Why do Plumhead chicks die?

[David]

After many years of trying to breed plumheads, I was extremely excited when I saw for the first time, four baby chicks in the nest log.

I have only had one or two chicks hatched previously.

Everything was going along nicely until the rings were placed on the legs at 13 days.

Day 15, I was disappointed when I found a dead chick that was extremely healthy two days before. Only to be followed by another death about four days later. I now have two chicks left (the last time I checked). Sometimes I don't want to look!

The food supply into the flight is ongoing with sweet corn given every day, with a constant supply of puha, apples and carrots. The puha we bring in, is from a very reliable source and not sprayed. The majority of the puha is from our own property. Birdseed is available by seed hopper. Fresh water is given every day as I have concrete floors draining into the waste. The waste is connected to the sewer pipes.

As I have had plumheads for about fifteen years now, I am well aware of how hard they are to breed. Every book I have read on them states that they will normally die at about two weeks old if they are going to.

I am now considering getting an incubator for next year to hand rear the chicks. I don't know where I will find the time as I have now have two pair of plumheads and a full time job. Besides, I have always been of the opinion that only the strong survive.

It would appear to me that the chicks are being squashed by the healthier and stronger ones in an effort to receive the majority of the food supply given.

Maybe this is why the males always out number the females with regards to plumheads. Perhaps it is the females that are not able to get their fare share of the food and become weaker to the point of being squashed.

Your thoughts and ideas would be appreciated and I look forward to your replies.

[hillcresttiels]

Hi David and welcome to the forum ;)I for one know nothing about Plumheads but as a breeder of Cockatiels for many years I used to have disastrous results in the nest when feeding sweet corn to breeding pairs,I find as the intensity to supply ongoing food to the chicks the corn sometimes can be taken whole and fed whole to juvenile chicks which I might add were more vulnerable at a developed age 2-3 weeks causing blockages both in the crop which turns sour and also more commonly in the gut which resulted in being fatal, so during the breeding season I replace corn with Dandelion for vitamin A! Also i would be DNA test the parents for relativeness or any hidden lethal gene or disease which can be passed on to unsuspecting chicks! just my 2 bobs worth cheers

Frank

[Smiley]

Interesting..Well corn does ferment..I dont feed all that much corn to my guys. I would say I would give about a table spoon to the size of ring necks. But I do feed twice a day when I have young..I aslo give a lot of other foods as well. Sprouts,celery,spinage,chinese vegetables,beetroot,cauli,capts,brocli,carrots, List goes on......But as David said he found babies that have been squashed..How old where they..The ones that have been squashed..To the others..

It can happen when you do have older ones in the nest..They will step on the little ones to get food..

I think we do need a bit more information here to find out what has happened..

[hillcresttiels]

I have also found Tiel chicks squashed flat and this has normaly been that a chick has been dead for a while and has been trampled on!

Frank

[David]

Thanks for your replies

The plumhead chicks were all hatched on the same day so there is no difference in size of the chicks.
The dead chicks were obviously squashed after they died. Maybe I should have stated in my first post that it would appear that the cock birds are the stronger chicks as with canaries and other birds. Incidently, I have been breeding birds for 27 years now, so I make the statement regarding the cock birds being stronger through years of experience.

It is the only reason I can come up with as it, is almost imposible to get plumhead hens. There are plenty of cock birds available at any time.

[petiel]

I also have a pair of plumheads that let their chicks die at about 14 days. I have found they stop feeding them. I have had this pair for 2 years and the man I brought them from said the chicks died in the nest at about 2 weeks of age. I brought the pair thinking they were not getting enough soft foods. and that could be the reason why they died. The 1st year I had them , I watched them grow and then start to lose weight I saved 2 chicks that year after seeing two chicks starve to death. I handreared the chicks. Last year the same thing happen she stopped feeding them at about 2 weeks, When I started to see them losing weight I took them and handreared them 1 hen and 2 cocks. I was thinking my hen could of been handreared and taken from the nest at 2 weeks of age and that is why she stops feeding the chicks at 2 weeks. Just a thought.

[David]

Thanks petiel
I am of the same opinion as you regarding the feeding. I think you have hit the nail on the head with your reply. Good response!!!!

[courtzrocks]

I have talked to a breeder about plumheads before and apparently they are very fussy with their environment and food when breeding and if they don't think it is up to scratch they wont lay and will sabotage the chicks...thats what i have been told.