Hand rearing a Gouldian chick

[debbie276]

So sorry for your loss, we know you did your best.

[Sally]

skyjump100 So sorry you lost him, but you tried your best. Hand feeding is so very difficult, and the chance of losing babies is high. Finch babies are so tiny that it is very easy to aspirate them, and they also are susceptible to yeast infections.

[lovezebs]

skyjump100

So sorry over your little fella.....

It's always difficult to lose an infant, but I've found that it's especially hard, when you've handled and handled them. It's a bonding experience.

[skyjump100]

lovezebs

He was certainly a little fighter!! Just feel like I let him down by doing something wrong. It's like being between a rock and a hard place because I would like to get experience of hand rearing with someone who knows what they are doing but there aren't any people around with that kind of experience. Whilst I don't want to actively undertake hand rearing again I do want to be prepared if ever I need to step up and try to save a chick!!

[lovezebs]

skyjump100

You did your best my friend, and no one can do better than that.

It's hard, especially with such tiny chicks, and many of us have lost these tiny youngsters. Some people won't even attempt anymore, just letting nature take it's course, because it is so difficult and time consuming, and heart breaking when we lose them.

At least you tried, and offered him a few days of life, which he would not have had without your efforts.

[skyjump100]

lovezebs

Thanks Elana!

[ac12]

Well you did better than me.
I tried 5 times, all newly hatched and tossed 3x, so rejected by the parents.
I never got a hatchling to survive past 4 days.

To me, those first few days are the hardest, because they are so tiny. And because you have to feed so often (every 2 hours), lack of sleep and exhaustion becomes a major factor.

Past 5 days, it becomes easier cuz I can feed with a pipette. And I learned how to feed using a crop needle, for the stubborn ones. But you are still not out of the woods.

Also making a workable brooder has been a challenge. The issue is keeping the brooder at the correct temperature and stable. The open loop method of using a light dimmer was OK but definitely NOT stable, and difficult to get the temp right.