sun conure

[finchbreeder]

Congratulations on your youthful parents success.
LML

[morgan]

Hi Robyn,
Chicks are doing fine. Is it alright to remove the other egg from nesting box or will it stress her out? I know it isn't fertile as it has been there for ages..Thanks
Peter

[Robyn]

Hi Peter,

Yep suns are normally good parents. Yes i just checked when the first egg hatched & i think it would be safe to turf the last egg. Just candle it to make sure. Sometimes you can be surprised.

Robyn.

[vankarhi]

congratulations on the sunny bubs ........ how exciting.

[morgan]

Hi Robyn,
Chicks are doing fine 3 weeks old on Thursday.. Robyn, for them to be tamed ( hand reared ) do I need to take them from their mother shortly, if so, is that a permanent thing or can they be placed back in the nesting box with her on a regular basis?....What is the general procedure as I certainly want to be able to handle them down the track.
Thanks again.... Peter

[Robyn]

Peter that's great. To be honest seeing your parent birds are very tame you could leave the chicks with mum & dad in the nest box. Play & handle them everyday so the bubs get used to you. I really don't think you will need to feed them yourself. At least you can try & see what happens. But if you decide to do them yourself i will guide you through.

Robyn.

[morgan]

Thanks Robyn,
I think I would rather take that option and leave the chicks with mum, it's just that I thought that if I handled them she might reject them. If that happens I will certainly be in touch for your guidance. When should I start handling the chicks??? as mentioned they are 3 weeks old this Thursday /Saturday.

Thanks Peter

[Robyn]

Hi Peter i haven't deserted you just been super busy. Had to look after a 5 day old Red Tail Too for the day. Great fun 2 hourly feeds.

Anyway to your question. Seeing your hen is a family pet i am sure she won't mind you handling the chicks. My Suns don't mind me touching the bubs. I have actually pulled my chicks for hand rearing & they are around 4 weeks old now. You can handle the chicks now.

Robyn.

[morgan]

Hi Robyn,
A family pet is an understatment, my wife thinks that I am dead set mad. Robyn, I have even been helping my little sun with meal times and chewing up pellets and nuts for her and feeding them just as they do. Crazy I know, but who cares.. She is also eating heaps of corn and fruit.. I might start handling the chicks over the next couple of days.. Will be in touch and let you know the outcome.. Thanks Robyn

Peter

[morgan]

Hi Robyn,
Handled the chicks for the first time today, took them from the nesting box and mum didn't have a problem, not even a squawk. Sat out in the sun area of pergola for a good hour with the four of them. Put them back in their box and mum carried on as normal.... So far so good. Robyn, when do I separate them from their parents?
Thanks again Peter

[Robyn]

Hello Peter,

You will have to leave them in their Mums care until they are at least 8 or 9 weeks old. The parents should show them how to eat for themselves when the bubs fledge. So you would have to leave them with the parents until they are weaned. I am guessing your not going to keep the bubs if that's the case make sure the chicks are fully weaned & are feeding independently.

But keep your eye on them & make sure the chicks have food in their crops everyday if the parents slacken off you may have to take over. All you really need to handle them is to go to the box a few times a day & just pick them up give them a cuddle & pop them back. As they get older you can handle them more often & longer periods.

[morgan]

Hi Robyn,
Chicks doing fine, I handle them regularly and mum is ok with that. Robyn I intended keeping the chicks, is there a problem with that?? I have another large aviary to keep them in.

Peter

[Robyn]

No problem with keeping them just not a real good idea to breed with them if you end up with pairs.

[Laraine]

Thanks Robyn.