1 Day old Cockatiels - 2 moving 1 not

[diannenaughton]

I'm fearing the worst. This is the first time I have ever bred cockatiels. My male and female were mating so I put a nesting box in the cage. The female layed 2 batches of eggs with nothing in them before this batch came along. When I candled them I thought I saw 3 eggs with veins. They hatched yesterday. I was surprised that they really hatched one after another. The third one however made it out of it's shell but doesn't seem to be moving and crying like the other two. I can barely get in there to see what's going on because mom and dad both are constantly in there. They one come out one at a time to eat. Do you think the little guy's a goner or should I pull it out and see if it moves? Is it normal for them to stay so still in the beginning?

Thanks

[KDK241]

How long ago did it hatch? If it was still wet and not all fluffy then it was new and could be resting. If it's been a while and you don't see it move and the it doesn't move when you touch it, then it has died. Also, you should not let your female lay more than 2 times a year, and there should be a break in between. Anything more than that is too hard on her and she is more likely to become egg bound. With my tiels I have learned that telling them I am there and then moving their news paper around on the bottom of the cage will usually make them both come out. If I can get her to come out, he will follow.

[diannenaughton]

Baby #3 hatched late last night. Probably around 10pm EST. It does seem a little wet still and it's huddled in a ball as if it just came out of the shell. I'm so happy to hear there might still be hope for it.

After the second batch of eggs I was about to take out the nest box, but I removed all the eggs and was going to just wait a day to take out the box. I went to get the box the next day and there was a new egg. I know you're right about not letting them lay too many. When I was at the vet with my dog I asked him how to get them to stop laying the eggs. He said the same thing, remove the eggs, then the box because the female could become unhealthy. She's been eating pretty well though. She loves the cuddle bone and baby spinach. Today I put in cooked frozen mixed veggies that I mashed a little bit and some cheerios.

What other foods are good for them during this time?

I hope my little guy #3 pulls out of this. I don't mind feeding it if you think it might save it. I just want to do what's best for them.

[KDK241]

If it hatched last night then it should have moved by now and the parents should have fed it. I'm sorry but it sounds like the little one didn't make it. The only way to really tell is to touch it and see. To get them to stop laying eggs, do not take the eggs away, even if they are not fertile. That will just make her replace them. Take out the nest box, limit the fresh foods to once a day and keep the cage covered for at least 12 hours a day. This will hopefully make them think it is not breeding season. If they still try and lay, then you will have to seperate them. What they are eating now sounds good but limit the amount of spinich to only a couple times a week. Spinich has something in it that will keep them from absorbing calcium. They do need some seed also but not as their main diet. Other good things are cooked brown rice, cooked pasta, eggs (hardboiled or scrambled), wheat bread. My birds with chicks get scrambled eggs with baby food and baby cereal mixed in daily but they won't eat fresh veggies at all.

[diannenaughton]

I'll be home in about an hour so I'll wash my hands well and go check it out. It'll be very sad if it didn't make it, but I guess if it didn't I need to get it out of there right?

Also, what about keeping them warm? Do I need to help them stay warm? It's a pretty big cage and it's in the corner of the room. It's one of those ones that has legs on it and stands about 6 feet high. I got it on ebay. I covered half of it with a blanket but then I was worried it would be too dark inside for them. I don't want to screw anything up. We usually lower the heat to 65 during the day, but today I left it on 72.

We have these beautiful tropical cockatiels and a huge Alaskan Malamute. I don't know how they get along, but they do. The dog loves it cold and they love it warm.

Anyway, any more advice you can offer is greatly appreciated. Thanks so much. This is a scarey but exciting journey.

[KDK241]

Yeah, if it didn't make it then take it out. I just found out that my pair abandoned their 4th egg and it's supposed to hatch any day now. It was alive in the shell yesterday but today I didn't see it moving. I put it back in though so I guess I'll see how it goes. The parents should keep them warm. The room my pair is in the temp stays at about 72-74 during the day and 68-70 at night but then I turn on a space heater when I take the chicks out to clean the box so they don't get chilled. I would cover the back, sides and top of the cage and leave the front open if it's going to be cooler in the house, but this is basically to make sure the parents don't have to work too hard to keep the chicks warm. The warmer they are the less energy they have to use for them. I hope the baby is ok and good luck on the rest! Keep asking questions if you're not sure....this is my first clutch too and it is the most nerve wracking thing in the world!

[dancelady]

To KDK241: what did you mean about taking the babies out of the box to clean it? The NESTBOX? You don't clean that, you leave the birds and the babies alone. You might cause the parents to give it up and not feed the babies. You don't do anything to the nestbox, and you should stay out of the cage except for changing water, food and the stuff at the bottom. It's a very crucial time in the babies life -- don't do anything to give the parents a chance to feel disarrayed. Just let it be.


Dancelady

[Lori~D]

That depends on the parents. I have parents that will let me do whatever is necc and its a good thing cause the mommy isnt the best houskeeper. Besides I have to take the babies out to band them in six days anyhow. But if the place where the babies are is clean then yes you should leave it alone until they fledge or you pull them for handfeeding. And If Im going to have well socialized babies and my parents arent scitzo I clean the cage as needed and I do not leave them alone any more than normal once the babies are hatched. But again - this depends on the parents.

[KDK241]

Originally Posted by dancelady

To KDK241: what did you mean about taking the babies out of the box to clean it? The NESTBOX? You don't clean that, you leave the birds and the babies alone. You might cause the parents to give it up and not feed the babies. You don't do anything to the nestbox, and you should stay out of the cage except for changing water, food and the stuff at the bottom. It's a very crucial time in the babies life -- don't do anything to give the parents a chance to feel disarrayed. Just let it be.


Dancelady

My birds will poop in the box so I have to clean it. If I didn't have to clean it I would leave it alone but if I don't clean it it starts to stink. They are fine with me cleaning it and take care of everyone just the same, I was worried about that.

[UtahTiels]

Oh what a nasty mess it would be if I did not clean the box. The parents do not poop in there but the babies make a fine mess of it. And I have to band them. Take them out just to look at them. Take pictures of them. Maul them a little. I have to get pooped on at least once by all of them. And so on and so forth. The parents get to the point that when they see me open the box they go out and eat or something and let me mess with the kids. And also if that baby is dead you need to get it out of the box. And I really hope it is not.