Peachface Information

[Mirrabook]

Hi I am fairly new in here I dont have many birds only 2 pigeons and 2 peachfaces. I really dont know much about birds apart from very basic knowledge.
I have never really had many problems with the birds I have owned over the years (mainly bugdies).
I would like to ask some questions on the peachfaces that I have
Firstly a quick background on them. In January this year a peachface just flew in very friendly - obviously well handled - caged him - did try to locate owners adds in papers and a few notices on local radio but no one came forward.
we did not know what sex it was but ended up taking to a local pet market where we were told he was a boy and quite a nicely marked too, could not give us any indication on how old he was - we were told he was starting to moult and to add some molasses into his water - we did end up getting a female off this person - they paired up very well - the female (named Peachetta) the male (Peachy) both seemed really in fine health.
a few months ago Peachy seemed to loose his feathers around his neck - although going back to markets person that seemed knowledgealbe about these birds has not been back. Peachetta seems in fine feathers and glowing. Peachy looks very scraggy, feather wise but seems well in himself.
a young friend of my daughters who has some experience in birds told us that males will pull their neck feathers out when starting to mate.
Ok we now have 4 eggs
I have no idea how long eggs take to hatch can anyone tell me or at least give me an approx.
What can I do to get Peachy's feathers looking good again?
they both get fruit and veggies along with seeds - is there anything I need to supplement? The seeds I use say that they have calcium, vitamens and stuff in them already do I need to get anything extra?
Do I need to put any special mixture in when babies hatch?
Will all the eggs hatch ?
I have tried worming them both thinking that this was the cause of the feather lose but did not work.

I am not sure what other questions at the moment but I do want these birds to remain in good health and hopefully raise their babies to adult hood

I will appreciate any helpful comments.

Thanks

Mirrabook

[Monica]

we were told he was starting to moult and to add some molasses into his water
Molasses in his water??? Never heard of that one... And not one I'd recommend, either!

both seemed really in fine health
Does this pair eat seeds, sprouted seeds, pellets, cooked/sprouted grains, cooked/sprouted legumes, veggies, and some fruits?

a few months ago Peachy seemed to loose his feathers around his neck
Is it possible that Peachetta is plucking Peachy??? Do they have toys? At least 5 minimum? A large cage (no smaller than 24" square)?

I have no idea how long eggs take to hatch can anyone tell me or at least give me an approx
Eggs may hatch at in 22-25 days from the time they begin incubation.

What can I do to get Peachy's feathers looking good again?
Remove Peachetta, if she's the one plucking him... Improve his diet. Make sure they both have a large cage, a variety of perches, and tons of toys!

they both get fruit and veggies along with seeds - is there anything I need to supplement?
What fruit? What veggies? How much? You can get a good idea on foods here... Bird Safe Fresh Foods & Toxic Food Lists + Sprouts Although you don't want fruits to consist of more than 10-20% of the fresh foods... Veggies can be 40-60%, and grains and legumes should take up the rest.

The seeds I use say that they have calcium, vitamens and stuff in them already do I need to get anything extra?
Personally, if you want something 'fortified', feed pellets! Or feed sprouted seeds, even! But if the seeds themselves have extra stuff, it may be a waste of money...

Do I need to put any special mixture in when babies hatch?
Make sure the parents get extra protein and calcium.....

Will all the eggs hatch ?
If all have been fertilized, and none are killed or die in shell...

I have tried worming them both thinking that this was the cause of the feather lose but did not work.
Where do you live? Do you have access to an avian vet who could do a full blood panel and fecal on Peachy (if he's plucking himself) to ensure it's nothing medical??

[Mirrabook]

Not being a bird person as such I will try to answer your queries to my concerns
1st Molasses in the water - it is something i was told - did try it - may not have helped but did not seem to hurt either

Does this pair eat seeds, sprouted seeds, pellets, cooked/sprouted grains, cooked/sprouted legumes, veggies, and some fruits?
What do you mean by sprouted seeds?

I feed them a very wide variety of veggies - Lettuce, carrot, spinach, zucchini, cabbage, brussell sprouts, tomato, cucumber, corn, brocoli, capsicum and sprouts in the main and fruits apple, pineapple, orange, grapes, watermelon, rockmelon, kiwi fruit, pear, peach, necterine, strawberries, blueberries, on a daily basis usually about a cup I also add about every 3rd day some dry vitabrits or weetbix - I get a commercial peachface mix sold at supermarkets, I do change this to a mix that some of our local feed producers (stock feed merchants) prepare as a change. never heard of cooking legumes or grains for birds ever. but it you can tell me what to use and how to cook them I am willing to add this to their diet. I do feed them a bit of hard boiled egg at least once a week - this is something we have fed our birds for years.

Their cage is 3 x 3 x 3 x 4 feet and they are the only birds in it very roomy and flying space. They have toys and play things balls, ladders, swings and we do put in smaller tree branches which they love playing in and chewing to pieces.

We live in northern nsw, I would have to ask if any of the vets are experienced in birds - I know that there are several in brisbane but that is a way to go but am prepared to do that.

With adding extra calcium and protien - what would be the best way to do that? Are there any recommendations that I could try. I do about every 4 days give them a sao with a bit of vegimite on it - they just love that and also some nutrigel Peachy licks it of my fingers whilst Peachetta will only eat it off a sao.

Thanks for the time for eggs to hatch that gives me a time frame at present there are 4 eggs in the nest but there is 1 that is outside the nesting box. The last egg was laid within the last 5 days. I look in the nest box only rarely and try not to be intrusive.

Thanks for your time in trying to educate me.

Smiles

Mirrabook

[Monica]

I've never heard of using molasses and would love to hear the explanation on that one...

Sprouted seeds are seeds that you grow, so to speak.. (regular bird seed with no extra vitamins or supplements or pellets, or a special sprout mix for parrots, or even combining the ingredients to make your own sprout mix)
Check out these pages...
Parrots are my Weakness.: Sprouting for Parrots
This is a step by step How to pictures from food & drink photos on webshots

It's not a complete list, but you can get ideas from the post I mentioned above on grains, legumes, and more...
Bird Safe Fresh Foods & Toxic Food Lists + Sprouts
If you cook the grains and legumes, you just follow the directions on how to cook them for humans, making sure that they are fully cooked before giving them to the birds. If you sprout them, then the legumes (most just the beans) must have 1/4" tails. The grains can be sprouted for however long it takes for the tails to appear (I've never sprouted either - always cooked, thus far)

Check out this post for avian vets!
http://www.birdboard.com/forum/get-h...-vet-here.html

As for extra calcium and protein? Cooked eggs, and dark green leafy veggies and oranges.... Legumes provide a lot of extra protein! But you do not want to be offering too much. As it is, the diet sounds great! Maybe some tweeks, but for the most part it sounds like they are doing pretty good! I know what Weetabix, Vegimite, and vitabrits are, but I can't say I've heard of nutrigel before! Looking up nutrigel, I wouldn't suggest it unless an avian vet mentioned to... And on the quick search I did, I couldn't find nutrigel for birds, just dogs and cats, therefore, again, not something I'd recommend giving, unless directed by an avian vet.

[Mirrabook]

Hi Monica

Thanks for that link - have checked it out so now have better idea on what you mean by sprouts - that I can do with no problems

one thing i did forget to mention is that i do add a vitamen supplement called livermol to all my animals feeds have always used it just find it a great all rounder. Have even used it for gold and tropical fish as well as all creatures great and small.

I will have to source out local vets as there are none within 900 km with the lists here and there are none showing for Queensland to which i am closer too.

I do appreciate all your advice and my peachfaces will certainly benefit.

It does sound like he could be either preaning or getting over preaned due to nesting - after reading some other posts here, I am more confident that it is the cause of his condition. From the diet I am giving them they are getting they are healthy enough food wise. Nutrigel - yes it is recommended more for dogs & cats - I do feed it to my cavies as well. feeding to the peachfaces well that was a accidental happening - had some on my fingers when doing something with Peachy he started licking it off my fingers and just went nuts over it - it is caramelly tasting (have tried it myself and quite nice) they do only get a little bit and I figured at the time that it is only a vitamen supplement and can stimulate appetitie - and they did not take any ill effects from it - in fact they know the sight of the tube now as I have to walk past their cage to go to my cavairy and actually call out for it.
hard boiled eggs they love and i grow my own spinach and lettuce and tomatoes and sprouts for the cavies so I can certainly add spouts to their diets
Again thank heaps for the information and I do really appreciate it.

[Monica]

Vitamins geared towards birds would probably be a better choice as they are (or should be) at the correct amounts. They probably shouldn't be given more than 2-3 times a month unless directed otherwise by an avian vet (as too much can cause vitamin toxicity). I had a tube of Benebac for Birds (and reptiles), and it's just green gel! My Charlie loves the stuff! (but then again, he loves anything that comes out of a syringe or something similar, as well as off a spoon! He's a big 14 year old baby!). Noel just accepts whatever I stick in her mouth. She doesn't beg for it, or try to get it, but if put in her mouth she'll eat it.... although sometimes she may be willing to take something on her own. The rest? Forgettaboutit!!!! You'd have to mix it in with their mash!

My only other suggestion at the moment is try calling some local vets and seeing if any know of an Avian Vet near you? And I would have figured someone else would have jumped in to answer your questions!