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Post by AcaciaWattle on Oct 12, 2005 11:41:31 GMT 10
Can you clean a box with babies in? Do you do this away from M+D and do you do anything special like gloves etc? I can't remember  it's been that long |
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Post by jeremy on Oct 12, 2005 13:15:52 GMT 10
You shouldn't attempt to clean a nest box with babies in it. The parents will most likely abandon the nest and leave the babies to starve. Wait until the babies are fledged before you clean the box
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Post by AcaciaWattle on Oct 12, 2005 14:18:20 GMT 10
I thought that would be the case. I'm reading lots of books and they all say different things! Must stop reading books!
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Post by Laraine on Oct 12, 2005 15:47:21 GMT 10
I have cleaned my cockatiels breeding boxes when the babies were about 3 weeks old. I just put the box on the floor so M + D could keep an eye on things, took the babies out and put them onto a towel to keep them warm. I then took all the yukky stuff out, replaced the nesting mix, put the babies back and then put the box on the shelf. Mum went straight back in, no problems. You need to make the operation quite fast and make sure you put the box back exactly where it was.
I'll probably have to do it again soon as the boxes with my new babies are getting quite smelly.
I also had a problem with another bird a couple of weeks ago when we had some rain !! (a rarity). Water got in and the nesting mix got really wet, so I took the eggs out and mum flew out and replaced the whole box with an identical one with new dry nesting mix, she flew straight back in.
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Smiley
Bronze Member
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Post by Smiley on Oct 12, 2005 15:52:24 GMT 10
I also will clean out a box if needed..I have never had a problem with any of my guys, whiles doing it..
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Post by lovemytiels on Oct 12, 2005 15:54:53 GMT 10
Hi Amanda, I think it all depends on your interaction with your birds & whether you do regular nest box inspections & also depends what kinds of birds you are talking about. I do the budgies & tiels boxes when they have babies & have never had them abandon babies. Best time to do it is when mum dad are feeding. I do it as quickly as I can, putting the bubs in a plastic container & covering them with a towel. Take out the dirty nesting material or build up of poops & give it a quick wipe if you have to with diluted apple cider vinegar & then put in fresh nesting material. As long as you have washed you hands thoroughly, it is better than wearing gloves as it can leave a distinct odor. This shouldn't take too long to do & shouldn't disturb the parent birds too much. If they are new breeders then It will be up to you to make the decision whether to leave it or change it. I find the warmer it gets then the more chances of getting flies laying their eggs & getting maggots in the nest box & well as mites & lice & that is yucky. Hope this helps. Cheers Anna
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Post by Laraine on Oct 12, 2005 15:57:10 GMT 10
They must get really smelly in Qld with the hot weather, I looked in at my oldest babies this morning, after 30 deg. yesterday. Yuk nearly knocked me out.
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Smiley
Bronze Member
Posts: 194
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Post by Smiley on Oct 12, 2005 16:01:16 GMT 10
I find that I am cleaning more in cooler weather. No heat to dry things up..Its also depends on what you are feeding them..Heaps of greens will make wet dropping in babys..
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Post by hillcresttiels on Oct 12, 2005 16:40:55 GMT 10
I clean my boxes reguarly and never had parents abandoning (cockatiel) chicks at various ages! Leave them dirty and you run the risk of Red Mite infestation especially up North where the humidity is higher! ;D
Frank
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Post by budgieboi on Oct 12, 2005 17:50:23 GMT 10
Well i have two nest boxes i use one at a time.when it comes to cleaning i just change the box while i clean the other one next time the box needs changing i just switch it back.
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Post by AcaciaWattle on Oct 12, 2005 21:21:59 GMT 10
Yeah..... well I didn't see mites but oh boy did it stink! It's the red rump babies. They are pretty interactive parents and they get hand fed grass. The box smelt like fermenting corn! Haven't fed them corn in months. Babies made a lot of noise when I poped my head in on them today. I didn't have problems witht he baby budgies in a poopy box but I was wondering about the funky smell. I'll purchase another box and try it that way, even if it means me going in to take measurements of the holes to hang it up! I'll check on the smell tomorrow afternoon and see if a quick clean will work..... then I can check out the babies  |
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Post by hillcresttiels on Oct 13, 2005 19:53:04 GMT 10
Amanda i wouldn't recommend changing the box until the chicks have fledged just clean the one there in as Anna has described.  Frank |
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it's been that long
