Breeding Error - Weaning . . .

[bissobudgie7]

I'm really disappointed that this happened! This is my 2nd year breeding budgies, and only my 1st year at selling them. Here's the issue . . .

I'm breeding 3 pair of budgies. What happened is, that when the time finally arrived that all the chicks were in the weaning stages (about 4 weeks), I began advertising them for sale. I sold the first budgie when it was 5 weeks. It was a very nice looking, healthy bird. A week later, the person called me and told me it died.

Needless-to-say, I was extremely disappointed. After thinking about it, and doing a little research, I concluded that I had let the chick go too soon! (i.e. at 5 weeks). Although they were eating "some" of the time out of feeding cups, I'm certain that they were still dependant on the parents, for food. I had not yet even separated them from the parents.

Could some of you give me a little input on this issue, as far as at what point it is okay to finally separate them from the parents & siblings? I really think I made the mistake here. . . I should have researched more, before letting it go...

[LivingFiction]

I'm really impressed by your willingness to be honest about your mistake, and desire to make sure your babies will be safe in the future. This is something I can't help you with, but I've no doubt someone else will.

[bissobudgie7]

Originally Posted by Jodi

I don't know what age they normally wean, but I would wait till you see them eating on their own often, I would also maybe seperate them and observe them to make sure they are eating well.

Well, all four of them were eating on their own. They were eating out of cups, AND I placed a paper plate, with seed, pellets, & fresh veggies, on the bottom of the cage, every day. The thing is, is I am not fully certain, at that time, that they were ready to be separated from the parents.

I read a few books that I have, and they were all pretty consistent, in terms of how long until they come out of the box (4 weeks), but not every book elaborated on how long to keep them with the parents, and, after separating them from the parents, how long should they be in their own "stock" cage. Now if I were a author on this topic, I would want to be as thorough as possible. I find it rather strange that authors spend such little time on this all-iomportant subject.

For the present time, I plan on removing them from the parents at 6 weeks, and then housing them in a separate cage for AT LEAST another 2 weeks, so that I can closely monitor their eating habits, activity, etc., to be sure that they are ready to be on their own.

[birdsnthings]

Hi Jeff,
That was a little too young.
What you need to do is take a rolling pin to the seed in a plastic bag to slightly crack the seeds for the babies so they can get into it easier. Their beaks are still soft. Millet is easy for them to get into though.
Dad will start teaching them to eat once they are out of the box. For a couple of days, Mom will also continue feeding. Once you see they are eating on their own pretty good, I would pull the babies at about a week to a week and a half. Mom will then go after the babies as her role is over and she wants them to leave.
After I pull the babies and they are in their own cage, I continue to watch them closely for about another week to make sure they are eating well.
Our babies start coming out of the boxes between 6 to 7 weeks old.
Alice

[Monica]

As far as young budgies, if I were a breeder I wouldn't sell them under the age of 10 weeks to be sure that they can fully eat on their own. It's best to keep the chicks with the parents untill the parents stop feeding the chicks and the chicks are eating on their own. Then you can seperate them into a different cage and watch them for a while longer to be sure they are eating...

[bissobudgie7]

Originally Posted by birdsnthings

Hi Jeff,
That was a little too young.
What you need to do is take a rolling pin to the seed in a plastic bag to slightly crack the seeds for the babies so they can get into it easier. Their beaks are still soft. Millet is easy for them to get into though.
Dad will start teaching them to eat once they are out of the box. For a couple of days, Mom will also continue feeding. Once you see they are eating on their own pretty good, I would pull the babies at about a week to a week and a half. Mom will then go after the babies as her role is over and she wants them to leave.
After I pull the babies and they are in their own cage, I continue to watch them closely for about another week to make sure they are eating well.
Our babies start coming out of the boxes between 6 to 7 weeks old.
Alice

Yeah, I kind of thought so. So far, my babies have come out of the box between 4-5 weeks. My first clutch will be 6 weeks this weekend, and STILL, I see them go in and out of the box. So it's probably no surprise to you to see them still going in & out of the box?

[bissobudgie7]

Originally Posted by Monica

As far as young budgies, if I were a breeder I wouldn't sell them under the age of 10 weeks to be sure that they can fully eat on their own. It's best to keep the chicks with the parents untill the parents stop feeding the chicks and the chicks are eating on their own. Then you can seperate them into a different cage and watch them for a while longer to be sure they are eating...

You know, that sounds like some pretty "sound" advice, Monica. I will certainly be much more careful about this. I felt terrible because this guy was telling me how the bird didn't seem to be eating, it wasn't active. It was just sitting there looking lonely. . . Learning comes with experience, as well as book knowledge, I guess. . . Too bad that little bird had to pay the ultimate price for it, though...Thanks for your help. . .

[bissobudgie7]

Originally Posted by LivingFiction

I'm really impressed by your willingness to be honest about your mistake, and desire to make sure your babies will be safe in the future. This is something I can't help you with, but I've no doubt someone else will.

Thanks for your message. Yes, I really value what I do and have put much time into making sure all of my birds are healthy and properly cared for....I really do enjoy breeding my budgies and will likely do larger birds in the future. .

[Amanda]

When I separate my baby budgies from their parents I give the babies soft foods. They are getting this when they are with their parents and it is easier for them to eat. They get a budgie starter mix, as well as sprouts and seeds. They also get lots of fresh soft foods, such as corn, rice, etc. They will eat less of the soft foods, as they are better able to eat sprouts and seeds.

I usually separate them after about a week being out of the nesting box, but you need to keep a really close eye on them to make sure they are eating for at least another week.