Had to remove half the babies

[beachbird]

Two of my baby budgies were being picked on by their father today. They've been out of the nextbox for a couple of weeks, and are eating seeds, leaves, vegies, and beginning to drink water.

I watched them for most of the day, and I was hoping the father would stop chasing them about and nipping at them, but he kept it up. He hasn't drawn blood or anything, but he was stressing them. So, I've has to remove them to an indoor cage this afternoon.

They've settled down ok, and are sleeping at present, as it's now 8:30pm.
I was hoping to leave them in the parent cage for at least another two weeks.
They're around three-1/2 weeks old, and two babies are still in the box. One of these is coming out for a short while, but keeps going back in for the most part. The youngest one hasn't come out yet at all.
I thought that once they came out of the nestbox, they didn't return. Do I have this wrong, or are my babies acting differently?

I'm going to keep an eye on the ones I've removed, to make sure they're drinking water and eating well. What can I do to help settle the father? I know the parents have mated again, last Saturday. So is Dad trying to hurry the kids out, to start another clutch?

Sorry for all the Questions. These are my first budgie babies.

[AussieBirds]

There isn't a lot you can do to settle the male down he wants to breed again and is chasing the babies away from the hen, be very careful with the ones that are still in the nest box as he will probably attack them next in order to get them out of the box so his hen can breed again.

John

[beachbird]

Thanks John. I'll be watching them closely tomorrow. If he does do the same thing, and it seems that he probably will, given what you've said, should I them remove the remaining babies from the nest as well?
They're (well at least the youngest) isn't totally weaned yet. If I do have topull them, I guess I'd then have to attempt to hand-feed them? I do have raising formula for parrots, but i've never hand-raised budgies, just cockatiels. I think the youngest would be around two-1/2 weeks old.

[AussieBirds]

The thing to be careful of the attacks usually take place at night and yes i would remove the other babies and attempt to hand raise them. They are no different to raise than Cockatiels so you are in front already, get the babies out as soon as you can.

John

[beachbird]

Ok John. That's what I'll do then. Thanks a lot for your advice. I appreciate it.

[beachbird]

Just an update for today, Tuesday....I removed the other two babies early this morning. I've put them into a breeding cage, as it's smaller and easier to get to them. Their older brothers/sisters are in a regular indoor cage with fresh gravilea branches for perches, seed, water, carrot, celery, and corn. They're doing fine.

The other two seem to be doing alright. I thought of putting the 3rd one in with the elder two, as it's eating the seeds etc that I've put on the floor of the breeding cage; but I've left him/her in with the youngest to keep it company, and hoopefully to also help it learn to be independent.

I've tried to feed the two younger ones with both a curved spoon, and a syringe. I don't think the 3rd one really needs it, but the baby hasn't eaten anything (apart from a small amount I 'forced' into it, since I removed them this morning.

The spoon is one I normally use for my tiel babies when they're first handfed. It's pretty small, but my technique, so far, is lousy with these babies. I'll keep offering warm formula to the youngest two, every couple of hours.

If the 3rd one is eating well independently, do I still need to sup-feed it? It's still only around 3 weeks old.

Hopefully, they'll catch on before the baby starves. I guess, if I'm trying, then at some stage the youngest will take some formula. What do you think?

[AussieBirds]

I had the same situation not too long ago with budgies and was sure that i would loose the smallest one I just kept feeding it and even though I thought it wasn't eating I just kept force feeding it make sure the mix is not cold and I know you will probably get more on the bird than in the bird but just keep trying. The birds i were feeding eventually were released into the aviary and have just given me their first clutch of babies If as you say the third one is eating independently it wont take any formula but it wont hurt to try for a little longer, it will get to the stage where it just wont accept anything off you and thats the time to say enough.

John

[pollyparrot]

hi i find budgies much harder to rear than cockatiels if u get them from new borns they are easy but when a teeny bit older i had a heap of trouble at first as they fight the food all the time i found the only way to do it was the crop needle if you know how to use one its great that way u dont choke them trying to force food in which is very easy to do with budgies mabe someone could show u how its really easy once u know how
good luck

[beachbird]

Thanks for your replies. I've come to realise that they are acually older than I had calculated. It's a long story.
To make it brief, their ages range from 6-1/2 weeks, down to the baby being 5-1/2 weeks.
I've been watching the littlest one today, and s/he's started feeding. She's had a small amount of seed.

It's such a relief that they're all eating. The youngest is still a littlle underweight, so I'm getting some baby apple to put in the cage for it.

The elder three are doing great.Thanks so much for all the help. I'll keep you all informed on their progress.