|
|
Post by sypher on Jul 17, 2009 18:34:02 GMT 10
hi all,
I have my eccies sitting on a clutch of three eggs at the moment due next week. my question is, if they all hatch, at what stage do I remove them for handrearing? Does the youngest stand a chance if I dont remove it straight away?
shaun
|
|
|
|
Post by vankarhi on Jul 17, 2009 20:04:00 GMT 10
Skye has sat on 3 eggs 3 or 4 times now and only once did more than one hatch. This time around she got a fright half way through and none of them hatched (there were 3 again).
With the clutch that had 2 bubs hatch I should have removed the bigger one a few days earlier but I was trying to leave them for as long a possible........but when I realised the little one should be removed and was going to do it on Saturday (was Thurs afternoon when I realised the bigger one was growing too quick for the little one)......I checked on Friday afternoon (thinking I would remove the bigger one the next day) but the little one had died......he was too little and I think he just got squashed. But he also did hatch 1 week after the first one. Next time if it happens that way again, I will remove the older one sooner.
I would remove the older one and try to leave the younger one/s in with the parents for as long as possible......but that is just my opinion.
|
|
|
|
Post by Robyn on Jul 19, 2009 12:56:37 GMT 10
3 eggs in a clutch is more common than you think. I have had a few myself. If the parents are give ample food they seem to cope ok. Unless any of the bubs are struggling i would leave it up to the parents. Just monitor the nest.
A point i would like to make is until the chicks reach the 2 week old mark they don't grow that quick. Heading into 3 week they start to power on. I like to leave my chicks with the parents until they are 4 weeks old, a lot less work for me. But will pull if they are struggling. You can normally tell by the color of their skin. Nice plump pink little chicks are healthy. Little red wrinkly chicks are in trouble.
Robyn.
|
|
|
|
Post by Robyn on Jul 31, 2009 16:49:58 GMT 10
Hi Shaun,
Just wondering how you went with the 3 eggs, did any of them hatch for you.
Gypsy hatched out a chick, 2 nd egg is pipping should hatch over night.
Robyn.
|
|
|
|
Post by sypher on Jul 31, 2009 17:03:09 GMT 10
Hi Robyn,
Only one chick has hatched out so far. I dont think the other two eggs will hatch. It would have been great to have 3 chicks, but am very happy with the one. Not sure what went wrong as they mated steady for such a long time before laying. How are yours going now? Have you got two?
Shaun
|
|
|
|
Post by Robyn on Jul 31, 2009 17:21:34 GMT 10
Don't give up on the other 2 eggs just yet. How old is the chick that already hatched????I bought in another male last week. Gypsy has 1 chick & 1 pipping as we speak. So at the moment i am lucky to have 3 unrelated pairs.
Robyn.
|
|
|
|
Post by vankarhi on Jul 31, 2009 19:57:43 GMT 10
Skye hatched 2 last year ....... 1 week apart......so don't give up just yet.
|
|
|
|
Post by vankarhi on Jul 31, 2009 19:58:41 GMT 10
Oh and remember me saying that Shrekie hatched out 4 chicks last year ....... at least one week after their due date?  |
|
|
|
Post by robert on Aug 1, 2009 15:32:31 GMT 10
Are you still waiting to see if the other two eggs hatch,Shaun.
from Robert and Precious
|
|
|
|
Post by sypher on Aug 1, 2009 17:50:37 GMT 10
The eggs are still in the box, so we will see what happens. Im 90% sure they are infertile. Its hard to see with an angry hen eclectus diving in the box so I leave them alone as much as I can.
Shaun
|
|
|
|
Post by vankarhi on Aug 2, 2009 7:16:02 GMT 10
I do get to see Skye's eggs when she comes out to stretch and preen. I have access from the alex's side of the aviary........She is on 2 eggs as of yesterday and Shrekie has 3 so far. Fingers crossed there are some babies this time.
|
|
|
|
Post by sypher on Aug 2, 2009 10:57:25 GMT 10
Fingers crossed for you Tracey. My box is in the walkway and can be checked easily, but the hen is very protective and only comes out in the afternoon. I never look when she is in the box.
Shaun
|
|
|
|
Post by vankarhi on Aug 2, 2009 15:24:07 GMT 10
No I NEVER look when she is in the box either, but she usually comes out when I go in to clean out their food. I don't stay in long enough to clean out their aviary because she does't like me sometimes now......but my husband cleans it out for me every week. I can however clean out the alex's.....with 3 alex's jumping on me for attention. lol
But it seems when Skye is out of the nest box she stays out for a few mins and Gunny then "guards" the entrance.....but I can quickly check things even if he is "guarding" the nest box as he usually just says "what are ya doing" lol and watches me intently....once he makes a move to come into the nest box I leave and shut the back door.
|
|
|
|
Post by sypher on Aug 5, 2009 17:45:22 GMT 10
One other egg was fertile, but unfortunatley the baby died coming out of the egg. This is the second time I have lost one at this stage. I dont give calcium supplements often, so not sure why. I have read about it somewhere, so will have to find it. hopefully Mike or somebody will know something as being the second time, it is a problem. The third egg infertile.
Shaun
|
|
|
|
Post by vankarhi on Aug 5, 2009 17:56:52 GMT 10
Oh that is a shame Shaun. I don't know why this happens. I do give mine calcium supps usually before egg laying but this time I am giving some on their fresh stuff as I know they eat this. I don't do it every day. But I also try to make sure they get plenty of green leafy stuff and a bit of boiled egg in the shell and some almonds too.....also not daily either.
Skye is on 3 eggs now.... and we will see how many if any hatch this time.
Shrekie is on 4 eggs now.
|
|
|
|
Post by sypher on Aug 5, 2009 20:02:09 GMT 10
Look forward to hearing the news of some new chicks soon Tracey. Hopefully they all hatch for you. it could be a humidity thing with the eggs also. I havent had the sprinklers on through this cold weather. It is just sad to see a dead chick when it had all its life ahead
Shaun
|
|
|
|
Post by vankarhi on Aug 6, 2009 7:01:02 GMT 10
yes I have been trying to make sure I shower the birds more often for the humidity reason. Yesterday was show day holiday here (and we don't go to the local show here.....we go to a smaller country one which we enjoy more) so I had a wonderful day at home cleaning, baking for us and cleaning out aviaries and showering birds and cooking their bean mix. ;D sad isn't it that such simple things can bring much pleasure. lol
|
|
