Is this normal for 3 day old finches? Help

[Missy54]

I recently inherted a young zebra finch pair-they were just staying with me for a month--well they hatched 3 babies 3 days ago. Thank you to whoever posted pictues of the yolk sac--because it looked at 1st like the parents had just crammed seed down their throats--my concern is that the parents seem to be attending the babies well, but I have yet to see them feed them. I read that if they don't, after the 3rd day the babies will die. They seem to have a lot of yolk sac left. Should I try and feed the babies tomorrow if the parent don't or just let nature take it's course? I have had chickens and ducks before, but I have no experience in the small bird area. I am putting hard boiled egg, fresh greens, soggy dry dog food, millet sprigs and finch food, water of course--anything else that I should provide? Thanks

[rainefeather19128]

I'd say let them be with the chicks.i reccently had my first clutch and was worried about the same thing.they are secretive about when they feed, i've only seen mine do this once and that was by sheer luck.as long as you see stuffed crops (the so called yolk sack)stuffed with seeds you should be fine.providing a cuttlefish bone may also help with the parents as this provides the nutrience mom loses in laying the eggs.

it was nixty who said this to me "It will probably seem like they aren't feeding - they usually only feed small amounts (small crops!) when they are days old."

hope this helps...

[Missy54]

Thank you for the help. I am going to just let them do their bird thing--So on their neck where I thought the yolk sac was, are the things that look like seed really seeds the parents have fed or just part of the orginal yolk sac? I just looks like so much is "stuffed" around their little necks.....Thanks

[DVBourassa]

The yolk sac and crop are not the same thing. The crop is the first stop in the digestive tract where you see seeds getting stuffed on the side of the neck. The yolk sac is attached to the intestine. Once the contents of the yolk sac are used up (in the first couple days) it ends up a small remnant and is no longer a functional part of the digestive system.

[Missy54]

Is it ok that their little necks look like stuffed sausages? Through their skin it looks like whole seeds in there--if so then they are feeding them - I thought that birds ate things and then regurgitated partly digested food back to the babies. They are so ugly cute, I would be upset with myself if there was somethng I should have done, but didn't know to do and they die because of it. I read seveal articles online when they laid the eggs--but nothing talked about their necks looking so full--so this must be the same as chickens do with food in their gizzards?

[DVBourassa]

Yes, they are supposed to look like that.
They do regurgitate, but what they regurgitate isn't very digested, just softened up a bit so they still look like seeds.
Chickens are very similar to finches. The crop comes first after the mouth and basically stores food before digestion. Next is the proventriculus which works like a stomach. Next is the gizzard which grinds up food. It then goes through the intestines, to the cloaca, and out the vent.

[cplaza]

V

Originally Posted by DVBourassa

Yes, they are supposed to look like that.
They do regurgitate, but what they regurgitate isn't very digested, just softened up a bit so they still look like seeds.
Chickens are very similar to finches. The crop comes first after the mouth and basically stores food before digestion. Next is the proventriculus which works like a stomach. Next is the gizzard which grinds up food. It then goes through the intestines, to the cloaca, and out the vent.

Wow. I have to say that this is a very good explanation of the digestive system! :)

[Missy54]

Thank you that was really helpful and has relieved my fears. I think the little finches are much smarter than me and I will let them alone to do their jobs. I have not had finches before and they really are fun to watch and they make a very calming beeping noise. Thank you for your help.

[DVBourassa]

You're welcome. Sounds like your zeb parents are going a great job feeding their chicks.

[rainefeather19128]

thanks for clearing that up Dv,very nice description on the digestive system :)