FINCHforum

Hello bird lovers,
After 3 unsuccessful clutches, my red factor canary, Esmee, finally had a live chick (out of 3 eggs). Esmee & her mate are in a mixed outdoor aviary with various finches. The chick left the nest yesterday, but it doesn't look developed enough to do so. It hasn't fully feathered, and the crop looks empty. I've been keeping an eye on it and haven't seen Esmee or the father feeding the chick.

For the canary experts out there, does the chick look old enough to fledge? Should I hand feed it instead of relying on the parents?

Thanks

vienneparis

This chick is being plucked. How old is he?
I would definitely remove and hand feed.

It doesn't look plucked to me, but starved. It has pinfeathers all over, but only the flight and tail feathers are fully developed, as you see in cases where the baby is not getting enough nutrition and subsequently only develops its most vital feathers. Parents don't seem to be doing a good enough job with feeding him at all.

Physically it looks like the age it would leave the nest, but it should be fully feathered by this point.

lovezebs, It hatched on 1/23/16 so it fledged a bit early. I haven't seen any plucking going on. I think it's just not developed fully. I'm going to have to hand feed since the parents aren't stepping up.

@Sheather, I have a society pair that just weaned its chicks. They are in a breeding cage by themselves. Do you think they would accept a canary chick into their cage with me hand feeding the chick?

vienneparis

Societie and Canary chicks beg differently, so I doubt that the Society will feed him. Highly doubt full that the Canary chick will accept feeding from them, even if they were willing to feed.

This chick, has been plucked, and possibly kicked out of the nest early . Are the parents starting another clutch by any chance?

I would feed him.

At this stage, he should be fully feathered. Compare chicks in following pictures, to see stages of feather growth.

lovezebs
The parents aren't starting another clutch, but they don't appear interested in the chick either. I'll definitely go the hand feeding route. Should I keep him in a small cage under heating lamp?

Also, how often should I feed him?

vienneparis

I would keep him in a cage, where he will be handy for you to have access to him. A warm light over one side of the cage, would be comforting for him.

As to feeding, you might have a bit of a fight with him to get him to accept food from you at this stage, but don't give up. A bit of hand feeding formula, and the flat end of a toothpick to start off with. You might have to tickle the side of his beak a bit to get him to open his mouth, but hopefully once he gets a taste of food, he will begin to cooperate more.

In the beginning, I would try to get a bit of food into him every two hours. As you both get into the swing of things, you can space the feedings further apart. At this age, he should be OK overnight, following a good late evening meal?

I would also leave some spray Millet , and a very shallow dish of water near by, just in case he'll make an attempt at eating at some point .

I've got to agree with Dylan, this chick is not getting the nutrition it needs to develop feathers. It is only producing the ones vital ones for survival. Doesn't look like plucking at all.
Once you can get high protein foods into him he should develop all the feathers.
All the best, handfeeding an older chick is a real challenge. I'd also offer hard boiled egg in a dish if he is interested in picking around and experimenting.
Please keep us posted

I fed the chick, named Spunky, some electrolyte this morning, followed by some baby food. It was not easy since he's a pretty good flyer. He's resting now in the hospital cage under a heat lamp. Keeping my fingers crossed for him

So glad you were able to get something into him.
All the best

vienneparis

Keep up the good work
Grab him, feed him (and pretend your stuffing the goose for next Christmas, lol ).

He's a slippery fellow, always squirming to get free
He doesn't beg for food & I had to pry his beak open to feed him. Hopefully, he'll be more willing to open up

If he's that reluctant to take food be very careful you don't aspirate him.

debbie276
That's my biggest fear when I'm hand feeding finches. They are so tiny that the likelihood of aspiration is always there.

Poor Spunky has been chirping all afternoon, probably calling out for his parents. I have his cage close to another pair of canaries so he could at least hear the singing.

I'm sad to say Spunky didn't make it through the night . He wasn't eating enough to sustain him. Perhaps his parents knew he was meant to make it and that was why they abandoned him. Fly free little one

After 4 unsuccessful clutches, I think it's time to retire Esmee from breeding.