Help on raising chicks

[Corvid333]

My dads Budgies have hatched an egg, they may hatch more (up to six in total)
I don't know anything about helping them raise chicks. It seems my dad knows less. I am so busy with school but I want these budgies to be happy and healthy. It is the hen's first time, she is two years old. I have no idea about the male. I know that they need some special food. I'm worried about them having six chicks, that's a lot to handle for first time parents.
Sooooo, I need advice, I can give them full attention next week as school is over for me. My Girl Friend can give them full attention this week, but I do not have time to research at the moment and the baby is here now.

 

[reeb]

Hello!

Firstly, I understand how you feel - the first time my budgies had chicks I was so unsure of what to do.

Firstly, your birds should be absolutely fine raising their chicks on their own, even if they are new to it. It is in their instincts to do so, just like how they would raise chicks in the wild. As long as they are able to lay in a nesting box and have plenty food, they should be fine. If they do not raise their chicks effectively, you can always hand-rear their babies - however, this is a serious commitment and takes time and effort. I doubt it will be necessary, but if you do choose to hand-rear, make sure to choose a good hand-rearing porridge for your birds, and do LOTS of research. I don't want to go into detail here, but I'm sure you can find a few threads with recommendations for hand rearing here on Parrot Forums.

I'm sure others who are more experienced than I am will have other suggestions for this, but when my birds breed and parent raise their chicks, I make sure to give them quite a bit of egg food (more than I would ordinarily give them) along with their seeds. You can buy good quality egg food from your local pet store (such as Avi Plus), or you can make your own! There are plenty of recipes online to look at. You can also simply boil an egg and crush it for them.

Other than that, you should be giving all of your birds, including the parents, plenty of fresh veggies and fruit. This website has an extensive list of safe fruits and veggies for budgies and an extensive dietary guide. Make sure to NEVER to give your birds avocado, rhubarb, seed and pits of fruit, onions, garlic, mushrooms, potatoes, beans, tomatoes, peppers or eggplant. All of these foods can be toxic to parrots. You can also find lists of other unsafe foods online.

I hope this helps in some way, and good luck!

 

[Corvid333]

Thank you very much, it's good to know I don't have to help heaps. They have egg food now. I've read they can get splayed legs with out bedding and my dads have none, I'm worried about putting the wrong thing in, is there something I can put in or should I tell my dad to buy something?

 

[LordTriggs]

shredded paper would do fine for them

lots of the stuff so momma can make a comfy nest

 

[itzjbean]

HeMake sure to NEVER to give your birds avocado, rhubarb, seed and pits of fruit, onions, garlic, mushrooms, potatoes, beans, tomatoes, peppers or eggplant. All of these foods can be toxic to parrots. You can also find lists of other unsafe foods online.

Not sure where you're getting your info from but many birds enjoy potato (I give mine sweet potato in bird bread and you can cook it), I also feed mine beans (soaked overnight and then cooked so they're soft) and peppers (I put red and green peppers in my last batch of chop) and I know some peppers are a favorite to some parrots.

 

[YUMgrinder]

HeMake sure to NEVER to give your birds avocado, rhubarb, seed and pits of fruit, onions, garlic, mushrooms, potatoes, beans, tomatoes, peppers or eggplant. All of these foods can be toxic to parrots. You can also find lists of other unsafe foods online.

Not sure where you're getting your info from but many birds enjoy potato (I give mine sweet potato in bird bread and you can cook it), I also feed mine beans (soaked overnight and then cooked so they're soft) and peppers (I put red and green peppers in my last batch of chop) and I know some peppers are a favorite to some parrots.

Peppers are great for parrots, gives them a little more taste for their less than developed taste sense raw or cooked! potatoes are good to feed them. beans are great for them too but some require cooking first.

I've introduced jalapenos to my fids the last couple weeks and more and more I catch them munching on it. They love it!

 

[reeb]

HeMake sure to NEVER to give your birds avocado, rhubarb, seed and pits of fruit, onions, garlic, mushrooms, potatoes, beans, tomatoes, peppers or eggplant. All of these foods can be toxic to parrots. You can also find lists of other unsafe foods online.

Not sure where you're getting your info from but many birds enjoy potato (I give mine sweet potato in bird bread and you can cook it), I also feed mine beans (soaked overnight and then cooked so they're soft) and peppers (I put red and green peppers in my last batch of chop) and I know some peppers are a favorite to some parrots.

Peppers are great for parrots, gives them a little more taste for their less than developed taste sense raw or cooked! potatoes are good to feed them. beans are great for them too but some require cooking first.

I've introduced jalapenos to my fids the last couple weeks and more and more I catch them munching on it. They love it!

Sorry! I meant uncooked beans and potatoes - potatoes and sweet potatoes are from different families of vegetables. Potatoes can be harmful when uncooked, whereas sweet potatoes aren't harmful at all from my knowledge. Should have mentioned that! Also, this information was given to me by my avian vet - I am sorry if it is inaccurate (the peppers for instance), I just trusted his advice! Sorry for any confusion or upset caused, I was just trying to help.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[itzjbean]

Not sure where you're getting your info from but many birds enjoy potato (I give mine sweet potato in bird bread and you can cook it), I also feed mine beans (soaked overnight and then cooked so they're soft) and peppers (I put red and green peppers in my last batch of chop) and I know some peppers are a favorite to some parrots.

Peppers are great for parrots, gives them a little more taste for their less than developed taste sense raw or cooked! potatoes are good to feed them. beans are great for them too but some require cooking first.

I've introduced jalapenos to my fids the last couple weeks and more and more I catch them munching on it. They love it!

Sorry! I meant uncooked beans and potatoes - potatoes and sweet potatoes are from different families of vegetables. Potatoes can be harmful when uncooked, whereas sweet potatoes aren't harmful at all from my knowledge. Should have mentioned that! Also, this information was given to me by my avian vet - I am sorry if it is inaccurate (the peppers for instance), I just trusted his advice! Sorry for any confusion or upset caused, I was just trying to help.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No harm done! Common mistake for non-avian vets to make. Though if this is advice from an actual Avian Vet, I would consider finding a new one that may be better versed in parrot diets.