Weight problem in chicks

[crazybirdface]

Help! I am feeding two 4 week old crimson bellied conures ,I had to pull them at 6 days of age and they are too thin. First time breeding this species. Any advice on trying to fatten them up? I tried thickening their formula but then it soured..(Pepto every 3 hours solved it)...I am using Hagen Tropican hand feeding formula. I am worried because they seem taking a lot of time emptying their crop too. Does anybody breed this species and have any photos of what they should look like at this stage?And any formulas to recommend? Please help..Thanks!

 

[cdog]

Can you post a pic of them, and how many grams do they weigh.

 

[Pedro]

Help! I am feeding two 4 week old crimson bellied conures ,I had to pull them at 6 days of age and they are too thin. First time breeding this species. Any advice on trying to fatten them up? I tried thickening their formula but then it soured..(Pepto every 3 hours solved it)...I am using Hagen Tropican hand feeding formula. I am worried because they seem taking a lot of time emptying their crop too. Does anybody breed this species and have any photos of what they should look like at this stage?And any formulas to recommend? Please help..Thanks!

At 6 days old they should be fed every 3 hours, or 7 feeds per 24 hours.
I mix my hagens a very thin consistency. The chicks should be empty by 2 hours. The formula should be around 103 degreesF. They should also be in a brooder box with a temp of around 90 degrees as the little ones grow turn the heat down.

All you really need to do is to follow the directions. Below are 2 links that will help. Regardless what species your babies they require the same care. Your babies may also be dehydrated from the formula being thickened to soon.

HANDREARING GUIDE FOR THE BEGINNER

The Science of Handfeeding and Weaning the Baby Parrot SECTION 1   The Parrot University

 

[MikeyTN]

How interesting, didn't know Hagen made formulas. Over here in the states they're considered not a so so brand. You find their products distributed in places like walmart. Im not familiar with their formula but the last formula that caused problems like yours was Kaytee and since I switched to Zupreem I haven't had any more issues until their recent batch which it mixes clumpy. If they do that again I have to change brands.

 

[Pedro]

Mikey, since i have been using Hagens Tropican my babies have never looked back. I have even reared the Red Tails on that formula with great weight gains. Trust me i have tried a few of different ones over the years & so far have found the Hagen's to be very good.

 

[MikeyTN]

I may try some next time I put in a order for delivery. The reason Kaytee and Zupreem is more convenient to grab them at the local stores. Because of expiration dates, you can get them way before they expire and you wouldn't have to worry about using it up before it expires.

 

[crazybirdface]

Hi thank you all for replying, actually i pulled them at 6 days but now they are 4 weeks old. In Canada the Hagen and Zupreen brands are only sold in Petshops.They sell Kaytee in Walmarts...

 

[Pedro]

Sorry my mistake. How many feeds a day are you giving them. How long are they taking to empty. Keep the formula at the right temp. I feed my 4 week old chicks 3 feeds a day. I mix my formula up to the consistency of pouring custard. No thicker.

If consistency, temp & 8 hourly feeds corrects the problem OK. But if your still having probs with the crop emptying you could have a fungal or bac infection. Might have to get the Vet to do a crop wash to see whats going on.

 

[crazybirdface]

I just got a new digital scale yesterday and weighted the chicks at 32 and 23 grams... They are exactly one month old today. I have followed the links offered by PEDRO good reading thank you! If I have read right it says 10 to 12% of food for their body weight...
Also I have upped the temp in their brooder..(basic heated pad under aquarium) they are doing better their food is going down at the right time today I am hoping it will keep going well.

I am considering buying a commercial brooder, do any of you use these? I can only order them online from the US but I am willing to try one.

 

[Pedro]

Thats sounds great. Keep up the good work.

Yes living in Canada i would think a brooder would be a great idea. I live in the tropics so i only need to use my brooder for a few weeks.

I use a brinsea, the same as the link below & i find it so easy to use.

http://www.brinsea.com/pdffiles/bw leafs/prm.pdf

 

[crazybirdface]

Just wondering ....Does anybody have pictures of one month old crimson bellieds, mine have no feathers yet ...Is this normal? ... I do not know anybody who breeds this species in my area ,I have tried contacting the person who sold me this pair but no answer yet...

 

[IcyWolf]

I have a friend here in pa that breeds crimson bellies, I could put her in contact with you if you'd like. PM me if you're interested, she has been breeding for many years and has been very helpful with me

 

[crazybirdface]

Hi! Thank you ,yes I would like this very very much it seems I don't know much about these birds...
I contacted the previous owner/breeder and she wrote ' if I remember well this is the pair that kill their babies if you look in the box too much'... Nice to know this NOW!!!
She had told me they were nervous but I did not know it was this bad...I guess it explains why they destroyed two of their eggs...Yep I need to know more..Is this a species trait? or it's just this pair...hmmmmm...

 

[IcyWolf]

I messaged you the email address of a friend of mine that breeds cbc's. She should be able to give you some good advice. She also texted me two pictures of one of her babies, he is 3 weeks and 1 day old, so you can at least have some kind of growth reference.

He sure is cute!

 

[crazybirdface]

No way! Mine are a month old and the oldest is still a ball of grey down ... It has pin feathers in the wings and tail .. And Just a little on the cheeks so far. It looks a week younger than these pictures!
Would you know what kind of handfeeding formula she is using?

 

[IcyWolf]

She uses zupreem embrace, that's what I use too, I tried the kaytee stuff and it kept separating, then they had that recall, I'll never use that again after all of this.