Are they supposed to look this bad just before they fledge?

[lstyles]

I have three gouldian chicks that are about 21-23 days old so should be ready to fledge. They often sit over on edge of nest box and they look pretty ratty. They sit there with closed eyes sometimes but I figured they are sleeping because they do perk up easily and beg for food. Below are two pictures of them but in the top photo the bird looks much worse than it does in real life (kinda looks like a vulture in top photos).



They don't look nearly as good as the zebras I have had fledge but these are my first gouldians. Also as they sit on edge of nest and on little dowel in front there is a lot of very black poop. Their parents like the charcoal I have in cage and eat it frequently. The parents poop is very normal. The other reason I am concerned is that a couple of them tried to fledge about 5-6 days ago and were obviously not ready for that. My daughter put them back in nest (I was out of town) and they stayed there. Unfortunately one got its head stuck in bottom of cage grate and despite being removed from that it didn't survive. Also prior to that episode one came out and looked like it was having seizures and died. So two of the five chicks have died. I am worried about the remaining three. The parents are still feeding them and seem very unperturbed by everything and I believe they are still eating well.
thanks,
Lori

[managermania]

Mine are doing the same exact thing right now. They look the same too.

[lstyles]

Thanks! That is very re-assuring. I tend to over-worry about things.
Lori

[debbie276]

It's really hard to see the chicks clearly in the pictures. Are their feathers matted and soiled? I don't think it's a real good sign that they just sit at the edge of the nest with their eyes closed or that the one had seizures and died. Maybe something is going on in your cage. What does the chicks poop look like? Are the nests wet with poop? Are they being fostered by societies? if the parents are eating a lot of charcoal they might be doing it to combat something in their digestive tract.

[finchmix22]

When the chicks are almost ready to fledge or do fledge, I add probiotic and/or Vitalize to water, depending on how they are doing. Maybe that would help perk them up some.

[cindy]

I would do probiotics...helps with the good flora in their gut.

[lstyles]

Okay I spent more time watching them and took a couple more photos. They are vigorously calling for parents to feed them. The inside of the nest is literally filled with dark green/blackish and white poop. There were a couple of fresh dark green/white poops in the nest and they looked quite normal. In taking the photos below I was able to see the green feathers that I couldn't see without the flash.




I think they look much worse from the front of the nest than they do when looking down on them from top of nest box. I think that is because they are still filling in some feathers up front but all the ones in back are in. They are not too soiled or matted etc etc. I am less worried now as they don't look so different from my zebras. They are clearly more hesitant than my zebras as they are physically almost out of nest but not leaving yet. I expect them to fledge any minute. By the way, because I lost that one chick to getting its head stuck (and that also happened to a zebra chick--didnt die though) I have covered the entire wire bottom of cage with newspaper so there will be better footing for them when they do decide to go out. I can't wait!!

[finchmix22]

I hope they are OK, but it is still a good idea to give Probiotic at this point to help the fledges, as sometimes they eat off floor and don't know what is good or bad stuff. I just caught one of mine eating a piece of pooh and it thought it was seed. UGH.

[lstyles]

Yes I forgot to mention I would do the probiotic addition too.
Lori

[debbie276]

Sounds like you've got a game plan.
best of luck, keep us posted.

[ac12]

Cool, are these Dylan's chicks?

[lstyles]

Yes Gary they are! Only three left at this point but still hoping they all make it.
Lori

[ac12]

Sad for the losses, but I'm still happy for his first clutch.

He's done better than any of mine, all had to have societies save their eggs/chicks. I just pulled the eggs from my YB, 10 eggs and she wasn't sitting. I don't know if the early eggs are good. We shall see in a week when I candle them.

[lstyles]

Sad news. I looked this morning and one of the chicks had died. One is looking pretty good and the other not so good. I removed them from the nest (because its just filthy) and put them on floor of cage. They are begging for food and we will see what the parents do. They feathers all along the bottom of their bodies are soiled and the vent area is dirty too but not really wet. The healthy one pooped when I put him in cage and it looks normal. I am worried about the other one. I will add probiotics but I don't think that is going to be enough at this point. Is there some antibiotic I can try (I have quite a few on hand) or maybe I should try to hand feed them a little? I am down to 2 chicks and I don't want to lose any more.
thanks for any and all help,
Lori

[lstyles]

Another thought is that I could take the one that doesn't look so good and put it in a brooder and hand feed food and antibiotics. This would maximize antibiotics and heat for chick?
Lori