What would you do????

[crimson]

my rescue canary Sugar, had a few babies about 10 days ago. one died, and one is still alive and is a 'little bit behind'

I swear she is not feeding it any more.

question is....do I pull the chick and hand feed it, or let mother nature take it's course.....?

Usually when mom goes to the nest to feed it, it just sleeps, then she sits on it.....she has been an excellent mom.

a few days ago things changed.I don't know if there is something going on with the chick(health wise).


.....what should I do, pull or not??

here is a picture, 2 weeks tomorrow....he doesn't look right....he should be larger than this....now lack of food from mom will not make him grow, and he will be more sleepy.

 

[Freespin]

I would let nature take it's course. Turns out the vets think my boy (who recently passed) was born with a problem with his immune system. I think it's the same with almost any animal (with thbodd exception of first time mums) that there is generally something wrong for them to abandon babies, especially if she is taking care of the others just fine. Survival of the fitest and all.

 

[crimson]

it's the only baby.
I've been thru this before, sometimes intervention helps and they survive, other times, not.

I just hate seeing him suffer, more starvation than anything, at least if I try and feed him, and he still dies, then I know it was something else....idk.

 

[Freespin]

Oh sorry I read that wrong. How old is she and is this her first lot?

 

[Freespin]

To me it would just seem odd that she had been doing everything fine and now all of a sudden not...

 

[crimson]

To me it would just seem odd that she had been doing everything fine and now all of a sudden not...

I totally agree, I don't know much about Sugar, I rescued her from a pet store a few months back, she was down with air sac mites, and they asked if I would take her and two others. I got her better with ivermectin, among other things to help with her overall health.

This is her first time being a mom here.
she seems to know what to do, but you are right, everything was fine up until a few days ago....

I would hate to see a young bird die, due to lack of feeding.
I've seen it before, the hens feed them fine, then about 10 days into the feedings, they either abandon the nest(for an unknown reason, or they don't feed them like they should) when I take over the feedings, some make it some don't, but at least I tried.

I cannot stand seeing a bird starve to death even if the outcome is not meant to be.....I know if I do try he's got a better chance with me filling him up than what mom has been doing the past few days....but then again, she knows more about what's going on than I do
like I always say, mother natures knows best.

 

[Freespin]

The other option is making it quick for the baby, that way it doesn't suffer. Not a fun job by any means.

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

Oh boy! This is a tough one. I think i would feel exactly what u r feeling. Unless i was advised by very knowledgeable and experienced people or texts that i should not feed him, i think i would find myself feeding him. I would discuss how i feel with our a-vet and likely go with his recommendation, because i trust him. This probably didn't help much, but i fell for u.

U said there were a few babies and one passed away. What about the third?

 

[crimson]

Oh boy! This is a tough one. I think i would feel exactly what u r feeling. Unless i was advised by very knowledgeable and experienced people or texts that i should not feed him, i think i would find myself feeding him. I would discuss how i feel with our a-vet and likely go with his recommendation, because i trust him. This probably didn't help much, but i fell for u.

U said there were a few babies and one passed away. What about the third?

she had 4 fertile eggs, two did not hatch, 1 died about 4 days later, and that leaves the last one.
I would have to feed him about every 3 hours or so, which ties me down here, and doesn't leave me much time to go out and take care of things.
I really don't want to talk about that, it's never stopped me before from trying.
right now I'm feeding 3 baby cockatiels which require more attention now that they are just starting to fly, and crashing into things

 

[crimson]

The other option is making it quick for the baby, that way it doesn't suffer. Not a fun job by any means.

I know what you mean, and NO I could not do that.

 

[crimson]

well Freespin, that pushed me to try and save him....thank you for that.

I just fed him, he was pretty sleepy but once he got a taste of the formula, he opened his mouth way way wide, and it squeezed it all in.
now he has a full crop, I also gave him some electrolytes.

so we'll wait and see what happens.

the odds are he will die, but at least I know I tried, that's always been my theory on birds....you have to try and save them.

 

[UpSideDownRightSideUp]

I think you're doing the right thing by attempting to save him. At least if he passes he will pass peacefully and comfy with a full crop and warm surroundings.
Props for what you're doing I'm sure it's time consuming and emotionally trying.
He's a cutie by the way.

 

[thekarens]

The lady we got our finches from had to hand raise a cut throat for the same reason and that bird is as tame as you'd like. Flies to her and hangs out on her shoulder.

 

[Terry57]

If it was me, I think I would have to feed the baby. I had a cat whose mother didn't take care of him, and I bottle fed him. He did have a myriad of health problems, but I would do it all again.
So happy you are feeding the little guy - he is so precious!

 

[Mayden]

Good luck sweet.

 

[crimson]

OMG!!! what a difference!!!, the second time I fed him, he opened his mouth and chowed down on a whole 1cc, ha ha ha..

gosh the first time I fed him, he struggled to wake up-- he was quite lethargic....whoop whoop! gosh I hope he makes it.

 

[Pinkbirdy]

You never know [I myself would try] . Cute little thing

 

[UpSideDownRightSideUp]

i hope he pulls through!! he looks so precious! ill be looking forward to updates on his progress

 

[Juliejet]

Oh so cute and good luck

 

[Terry57]

Beth, that is so exciting! Under your loving care he has an amazing chance of making it through Now you need to start thinking of names because you have to keep him