry about losing your two babies. It's never easy.

Feeding him is probably the only way for him to survive at this point. Poor little guy.

Cindy, already posted the information about hand feeding, so you have that information available.

I would attempt to feed him every few hours for at least a couple of days, just to build him up a bit. I wouldn't feed at night at this stage.
Pay attention, to make sure, that his crop empties between feedings. If there is still food in the crop, then you can stretch the periods between feedings.

I would place him in a small cage with a nice warm lamp over one corner of the cage, and cover the other side with a small towel to offer shade if he wants it. Birds when they are feeling weak and sick, enjoy the light and the heat.

I would offer a shallow dish of water at the bottom of the cage, and grated hard boiled egg, along with spray millet.

Good luck, and please keep us updated.

P.S. You mentioned that your pair is on eggs again. To prevent this problem from reoccurring, I would remove the nest box from the flight, as soon as your next clutch fledge. This hopefully will prevent your pair from abandoning their fledglings to start another clutch.

[eamurphy]

Thank you so much! I did just feed him just a few minutes ago as I wanted to beef him up a bit as he's so weak. He was a bit perkier. He's got a long way to go though.

I had read that page previously, just wasn't sure how often to feed him since he's 5 weeks old and not a new hatchling. How much do you think he should need in a 24 hour period of formula?

I found it so weird that the parents didn't have any new eggs until the last 3 days. They fledged on 10/20 and seem like they haven't eaten well for a while, but I wasn't paying attention, as my other pair with babies a week older are star parents. Those babies are very well fed and they have some eggs due to hatch within a week. I assumed they were good parents since the chicks had no issues up until this week.

I sure hope taking the nest box away nest time works!

Thanks!

~Elizabeth

[Sally]

So sorry you lost the other babies, it is difficult to tell sometimes that parents aren't feeding. I've lost babies that way myself.

It is often very hard to hand feed fledglings, they don't take to the procedure as easily as when they are younger, so it is a plus that this one is taking food. I'd continue with the formula, plus offering the spray millet and egg food to tempt him to try to eat himself.

At this stage, I'm usually feeding about every four hours, but I don't feed at night. Since this little one is so thin, I think I'd start out trying every two or three hours, and then as he gains strength, you can space it out more to every four hours. At this stage, I usually feed starting at 8am, with last feeding at 8 or 9pm, or even later if I think it is needed.

Elana has given you good advice on setting up a cage for him. I would add a small open nest on the floor--I usually place several layers of unscented Kleenex in a small shallow bowl. It gives them a place to snuggle down and sleep.

[Sally]

I forgot to welcome you to the forum! There's lots of good reading at www.finchinfo.com, as you have already seen. Hand feeding is not an easy task, I applaud you for trying. Please keep us posted on how you do with it.

[Rox]

Elizabeth, I just wanted to say good for you for trying to hand feed. Not many people (myself included) are willing to take on that challenge and I truly applaud those of you that try.

Holding thumbs for your little one and I hope that the parents get it right next time around.

[debbie276]

From what I'm reading you are not sure if the parents were feeding or if the chicks just didn't thrive. There is a chance that the parents knew something was wrong and stopped caring for the fledglings to start another nest. There are illnesses that cause fledglings to waste away whether they are being fed or not.
I'd watch carefully the next clutch with this pair to be sure whether it's the parents lack of feeding or some possible illness.

Best of luck with handfeeding, please keep us posted on his progress

[Babs _Owner]

eamurphy

Its promising that the lil guy is accepting handfeeding the late in the game. I hope the little one pulls through!

[lovezebs]

eamurphy

How is your little one doing?
I hope he's eating well for you. Is he accepting feedings readily, or is he reluctant?

You mentioned, that when this clutch fledged nine days ago, it looked like they haven't been eating well for a while. You'll have to keep an eye on this next clutch, to make sure parents are feeding properly and enough. Some parents are better feeders than others.

Good luck

[eamurphy]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

Elana, they were fed well before fledgling I'm guessing, as parents were frequently in the nest box. After they came out is when they stopped getting fed. This is the parents first clutch. Parents are around 2 years old.

Sadly the little guy was just so weak and he passed away. He got loose and was flying around for a bit while I was looking for him. I think he had a heart attack from his current state and all the flying around. I'm sure he was much more at risk as his malnourished body was like that of an anorexic who have heart issues. He seems perky and was nibbling on millet before that. I feel so bad for the little guy! Wish I could bring him back.

~Elizabeth

[Sally]

So sorry you lost him, but you were probably fighting an uphill battle. He may very well have been too weak to recover.

[debbie276]

So sorry for your loss

[Derk]

eamurphy
Just read your story. I am sorry for your loss.