What should I try...should I even try?

[Diane]

My BFPF's latest clutch consisted of three young, parents feeding, everything ok.
Then noticed a few big flies hanging around the aviary and then a smell checked the nest, one baby dead. Pull the dead baby, others looked fine, and hen had been in the nest that day so they had been getting fed.

Two days later and I havnt seen the parents in the nest, they stand on the perch outside, peering in while the chicks go wild inside, begging . I saw the babies last night heads poking out the nest, thats not a normal thing for them, a little something in the crop, didnt see them this morning, had to check, didnt look like any food had been delivered. Not sure what to do....suggestions?


Edit 1... panic MIGHT be over, Ive just seen the cock go into the nest, not long enough to feed anyone but at least he went in.

But ideas and suggestions would still be appreciated, in case it all goes pear shaped

Edit 2... oh sometimes these birds just drive me insane .....looks like the hen might have washed her feathers of the young, she is now housecleaning another nest
Im thinking it might be a good idea to remove her. I had intended this to the the last clutch anyway, and it seems the cock is the one that goes in the nest with the young.
As above any suggestions etc etc

[jusdeb]

Dont have any suggestions Di , but I hope it works out good for the babies. And yes they send you crazy at times.

[finchbreeder]

Would I get howled down if I suggest watching very carefully and if you loose another (heaven forbid) pop the remaining chick/s under any more common type that has chick/s.
LML

[Diane]

Would I get howled down if I suggest watching very carefully and if you loose another (heaven forbid) pop the remaining chick/s under any more common type that has chick/s.

Well I wouldnt howl you down...might start howling myself if these birds wind me up anymore though.
I had been thinking along those lines myself....even if I tried with one chick, however at the moment I have gouldians with 5 four day old chicks and emblema with five chicks just about to fledge, these BFPF fall somewhere in the middle, at least 10 days old possibly 14 days.
Need a "tearing the hair out" smiley

[jusdeb]

> was trying to find my one of smiley head butting the wall but gave up ....keep ya chin up Di.

[Diane]

Well update required, I think.

Another dead BFPF chick the one survivor has just been in a checked and it has a FULL crop
Looks like the parents have decided this last chick is ok to continue feeding.
Hopefully thats the end of this drama.

[jusdeb]

Hopefully Di .

[GregH]

I do hope it works out - this hobby, or is a lifestyle, can be heat-breaking at times but the good times surely compensate for the losses. I don't think you're the Mr Bean of the finch-world so be comforted that both you and the parents are learning from the experience. Let's hope that this last nestlings is going to strengthen your line and the sibling losses had a purpose.

In all my ravings against fostering, too shove abandoned eggs and hatchilings under potential fosters and it seldom works out but I keep trying because I still want to mimimise suffering and banish death but the reality is that it is part of life and we have to accept it. My sugar gliders feasted on double bars last night so tonight I've given them roast chicken!

[mr.fox]

This sounds very familiar Di. My Red feaced Parrotfinches had 5 chicks about 7 days old. 3 days ago, I noticed a bad smell coming from the corner where the Redfaced nest is. Probably nothing to worry about, I thought, 5 babies would make that much mess and stink the nest up anyway. Yesterday, 1 well developed chick had been thrown out, dead, so investigated the nest only to found 4 dead and quite smelly chicks. My guess is that mum and dad ejected the last surviving chick after reaslising the nest was contaminated. I have no idea why the chicks had died, I have beeen supplying plenty of good tucker to the old birds knowing they had chicks. But, there are a multitude of reasons why chicks die or parent birds fail to rear their clutch.

[Diane]

Well the drama didnt end as I hoped it would. I lost all the babies
So its now enforced separation and respite for all the parrot finches.
Well, except for the lutino and split lutino I got from grumpz.