Weak chicks :(

[Sarim1984]

Last month one of my black cheek male flew away while female just produced 4 babies.
Female raised 3 babies, she fed them and now they can eat food by their own.

Yesterday i separate those 3 chicks from the cage as i had to introduce new male for her mom. (these chicks are old enough to live without their mom)

Bad thing is all these 3 chicks are very weak. Their feathers are also fluffy
Can anyone please tell me what food should i give them to make them stronger?
Usually the food which i give to my finches are millet, cuttle bone, egg shells.

Please tell me that what home made food should i give them. also note that here in my city its hard to get ready made food for finches which have minerals/vitamin etc etc.

[ac12]

How long has it been since they fledged?
Usually zebra chicks wean between 2-3 weeks after fledging, depending on the individual birds.
The fact that they can eat does not mean they are "weaned."
In the beginning they will eat, but not enough to keep alive and grow, they still need to be fed by the parents.
Have you seen that all the chicks can drink water on their own? That is the last thing that they learn to do, and is an indication that they are or are almost weaned.

Chopped up hard boiled eggs is good. Feed in a dish in a thin layer and remove after a couple hours if not eaten, so it does not spoil.

If the feathers are fluffy, that is not a good sign.
Put an incandescent lamp next to the cage, so the chicks can get under/next to the light to get warm.

[debbie276]

As long as you are SURE they are old enough to be weaned and eating and drinking on their own I would add hard boiled eggs to their diet, it has lots of protein and nutrients they need to grow.
If they are looking fluffed and not well you could give them extra heat.

[Sarim1984]

Thanks Debbie and ac12 for your prompt response.

Chicks are 6 weeks old. They can eat drink and fly by their own.
Ok i will give them hard boil egg and will let you know the results. Anything else should i give them to make them stronger?

Also tell me that if i put the cage in direct sunlight for 3/4 hours daily, will it be ok?

[debbie276]

Sun is great for birds but be sure they have some shade in case it gets too hot.

[dan78]

Hard boiled egg is one of the best foods for young birds such as these, greens are also a good idea to as well as heat, they are probably a bit stressed being moved from one cage to another. Seeds which can be given are plain Canary a mixture of millets (red white yellow and brown) and some rape seed all make a good seed mix.

[L in Ontario]

I agree with all the above responses. Heatlamp (even if it is warm - this will help fluffed birds!!), eggfood, minced broccoli & carrot, millet spray, seedling grasses, quality finch seed - these will all help and the chicks should thrive from here on.

[Sarim1984]

Thanks L in Ontario for such great information.
I have started giving them chopped hard boiled egg. I will give them alternate days. I will start giving them carrot and broccoli from today.

I will keep all of you updating the results on this topic

[Sally]

I would give them the hard-boiled egg every day. When they are growing and maturing, they need extra protein. I give egg to my babies every day until they have molted into their adult plumage, at a minimum. Then I will back off on the egg, as the protein also stimulates breeding in adult birds, and I don't want mine going into breeding mode too young. Fresh vegetables will also provide many of the vitamins the young birds needs.

[Jeff McKee]

Put them back with Mom. The new boyfriend can wait.

Millet sprays are also good, in addition to all the other great suggestions listed above. When the cage is big enough, I sometimes add a pair of Society Finches to the mix. Someone else to feed the little ones. You never know when the parents are going to stop feeding. If the hen has laid eggs, add another nest. If they are picked, tough luck. Let them be picked. Let them be horribly picked, if they aren't ready or you're not sure if they're ready to be on their own. Being with Mom/Dad is important.

Even still, I found a little one dead in one of my cages a week ago. The crop was empty. The transition from fledgling to adult is difficult.

[L in Ontario]

How are the chicks faring these days?

[Jeff McKee]

Sorry, I missed the date on this email when responding. Hope all went well.

[Sarim1984]

Hi all,

The chicks are very well now. they got all of their feathers. very active.....

thanks for all the support and information given by all of you great peoples.

I didnt get the broccoli here but i supply them hard boiled egg to them almost everyday.

they have molded to their adult color. thank u all once again.

[debbie276]

That's great!
best of luck