If there are 4 chicks in the nest box can you take 2 out for hand rearing leaving 2 in for the female to rear with out the risk of the female abandoning the 2 chicks in the box.
what i'm asking is it all or nothing.
Hand rearing chicks
Moderator: Mods
That's a good question! Every ringneck pair is different. If you want to take your chances then be prepaid for the outcome.
Some mothers will continue to care for the babies that are left; however, it’s risky. If you are going to remove two chicks, do so at night. Take a flashlight and calmly remove two of the youngest chicks. That way if the mother does decide to abandon her nest, the older babies will have a better change of surviving.
Scaring the mother at night can cause serious damage to the babies when she thrashes around in the nesting box, so again, be careful. This could also make her not want to sit on the babies for the rest of the night and they could freeze. So again, it’s a risk.
Just be prepared to remove all four babies if all goes down hill. It’s a lot of work caring for four babies. But if everything goes well, then you’ll have two wild and two handfed ringnecks! I wish you luck and please keep us updated!
Best wishes,
I.C.
Some mothers will continue to care for the babies that are left; however, it’s risky. If you are going to remove two chicks, do so at night. Take a flashlight and calmly remove two of the youngest chicks. That way if the mother does decide to abandon her nest, the older babies will have a better change of surviving.
Scaring the mother at night can cause serious damage to the babies when she thrashes around in the nesting box, so again, be careful. This could also make her not want to sit on the babies for the rest of the night and they could freeze. So again, it’s a risk.
Just be prepared to remove all four babies if all goes down hill. It’s a lot of work caring for four babies. But if everything goes well, then you’ll have two wild and two handfed ringnecks! I wish you luck and please keep us updated!
Best wishes,
I.C.
