Scandal!! Genetic and handfeeding questions

[MisterGribs]

lovezebs I would love some little parent raised babies, for the love of-

I might try to get Weeb to foster babies, if Vilu throws them or starves them. She seems to love to stare and stare at the babies for the short time I wind up having them.

Vilu and Hiro seem to be learning, as they didn't fling ReTweet, but they also didn't feed him. If they decide to have another clutch, I might feed the babies in front of them this time so they can see that they actually need to be fed.

I can't believe ReTweet got stuck on his back like that and aspirated, I'm so mad at myself. I didn't even know it would be a problem, or I'd have taped him to the brooder, lol.

[lovezebs]

MisterGribs

How long was Re-tweet with his Mama?
Do you think they might have started feeding him had he been left in the nest, or was he on day 2 and on his last legs when you scooped him out?

At times it's so hard to know what to do, kinda being between a rock and a hard place, damned if you do, damned if you don't situation.

The bottom line is that they have to be left to it until they figure it out on their own, as heartwrenching as it can be at times.

As to why Re-tweet went on his back, I'm not sure. It almost sounds like some sort of a neurological problem. Is there room in your brooder for a little nest?. If there is, I would make a tiny home made nest and save it for emerg situations like that. In a nest, it less likely for them to flip over, and you can place some soft material around them, to keep them right side up.

Well... fingers crossed and best wishes winging their way in your direction my friend

[MisterGribs]

lovezebs When I scooped him out, I thought he was dead at first, until he started begging. He was limp and cold. I think he was two days old, or maybe three. I have no idea how long his yolk sac would have held him over, and his crop was empty.

He was in a small, tiny, plastic box like tupperware lined with toilet paper rolled into a nest shape. I think he might not have been surrounded closely enough, and there wasn't anything there for him to push against to roll himself back over, or anything on top of him the way a parent bird would be to stop him from flipping over in the first place. D; Hopefully I won't have to rescue any more babies.

I have been keeping the bird cage open again so my birds can enjoy the big window and the glorious sun beams, and I was notified by Heta that Scrambles and Vilu have taken to ''misbehaving'' in broad daylight. Hiro still protests and chases Scrambles until they are both panting, but Weeb never has. She's never been interested in mating, and only enjoys sitting in the nest, basking in the sunlight, taking warm baths and stuffing her face. She has her priorities straight if you ask me.

I brought some wild chamomile home for them today, giving it a good soak before I scald it and feed it to them tomorrow. Hopefully that will help everyone to just mellow out a bit.

[lovezebs]

MisterGribs

Misbehaving in broad daylighed, I am shocked, I'm blushing, I'm rolling on the floor howling.

Those two, they have absoluely no shame.

Poor Hiro, trying to protect his honor, being made a cuckold right infront of everyone, tee hee hee .

And Weebles, just sitting there, saying: yea, whatever, where's my supper, lol.

You always put a smile on my face Greebie

[MisterGribs]

lovezebs birds really are a special kind of pet, haha

And before I forget, weeb ate almost the entire chamomile plant to herself, leaving just the stems and blossoms. She had stuffed her crop to the maximum, and her food-boob was bigger than her head.
She went to the edge of the bath to sit in the sun beam and immediately passed out. I thought it was gonna drag her down for a while, lol.

[lovezebs]

MisterGribs

Is she ok though?
That's a lot of Chamomile for one little gal?

[MisterGribs]

lovezebs It sure was. o__o She was very happy and active the next day. Aside from really green poo, she seemed to have no adverse effects!

The wild chamomile variety, the kind without petals, isn't very potent. Its just a nice little garden vegetable. ;) And it smells amazing!

Although I have noticed in the past that too much basil can kill my birds' appetites and make them very thirsty, which is dangerous with such a small animal.

[lovezebs]

MisterGribs

Glad to hear that all is well, green poo an' all.

I buy this stuff for the kids, which contains Chamomile and they all love it. It's a mixture of Alfalfa Petals, Chamomile, Basil, Parsley, Rosemarie, and Cinnamon.

It smells great, but is expensive. I've been thinking, that I can just pick up the ingredients (some Ihave already) and make my own mix.

[MisterGribs]

lovezebs you definitely can. I buy whole plants, especially dill, from my produce section. They have a little pot of dirt and everything, and I just take cuttings from them every day till they're gone.

I replanted some mint, but it takes too long to grow considering how fast they mow through it!

[MisterGribs]

I also give them dried herbs from my spice cabinet, lol

[lovezebs]

MisterGribs

I have never tried Dill yet. Do they like it?

[MisterGribs]

lovezebs It's their absolute favorite, they will devour a 12x12 plant in one day, if they're allowed it. The favorite part seems to be the juicy stems, as they will go straight for them and suck them flat and dry, leaving the leaves.

This is why I generally chop the leaves off and mix them with the egg food, the spoiled bugs.

[lovezebs]

MisterGribs

Seeing as I happen to have some Dill in the fridge, I'll have to give it a try. Thanks for the tip.

How are the kids doing? And how are you?

[MisterGribs]

Guess who popped out another little black hatchling yesterday? In there next to the two white ones...

[lovezebs]

MisterGribs

Oh my goodness.

What in heaven's name is going on over there??? A communal love in