I don't think my fledgling's going to make it!

[Corkysgirl]

This clutch of fledglings of three (not sure if you know the story of the father plucking the mother so he had to be removed). There's more to the story but at this point the mother is in with the chicks. This one chick is screaming to be fed. Yesterday when I put the mother back in, (father was now plucking this chick so I took HIM out and put her back in after a week or more) the chicks seemed reluctant to accept her, hid in the nest every time I checked. Today the two chicks are eating fine but the third chick isn't. I saw him in the bowl a couple times, but minimally compared to the others. He's screaming a lot today. I saw the mother feeding him but just a second and then flies off. He's getting very weak. I think he's not getting enough fluid. I just tried to hand feed him and it didn't go well. He was getting weaker in my hand and seemed like he was going into shock. I was afraid he was going to die in my hand. I gave them some NV water, some blueberry applesauce, organic baby oatmeal mixture because I think he's not eating the seed and needs something softer until he can get his strength up. I'm boiling an egg now. He won't touch the greens and is looking very weak, falling asleep...almost falling off the perch. He's not fluffed up but he's lethargic. I'm not sure what else I can do for him. I have a lamp on, trying to keep him warm. Anyone have any other ideas?

[Ginene]

The NV powder in their water and heat lamp are great ideas. Some fresh egg food and millet spray are good to spark mom feeding again. My suggestion would be to supplement him with hand feeding formula, but you said he won't eat for you. Maybe you can try hand feeding a few more times. I had to hand feed a GS fledgling and it got easier with each feeding. I'm so sorry you're going through this. I hope he makes it.

[Corkysgirl]

Thanks Ginene! (Sorry...don't know how to tag your name. For some reason...only know how to do it on face book). I've hand fed babies before, no problem. He/she was so freaked, I thought it was going to die in my hand. Got all limp like it was going into shock...besides the trying to pry his mouth which was a nightmare! I gave them a boiled egg mashed up. I saw him on it but then he's still screaming for his mother to feed him. I'm so happy you said millet spray. I have a lot of that for my parakeet and never thought to give it to them. The seeds are tiny and easy to eat. Maybe he'll get the hint. I don't know what his problem is. He's a lazy bones! He's my favorite too...of course, the underdog! At least he's a little more perked up than before. I really thought he was going to die very soon.

[Ginene]

Corkysgirl...to tag people you click on the @u link at the bottom of the post you want to tag. Yes...I am just like you...LOVE the underdog! I was DETERMINED that my only GS baby (abandoned by his parents after fledging ) was going to live and he did! He use to get so MAD at me when I would hand feed him, but he couldn't resist once I started adding some canned pumpkin to the formula. I also added infant applesauce to prevent sour crop (happens sometimes with hand fed babies). Anyway...he is actually 4 months old today and doing awesome!!! Hopefully your momma steps up and feeds your little one. Lots of yummy foods will get her into feeding mode...millet, seed, egg, veggies. Good luck!

[finchmix22]

Corkysgirl
Sometimes, using a credit card edge to pry open the beak helps to make the handfeeding easier for a fledge who is resistant. I've had to force several fledges to eat from a syringe/spoon etc. I used a credit card edge on one and the edge of a baby spoon that was metal on another fledge. That was the only way I could open their beaks. Then, after a day or two, they both were more willing to eat etc. At the same time, I gave them millet, eggfood, veggies etc. Keep us updated.

[lovezebs]

Corkysgirl
Hi.
You mentioned having to pry his beak open. Thats strange within itself. When I was feeding infants, they always had these huge mouths open that looked like they could swallow the world. Is he opening his mouth when Mom is near?
You mentioned that his siblings are already eating on their own, is he the runt?

[Sally]

Up until fledge, babies will willingly open their beaks for you to handfeed, though the first time may take a few taps on the beak or top of the head. But trying to handfeed a baby for the first time after it has fledged is a whole different ball game. They will clamp those beaks shut and fight your efforts to feed them. Keep trying all the suggestions, hopefully it will come around.

[Ginene]

lovezebs...feeding fledglings is sooo different than feeding hatchlings. Many fledges wont even take food from a person. Hopefully this little one will come around.

[MiaCarter]

Indeed, once they've fledged it's super difficult to get them to take food from a human, unless you've been hand-feeding all along. (And even then it can still be tough.)

You don't happen to have a syringe and lactated ringer's solution on-hand, do you? Even sterile saline will work in a pinch.
If so, I'd give him a subcutaneous injection of fluids. It will form a "bubble" under the skin and then the body just absorbs it (depends on how dehydrated they are -- I've seen the bubble absorbed within 2 hours; others, it takes 6-12.)

I've done it on small birds using an insulin needle (the normal IV needle you'd use on a cat or dog is the width of a grown finch's leg.) You inject on the back, on the loose skin between the shoulder blades. I think you could do it anywhere on the torso (read: anywhere but the neck/crop, head, wings and legs).

If he hasn't been eating properly, I'd give him a drop of honey to give him a boost. That can help pep them up if they're in trouble due to low blood sugars. Put a drop on side of his beak, right where the upper and lower meet and it should trigger a lick.

That's all I can think of, other than what's already been suggested.

[Nerien]

Make whatever you're trying to feed him very liquidy with water, then put a drop on the side of his beak. As some of the liquid seeps in, he should lick at it. It's slow going getting anything in them this way, but they learn to lap up what you're feeding him, then you can make it less watery. I would put a mushy, wet bunch of what I was feeding into a bottle cap, then hold it up to his face with the beak in the mush, he'd start to lap it up himself after a bit, learned to feed himself the mush, at least.

[Corkysgirl]

He's eating!!! I just went in there...after waking up, and all four birds are on top of a the massive California millet spray. The mother and other chicks are eating like crazy. The "runt" is standing on top like king of the mountain! I watched for a while and he started eating, slowly, but he's eating.
I did give him a little honey. I'm a big believer in Really Raw Honey to heal all that ails you. I'm not comfortable giving subcutaneous injections. I've had to give our turtle injection for pneumonia, but just don't want to go there for the finch. He almost died of shock from holding him. I don't have a syringe any more. Probably my sister in-law "borrowed" it with everything else she borrowed.
I didn't actually "pry" his mouth, but had to gently work it open with a straw concoction I made. It's a stiff straw, very thin to slide into the side of his beak, rounded like a spoon so it's not sharp to cut him. In it was a little NV solution at first, to try to get him to drink it. I did get a little into him that way but he started doing the gaping mouth thing, acting like he was going to die. I still managed to get apple sauce/baby oatmeal, then honey into him...a little, on the spoon, just enough to get him strong enough not to be lethargic. I then made the egg. I saw him eating it but he was still screaming a lot. I then put the millet spray in...and lay down. Squash, did you say squash?!!! I have giant squash still from our garden. Probably 30 lbs of organic Long Island Cheese pumpkin. I can boil that and give it to them. See...how I forget things I should remember. What would I do without all of you?!!! Ginene thanks for that...the pumpkin and the millet spray suggestion. You may have just saved the little guy...girl! I sure hope so! I love that little thing! Oh...sorry, I always miss someone. No@lovezebs he's not opening his mouth at all. I've feed hatchlings that will gladly open them but it's true that fledglings are more resistant. At least this little chick won't have any part of it! Yes, it is the runt and I love it because it looks just like a "junco" bird. A grey/slate colored on the top/white/cream on the bottom. A very pretty bird! Thank everyone!

[finchmix22]

So glad he/she seems to be eating and perking up. Pics when you can, please!

[delray]

Great !!!! So happy for you.

[Corkysgirl]

Nerien I tried what you said earlier today when I tried to feed him/her. Funny thing is it always worked with other fledglings to put the drop on the side of the beak (he did a quick open shut, and got just the tiniest bit this way only once), and then I kept putting his beak into the bowl, just to give him the hint that this was water and he was supposed to like it. "Try it you'll like it!!!" He clamped his little beak shut for everything he was worth. Believe me, I've fed many a chick and never encountered a munchkin like this little one. The second I pulled him away from it, he opened his beak widely as if he had been holding his breath until I pulled him (haha, why am I call it a him?) away. I tried everything. I really only managed to get a tiny bit of honey in him and some NV water, but I think it was enough to give him a little strength. Then with heat, and quiet for a while, he seemed to perk up a little. Tonight after the millet he stopped screaming to be fed. He looked content. He wasn't weak any more, just really tired. He kept closing his eyes a lot. He did that all day also, but I think he just had a rough day. Maybe he'll turn the corner tomorrow. For now, he's better than her was and a day older. There's hope now! Thanks delray Brian! I'm so happy. I was so worried about him....her.

[lovezebs]

Corkysgirl
Glad to hear that baby doing better.
Didn't know that slightly older chicks will not open mouth. My guys ( lovebirds at the time) demanded to be fed until I told them enough is enough, shame on you, you can feed yourselves and you know it you big babies.
Goodluck.