Info needed about cold chick/egg

[karthik_s9]

Hello Everyone,

I have read few posts on the budgie forums regarding cold egg and chicks and does this happens with finch varities too. Could some one through more light on this to me,.....

1) actually what it is,
2) why and under what all conditions a chick/egg becomes cold state,
3) visually we can make out by seeing whether a egg/chik is cold,
4) any treatments to bring these cold chick/egg back to its normal state,
5) how to avoid,
6) whether is it with in our control or only with parent birds, and
7) can we take any precautionary measures to totally avoid this from happening in first place.

Thanks for your reading and time. Sorry for asking too many questions as always I do

[L in Ontario]

Other than an egg not getting incubated enough or consistently - then an egg will grow cold and then you have DIS.

Otherwise I have not heard of this.

[karthik_s9]

Thanks Liz. So what is maximum safe time limit a hen can be away from its eggs for having food...etc, so that eggs don't become cold.

Any ideas about cold chicks or you haven't heard of this before. This cold chick is much heard in Budgies and not sure whether if it is true also in finches. So only just thought to check with you all finch experts.

[L in Ontario]

For eggs it depends on the stage of their development.

For chicks in the nest the same thing - it depends on their age and stage of development. If they are featherless - they will get cold quicker than if they are fully feathered and able to keep each other warm.

Everything also depends on the environmental temperature/humidity (of the surrounding area be it inside the house or in an outdoor aviairy.

[karthik_s9]

Thanks Liz.

I am looking for some exact info, if the finches are placed in the veranda, which is partially indoor nor outdoor.

[Sally]

Thanks Liz.

I am looking for some exact info, if the finches are placed in the veranda, which is partially indoor nor outdoor.

The problem is that keeping finches is not an exact science. What works for me may not work at all for you. The best we can do is look for guidelines, and go from there with our own birds. Some things we just have to do trial-and-error, and find out what is best in our own situation.

Liz has given you some very good guidelines, but no one can tell you exactly how long the eggs or chicks can be chilled before they will die. In a cold room, they will die very quickly if not kept warm by the parents--in a warm room, they can be left longer. A single chick will chill faster than a clutch of 5, since the 5 huddle together for warmth.

If you are asking if you can breed finches on your veranda, it depends on the temperature on the veranda. Decide on a species, then look at the species info at the FIC, linked to the left. For many of the more delicate species, it tells the minimum temperature you should maintain for those birds. For breeding, usually you want warmer.

[atarasi]

Well said Sally! A lot of being able to breed finches sucessfully is just plain luck. You could put a pair of finches in a room with perfect conditions, a perfect nest box with the correct amount of nesting material, but you can't make the finches want to reproduce.

You can try to create a perfect atmosphere/setting, but that's about all you can do. Like Sally said, it's not an exact science or a recipe for making healthy chicks.

For me, if it was a science, I would be very bored. As frustrating as it can sometimes be, I enjoy the trials and tribulations of just making due with what nature has set out.

[karthik_s9]

Thanks Sally for detailed response and Atarasi.

Usually I think temperatue here in my place is in the range of 22 to 39 degrees of celsius. Is this temperature is okay for finches without any additional arrangements. I am planning for zebra and star types finches.

[Sally]

My converter says these temps are between 72F and 102F, which will be fine for Zebras and Stars. I wouldn't recommend keeping these two species together in a cage, Zebras are too pushy and should have their own cage. When the temps are in the 100F range, you want to make sure the birds have a shady place to retreat to (actually, they always need to have a place to get out of the sun).

[poohbear]

Australian finches can tolerate those temperatures provided they have shade and bathing facilities.Further advice from somebody living in a similar climate would be of help to you.
Certainly not me, the UK rarely reaches the lower of your temperatures except in high summer.

[karthik_s9]

Thanks Sally and Poohbear.

Planning to have zebra and star finches in there own cages, which are placed in the veranda. In veranda we don't get any direct sun light, is this going to be ok. For vitamin D3, which birds get from direct sunlight will supplement it through the drinking water.

[mickp]

as Paul said, bathing facilities and shade are a must during hot weather. make sure though that the bathing water is shaded. a container of water will heat up considerably if left in direct sunlight.

[karthik_s9]

Thanks Mickp.

I have seen few finches at local breeders place they really go crazy when a dish of water is placed, but at the same time few other birds never interested to go near this water dish.

Could you people tell me some tips for encouraging finches for taking bath/dip in the provided water dish.

[B CAMP]

If they want to they will,I don't think you could or should make them!

[L in Ontario]

Ditto what Bill said. If they want to bathe, they will. You can't entice them to do that (or much of anything else they don't want to do).