One lone society finch chick, Help!

[Featheredfluffkins]

Hi everyone,

So a month ago I purchased a pair of society finches from another breeder who could no longer keep her birds. Pretty soon, they layed eggs and sadly, only one hatched. It's been 2 days, and I'm worried that if no other babies hatch, the parents won't feed the lone chick (I read somewhere that they sometimes do that).

I'm even more worried since I don't know these birds personalities or breeding habits, theyseem pretty skittish, and they just had a major change in living situations.

Now I have zero experience with hand feeding birds this tiny or young, so I would hate to needlessly endanger this chicks life. What should I do?

[Icearstorm]

Featheredfluffkins

My societies successfully raised a lone chick without problems, so it is certainly not impossible.

The baby will live off its yolk sac for the first day or two, so if they don't feed immediately, it is not a huge cause for concern. If the parents are continuing to sit, I'd leave them be for the first day, as another nest check could stress them out. On the second or third day, take a peek about half an hour after the birds wake up. The parents should have had enough time to get some food and feed the baby, so you will be looking for a small, round protrusion on one side of the crop, indicating that the parents are in fact feeding it. Begging may not become audible until day five, so don't stress if you aren't hearing it right away.

Leave some of the eggs in the nest so pressure is more evenly distributed when they brood (please no squashed babies). Make sure to supply ample eggfood, green food, and spray millet.

If they don't seem to be feeding and the baby appears skinny, it is time to hand feed. I don't know how to go about doing this, but you will at least need a brooder, handfeeding formula, and a feeding device.

Here is the thread detailing my baby society's progression: What's wrong with my society finches?

[ac12]

1st. Calm down.
Societies are "normally" good parents, so I would not worry about only 1 chick.

2nd. Try not to do anything to disturb them.
- I usually stop cage cleaning between first egg laid and fledging of the chicks.
- Some birds do NOT like nest checks, some are very tolerant of it. Societies usually are, but you never know. So either do not do nest checks, or only do them when both birds are out of the nest. Once the chick starts to beg LOUDLY, the parents are less likely to abandon it.

3rd. Keep them well supplied with seeds and chopped hard boiled eggs.
- Do not let the food dish run out. In my experience, A WIDE seed dish is better, as the birds will leave a layer of seed hulls, and they do not dig under the hulls for more seeds. The wide dish leave them more space to get at the seeds.
- The hard boiled eggs will help the chick grow. But if your birds have not eaten egg before, they may not take to it. But try anyway.

4th. I would think REALLY REALLY HARD about hand feeding. It is not a task to lightly assume. Cuz once you start, you are committed to taking care of that chick until it weans, or dies. 3 weeks to fledge + 3-4 weeks to weaning = 6-7 weeks. You are now the parent, and you have to feed it regularly and without fail, or it may/will die.

My success rate hand feeding a gouldian hatching has been poor. I have never gotten a hatchling to survive past 4 days. Once they are a week old, it is much easier to hand feed and keep them going.


gud luk

[Featheredfluffkins]

ac12

I checked last night, and the parents weren't even sitting on the nest!

Luckily, I had a lone male in there with them, as he keeps picking on my older gal Teena, and was lonely with only spice finches for company. Anyway, I looked in and although the parents were on top of the nest box, Peppermint was sitting with the chick! So we're okay for tonight at least.

I'm going to get the handfeeding supplies I have on hand (luckily I bought Kaytee extract formula even though I only had two clutches this season), I have two .5 cc syringes, and a "critter keeper cage" that is around 96° with towels and a heat pad. (I only checked once a few weeks ago, so I may not stay the same temperature). What else would I have?

[Icearstorm]

Featheredfluffkins

Is the lone male another society finch? If so, it isn't unusual for them to take turns brooding and feeding the baby, though one or two of the birds may be more interested.

96° sounds too cold; the hatchling will depend on warmth until it can produce and conserve its own body heat, which tends to take a while. Birds have a body temperature of over 100° (105°?), so the brooder will have to be warmer for the first few days. Humidity will probably need to be controlled, so a commercial bird brooder is highly recommended if you hand feed.

[ac12]

The FIC shows 92-94F for a hatchling.
http://www.finchinfo.com/breeding/handfeeding.php
But you got to monitor and have a stable temp for the chick. I found that a dimmer on a diaper warmer would adjust the temp, but the temp was not stable. The temp swung up and down a LOT.

The FIC has more info for you on hand feeding.

I use LaFeber hand feeding formula, as it mixes easier with water.
I use an infrared thermometer ($15 at Harbor Freight) to measure the temp of the formula. Keep the food cup in a water bath, as it will otherwise cool down quickly. And the chick wont digest cold food.

Not to get pushy, but you do understand the commitment you will be taking on if you start to hand feed. The societies may or may not pick up feeding the chick. If they don't you are mommy and daddy for the next 6-8 weeks.

gud luk

[Featheredfluffkins]

ac12

Luckily, the parents started feeding and caring for the baby; I'm quite busy to do feedings all day!


Anyway, now I have another problem. The baby is ten days old now, and I did a nest-check to see if she was healthy. I'm glad I did! She seems to have the beginnings of splayed leg. Instead of her legs curling up in a resting position underneath the wings, they pull up on top of them, and she is putting her weight more on her ankles then her feet. I removed the lone male, as mama and papa are now both caring for the baby, but I'm worried that they are sitting on her quite heavily and that's what's causing it. I have all the infirtle eggs in the nest with her. I haven't encountered this problem before, and I'm uncertain on how to fix it. Ideas?

Thanks!!!


*Also, I've only heard her beg for food twice, and even then, the cheeping was quite faint. She's getting well fed, but should I be worried that she isn't chirping much at ten days? She bobs her head up and down silently, and the parents give her food.

[Ricardo Ronsini]

You can have her legs tied in the right position.

Some pics that may be of use:

https://www.google.com.br/search?biw=13 ... xsk#imgrc=_

[Icearstorm]

Featheredfluffkins

How much nesting material is there? Splay leg is often caused by a shortage of substrate in the nest floor.

My lone baby was never very loud; maybe yours can sense that there isn't much competition and therefore stays quiet.

[Featheredfluffkins]

Icearstorm

@"Ricardo Ronsini"

It's definitely not from lack of nesting material... Marshmallow (the daddy) was a bit "over enthusiastic" with his nest building... Stuffed the nest box full to the brim

I think I will tie her legs under her... it doesn't look that bad compared to other cases on the internet. I may of caught it early enough to let her live a normal finchy life


Thanks so much for the help!!!


Ps. I've named her Athena, to give her a fighting spirit