Gary, Sally & Elana called it, Brat's update.

[Babs _Owner]

So with after one chick lost to repeated tossing, the second chick possibly an accidental death by mom evicting chick #1 after I kept putting it back in......a lazy mother Brat barely feeding the young, and me, NOT GIVING UP.

Y'all were right, something was probably wrong with the chick.

A full supplemental handfeeding quickly in the nest for the remaining 4, each morning and evening the last 7 days (they are 11 days old now), proved to be successful.

I opened up the nestbox for their evening meal after days of lazy half-feeding by mom and dad and WHOE!!
This is what I find. And , oh boy, are they now noisy!! They are not model parents, but I think we are over "the hump" so-to-speak. I am elated this evening! I get to sleep IN tomorrow ! WOOO!

[Sally]

Babs OMG, look at those packed crops! Yep, I think they've finally figured it out. It is always such a great relief when you see crops like that, hand feeding (even if just supplemental) is simply not fun!

[danaday]

Babs

They look great! I'm so glad it's working out for you!

[Babs _Owner]

Sally danaday

Sally, its even harder when you cant take them out of the nest and you have to balance on a step stool with their heads wavering this way and that way without a good look at the crops buried under the squirmy worms (especially that sleepy early morning feeding).
Im lucky I remembered how much is enough for a feed and was able to do it quickly without ticking off mom and dad.

Thanks Danaday! Its very noisy in the birdroom now (thankfully). Brats kids were quiet for a long time. I remembered lovezebs Elana
cautioning me about them being too quiet. Now they are begging strong.

Whats also a relief is if Brat & Ricco slack off on weaning, their kids will be comfortable supplemental feeds from the dropper. Their eyes are open so they know me as a food source, the taste of the formula and what the dropper means.

[lovezebs]

Babs

Glad to hear and see that the babes are doing well.

I have found in the past, that these supplemental feedings are extremely beneficial, especially when the parents are not the greatest at feeding their chicks. If they don't feed enough or on a regular basis, the chicks will grow weak and not beg as often or as loudly as they should. When that happens some parents will feed less frequently and not as much.

That's when supplemental handfeedings become invaluable.
With food in their crops, the chicks become stronger,and beg more loudly, which in turn will stimulate the parents into feeding better and more regularily.

But then you already know all that Babsi.

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

I knew that girly cause YOU taught me. You have been with me every step of the way on my bird journey. And the many others who all know who they are.
But I tell you I have never forgotten that simple line you wrote a wee bit over a year ago when I was staring at a basket of 8 near death chicks and terrified of hand feeding those tiny mouths

"The formula wont bite you".

First time this year I had to handfeed, and I still needed to roll that sentence over in my head before I mixed up that first batch and stomped over to Brat's kids nest.

[lovezebs]

Babs

Well sweetie, I'm just glad all those babies survived , and you did as well

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

*poking myself* Yep Im still here!

[Madcat]

!!!!! Nice and fat!!!!!

[lovezebs]

Babs

Get Bubba to poke you, just to make sure, lol.

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

I am sooooooo gonna leave THAT one alone!!

[lovezebs]

Babs