Update on 1st Gouldians Bri & Audy

[Babs _Owner]

Just a quick update on Bri and Audy's 1st clutch

4 chicks have hatched over a 3 day period since Tuesday 10/27. I took a peek on break this morning while Bri was out eating millet. 2 chicks have semi filled crops and 2 pinkies are showing almost no food. All seem alive and active, but not as well fed at all as my society finches would feed. Just a drop or two of boiled egg in the crops.

Happy she is trying to be a good momma, but a little worried she isnt feeding enough. I know two hatched on Tuesday, one yesterday, and one today. She sitting tight and Audy is alternating sitting, but I cant see how often they feed.

[lnlovesorange]

Babs I wouldn't worry too much just yet about the "empty" crops the one day old & even the one born the day before, they tell youif you are hand feeding NOT to feed them in the first day (some people) because they have enough from the egg to last them the first 24h..... so if they are still empty later tonight or tomorrow, you could try switching... or hand feeding (hand feeding is REALLY tough so I don't recommend it unless you've done it or have read on it and ..... well there's just really no preparing someone for their first time handfeeding... LOL But sounds like things are going pretty well!!! Keep us posted and Pics ASAP!!!! lol congrats!

[debbie276]

This is what the crop of a newborn looks like, only the right side will show food for a few days.

Keep the hard boiled eggs coming

[Babs _Owner]

debbie276

Ohhh thats exactly how they look. Yay! Im so used to my societies filling them up til they look like they are going to burst. This is a little nerve-wrecking

[Babs _Owner]

lnlovesorange

Ive got experience handfeeding with my societies in an emergency if needed, but I would have to pull the chick out of the nest. Let s hope she keeps feeding.

Keep your fingers crossed for me!

[Babs _Owner]

lnlovesorange

I'll try and get a picture in soon. Im letting the mother indicate whether she is in the mood to have me near the cage.

[lovezebs]

Babs

More pinkies, eh?
I thought more might appear today, and maybe more tomorrow .

As was already mentioned, the first couple of days, they don't need great amounts of food. As long as parents are feeding, all is good in the world.
Eggs, spray millet and some bits of greens, and we're rolling.

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

Im hoping for another two hatch today. Same thing as with my societies, a missing egg has reappeared bringing it back to six.

Apparently the Easter bunny works off season at my house. Or I have wee Faery folk that enjoy playing games with my head.

Weird they are hatching one at a time instead of all about the same time like most of y'all.

Shes not into the swiss chard like my "boys" are, but tomorrow I'm gonna try cucumber with the boiled egg in the morning and see if that's a hit.

She comes out to scarf down millet, but keeps it for herself and has the babies crops with a little mashed egg.

[lovezebs]

Babs

No worries, she knows what's what.

I would try a bit of spinach and baby kale, as well as cuke. I find that variety, is appreciated (and I assume healthier, than always the same thing).

You'll be going through spray millet like there is no tomorrow.

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs debbie276


I have to admit, when I saw those barely filled crops I threw in 3 long sprays of millet in the cage this morning. Yep I was in millet over drive!
And I was half asleep to boot, so you figure I have no sense until about 2 hours after I wake up.

I went to work in my office and threw the post out there. And just checked on those babies before lights out just now......oh boy!!! They are fed! I got 4 fat and happy babies with one side of the crop 5 times the side of the other.

I lifted the hood a bit to see while Bri was doing her nightly millet gorging and Audy popped off the nest, stood outside and gave me that look " LOOK WOMAN THEY ARE FED NOW GET OUTTA MY FACE!! " Bri ignored me and gorged on, Audy rolled his eyes and promptly sat his behind on the nest right after I closed the lid. I I heard him mumble something about "demanding bossy women".

Seems we may have a good pair here. Not a single raspy "eh-eh" of protest through the entire thing.

Now......what is UP with the MYSTERY egg?? Its gone again, and am polite and fast so I know I counted 4 babies. Back to one egg left.

I need Bubba patrol to find out who's sneaking that egg in and out cause that sucker has been in my house since my society finch crisis.

Sorry no pictures yet. I'll try and get one in the morning!

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

I got spinach, I can do that! ^5

[lovezebs]

Babs

Mystery egg, hmmmm.....
My guess would be, that it might be a dud.
One of the parents, Is probably sensing that there is something not right with it, and is pushing it into a corner and out of the way, while the other parent is still hopeful, and keeps bringing it back.

Just a guess. We shall see today or tomorrow .

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

Well, that would explain it. Like they are entertaining themselves with a round of egg-volleyball.

Since it took her day 6 to even sit on the eggs, I figured about 4 would survive. Oddly enough she has switched from boiled egg to Miracle Meal egg food. I can plainly see the difference in the crops of the babies.

Seems like she is slowly bringing them up from easily digestible food to other items. They are clever, these little ones.

Rainbow Belch coming on.......Oh I am in heaven right now.

[lovezebs]

Babs

A good Mama bird.
She will alternate different things, whatever she thinks is good for the infants. It's funny, how different parents, choose different food for their babies. Some will stick with egg food, some with hard boiled eggs, some with more spray millet and greens. It's almost like they know their own kids and what they will like.

Hopefully tomorrow you'll be greeted by another pinkie (or two) . If more babies arrive, I would keep a close eye on the youngest. As you well know, at times the youngest and smallest fall behind in the screaming contest, and get overlooked or stomped on, because they will be considerably smaller than the others in no time.

Rainbows everywhere floating through the air .

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

The brooder is set up just in case (it stays at 95 degrees steady for over a week). Im waking up on lights-on tomorrow morning. I'll look carefully for any unattended babies. I have no doubt she will sit back tight if I have to remove one for a few minutes. You just get this feeling when you know a hen..............weird really.

I trust your senses, so indeed I may end up with 5 kiddos in the morning.

For a first time breeder, I will never separate these two. They simply adore each other. But I have to admit, the last two born are very behind the first two (and very quiet). I would have felt better if they hatched all at the same time.

Im gonna chant a mantra "the formula wont bite you" Quote: Elana

Hopefully with all the varieties of foods in the morning I will not have to lift a finger. Ill start the spinach with eggfood and millet in the dark hours.