FINCHforum

Hi everyone,

I have a pair of zebra finches and my question is in regards to age difference in chicks. My pair had 6 eggs but started full on incubating after laying the first egg. Two have hatched each morning in the last couple of days. If they all end up hatching one a day will the last chicks have less of a chance of getting fed because of the age difference? Will they have poorer odds of survival because of this?

Normally the parents know what they are doing and will make sure that each baby is fed. Occasionally, you will have one of the older babies be a little piggy, and push the others out of the way so he/she can get most of the food. Six is a pretty good-sized clutch, but the parents still should be able to feed all of them. Are you feeding egg food?

Yes I am feeding egg food. I had read that its very important for the parents and the chicks. As soon as I got them I went a bit research crazy he he he.

They are doing great as parents. I've seen them feeding the chicks, its very exciting and interesting to watch them.

Thank you for responding, I'm not so concerned now.

In my experience, sometimes if the nest is small, the tiniest chick, usually the youngest one, will get crushed by the older/bigger chicks. Just make sure they have eggfood. Some pairs throw away chicks if they run out of eggfood! Or they get thrown out accidentally out of the nest when the nesting parent is startled. So always make a headcount.

Arama

Keep an eye on the youngest (smallest) of the batch. Make sure the littlest one or two are being fed. If not, you might need to supplement feed, untill this chick or chicks catches up to siblings. Also as mentioned, there is always the chance of the littlest being squashed under older siblings and parents in the nest .

My before last clutch of Gouldian babies, had a little runt, that was quashed under the rest of the family . So that's something to keep an eye out for as well.

Good luck with your babies.

~Elana~

Thank you for all your advice everyone. 4 eggs hatched in total. One egg that had a bit of damage never formed a chick, and the last egg was tossed which ha a half developed dead chick inside.

The four chicks that did hatch are doing really well and I never had to intervene at all. I'm expecting to see some fledgelings around Thursday/ Friday.

I would have responded sooner but my human children are ill.