Hand rearing young zeb

[Niki_K]

Hi everyone,
I have a 2 week old (maybe a bit younger, but no downy fluff left on its head) zebbie that appears to have been abandoned by it's parents. Have kept an eye on it for a few days as it's been bouncing around the aviary floor trying to fly. Was popping it back in the nest when I could, but it would jump out again shortly afterward. Checked the nest this morning, and found its younger sibling dead with an empty crop, and this one unmoving on the floor (crop also empty). Picked it up and crop-fed it with a very watery egg & biscuit mix as it wouldn't open its mouth to feed, and it perked up a bit. Put it into another nest with chicks that are about 9 days old in the hopes their mum would foster it, but no luck. Checked late this afternoon, and the 'foster' mum had fed the other chicks, but not this one. Was looking very weak again, so I crop-fed it again, and decided to try hand-rearing it to see how it goes.
I have given it an electrolyte mixed with egg & biscuit and crushed green seed, but am still having to force it to feed. It's looking a bit stronger, and moving around a bit but still not opening its mouth to feed. Any suggestions as to what else I can try feeding it to make it stronger?
Cheers

[spanna]

I would grab some proper hand rearing mix as soon as you can, as it is a much more balanced diet. It isn't dear. After a day or two of force feeding it should realise that you have only good intentions and will start to beg. I'm assuming it has it's eyes open? If so it would recognise its original parents when they came for a feed, and you don't quite fit that description! Shouldn't take too long. Best of luck!

[Niki_K]

Thanks spanna. The egg&biscuit mix that I have says its suitable as a rearing food, so I thought it would be ok. I'll call around the pet shops in this area and see if they have the proper stuff though. Any particular brands that I should be asking for? Do I need a finch-specific one?

[spanna]

I've used Paswells neocare, and I know from BB213's experience that Paswells hand rearing mix is also suitable. When you get your hands on some, I would be interested to note the contents of the egg and biscuit mix compared to a proper hand rearing mix, just out of curiosity.

[Diane]

Spanna's right I am using Passwells Hand rearing food, I checked with the makers if it was suitable for finches as the pic on the front of the box is parrot youngsters.
My gouldians have done really well on it. If fact this morning when I went to give them the morning feed they seem to have weaned themselves and only wanted a little bit.

Analysis for the Passwells Hand rearing food
Min Crude Protein 24%
Min Crude Fat 9%
Max Fibre 5%
Ma Salt 1%

[Niki_K]

Unfortunately, the bub died overnight; it started having seizures around 9pm, and died shortly afterwards. At least I know what to do for next time.

[mattymeischke]

Sorry to hear that, Niki.
Well done trying, and something is always learnt for next time.

[Diane]

Thats a shame.

[vettepilot_6]

sorry to hear...but maybe parents knew chicks were defective and thats why they were abandoned?

[Niki_K]

sorry to hear...but maybe parents knew chicks were defective and thats why they were abandoned?

That's what I was wondering as well. It seems odd that they were abandoned so late though, if that is the case.