small babies

[jeannia&shane]

This is our second year of breeding. Last year we had one pair this year we have two. We start to raise them at 15 days. One lot seemed normal size but the others were about half the size. we left them with mum a couple of days longer but they seemed so much smaller than the others which are a day from hatching apart, so we have brang them in. Was this the rite thing to do? why are they so small? Was mum neglectful? Is chance of survival good?

Jeannia & shane

[jeannia&shane]

well the babies are doin fine guess we did the rite thing had a problem with the runt who is 16g hasn't gained any but hast't lost so my opionion is he's doin ok too.

[jeannia&shane]

By parent rearing do you mean hand raising or both with mum and fed by us?

[Ernest_sjn]

Sir molossus refers to letting the parents do their job..

Ernest

[jeannia&shane]

Thank-you for your advice. We have been feeding babies now for a week and they are doing well so will continue. But as we will always breed, the next time this happens we will keep babies with mum longer.

[smick]

With first time parents they sometimes don't feed them well and this can be any parrot species. allways check the crops when you think they are stunted or with first time parrots this will gage if they are feeding the young well.if morning and night the crops look empty and the chicks are constantly begging for food then pulling the young for hand rearing can be necessary.sometimes if only one chick is small you can give it a top up feed late in the afternoon and then place back in the nest,this can help it catch up to its siblings.hope this helps thanks smick

[smick]

With first time parents,and you think they are stunted it's a good idea to check the crops morning and late afternoon if they are allways empty and the chicks are constantly begging then they may need pulling for handraising.if only one is small you can pull him out before dark and give a top up feed,this can help him catch up,i hope this helps,thanks smick.