Trouble with ants and babies plz help urgent

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gumlu goulds
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Hey i have 2 x 20 day old chicks in nest 1 has died amd looks very small other looks ok but this afternoon ive notice they havet called for food and lots of ants in nest. I prob should not of but i took nest out for a min and looked in and chick looks ok but there is alot of ant in there.

What would my plan be
Take out amd hand feed or take out clean out nest and.put back im very new to this 1st clutch
Or just leave it alone

Thanks in advance
GG
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arthur
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1. Pull out the nesting material and get rid of the ants
2. Coopex dust in to box . . shape a rough nest from new grass
3. If chick has food in crop replace box to be checked in the a.m.
4.If no food in crop and you are confident at handfeed give some and repeat #3
5. Check a.m. if parents have fed you are on your way . . if not repeat #4


Getting a bit late but BOL
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gumlu goulds
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Thanks so much do you think parents will abondon chick if i take nest out not that i have any other choice

I lnow nothing about handfeeding can i use egg biscuit mix

Thanks again
GG
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gumlu goulds
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Job done crop looks full i think (little.baloons on sides of neck) used sulpur powder i use for poultry hope its ok

Thanks again be up early to check

GG
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arthur
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Egg and biscuit fine . . mixed with water to a liquid but not too 'runny' consistency

Serve warm, not hot for better acceptance, try off the end of toothpick or match . . little bit often rather than overfill . . and let crop nearly empty before topping up

20 day old should be reasonably easy once it gets the hang of it

All you can do is to put the box back, and check, parents will either go straight back or not

If it is a no, you are about to learn a bit about handfeeding

Birds are a lot tougher than they look . . but they cannot do it on their own
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gumlu goulds
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Location: gumlu qld

Thanks arthur
Is dark here now.and parents are asleep but will be up early to.watxh them.. after cleaning nest box out and putting back was hard to get nest the same just hope chick doesnt get to cold its about 23c here with a steady breeze and nest is.a fruit tin with large opening.

I have high hopes for little fellow

Thanks for reasurance

GG
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arthur
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23C no problem

You will know where you stand tomorrow
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matcho
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20 days? It's a wonder they didn't jump ship. Have had it happen in the past in similar circumstances and usually things turn out okay as long as they have low perches. Hope all goes well.

Ken.
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gumlu goulds
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Have wire on floor of cage will put in low perches early in morning. I am not positive on age just know its 16 days since chick started making loud noise. Ive read they start making this noise at 3 -4 days old ?

Chick has most feathers exept around crop area witch is bald starting to feel good about the chick and still have my hopes up. Witch my or may not be good.
Not usally sentimentel about animal what will be will be but.... its.a new baby

GG
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gumlu goulds
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Late night update chick is sitting on edge of nest box. Do they usally breath so fast and heavy.

I probs wont get any sleep tonight work going to suck tomorrow

Update early inorn with questions about hand.feeding if.needed.
So glad i found this forum yesterday.

GG
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