Parrotlet Chick Questions ASAP!!!

[animalover2005]

Hello,

I new to parrotlet breeding.....I have two parrotlets, the cock is a green, and the hen is a blue. Right now they have had five chicks hatched and one more to go. The oldest is nine days old. Here's my Questions:

1.) Should I pull the two oldest ones so that she only have to take care of four? On littletweet.com, it does say to start pulling at 10 days old, and don't allow more than four chicks in the nest. Does everyone agree with this? Or do you have a different opinion?

2.) I am also concerned about handfeeding, on littletweet.com it says to feed 1cc three times a day for a one week old, 2cc three times a day for a two week old, 3 cc three times a day for a three week old, and at four weeks old feed as much as desired until it turns awaythree times a day. Does everyone agree with that? I thought that they would need fed more often? Any suggestions?

I just want them all to survive! They have layed three clutches, this is there third clutch. The first was infertile, the second they hatched, and she neglected them, and the third is this one, and I want them all to be survivors! Also:

3.) I have the box inside of the cage, I have to detach the box, open it, get the babies, and reattach the box. Do you think after I do this the mom will neglect the babies?

Let me know ASAP!

Michelle

[Monica]

1) If you know how to handfeed and have gotten experience, then pulling the chicks at about 2 weeks old is fine if you want handraised chicks, although it's better to let the parents handfeed, unless it's a must to pull them. If the mother is fully capable of raising all chicks on her own, I don't see a problem in letting her do so.

2) A wise breeder once told me to never feed on a shedule... feed chicks the amount that they can eat without over-eating (i.e. stretching the crop too much), and to feed them again when their crops are near to empty... I don't know how much p-lets eat so can't help you there.

3) If she doesn't neglect them now, hopefully disturbing her wont... it's possible yes, but most hens are normally pretty good when they have chicks taken away for handfeeding.

[animalover2005]

Crap, I pulled two chicks last night (one 10 days old, the other 8 days old! I was going by what littletweet.com said.) They are eating well for me, though I do not have experience handfeeding birds, but you have to start somewhere (I read up on how to do it). I'm feeding when the crops are almost deflated, and filling till full (but not too full.) They are in a 10 gallon aquarium with a heating pad under he aquarium, and a thick towel inside, and a plant to hold humidity while my room humidifier is running. I have a thermostat and a humidifier in the aquarium, I'm keeping it at 81 degrees, and 50% humidity, and feeling the heating pad just in case (does that sound alright?) She hasnt neglected the babies after the move. I wanted to move them, because I didn't want these big babies smashing the little babies and the parents being overwelmed with 6 chicks! The 6th is hatching right now, and I'm going to let the parents take care of the four. Am I missing anything? Should I be doing anything else for these babies?

Let me know, and thanks so much for the advice!

[CrazyBirdLady]

With six chicks, sometimes it is better to pull the oldest as the size difference between the oldest and youngest is incredible and the little ones tend to get squished. With that said, I do have hens that faithfully lay, incubate and raise 6 chicks each clutch. It's a matter of keeping and eye on things and if you see a young chick is not being fed and the older ones are, always pull the older ones for handfeeding. You might still keep an eye on the newly hatched chick as sometimes, like you said, parents can become overwhelmed.
As for a set amount to feed, I don't use a set amount, except I have a limit to how much I'll feed at once. With a parrotlet, I wouldn't go over 5-6 ccs at one feeding, but at 8 and 10 days, they should not be nearing that amount yet. You don't want to stretch the crop too much. You might consider raising the heat a little bit since the chicks are not feathered yet, to say 85-90º. With my chicks I feed them when they are hungry and always let the crop empty completely once a day. Generally that happens overnight.
Good luck with your little guys!

[animalover2005]

Thank you so much, I feel better....you get so attached to these little guys when you handfeed them, I can't bare to loose em!!

[Jackie C]

Michelle -- how is it going? My p'lets laid 6 eggs but only 2 hatched so I didn't have to split the clutch, but I was told that if I take the oldest ones the parents might harm the ones I left in the box. How did it go for you?

I know what you meant about getting attached. I'm glad I only have 2!

[animalover2005]

As you know I had 6 eggs...five of the eggs left, I pulled the two oldest, and they are doing extremely well (the oldest is now 2 weeks 4 days) out of the three I left in the box one died recently (which was the youngest, but I don't think it was related to pulling the other chicks because of the amount of the time between the pull and it's death). Yesterday I pulled another chick, and all is well. The parents are still taking care of the chicks as usual, even with two pulls, and the mom being aggressive towards me! I don't know if I can let any go! Their my babies now!!

Good luck with your chicks!!

[blueroseaviary]

Originally Posted by animalover2005

Hello,

I new to parrotlet breeding.....I have two parrotlets, the cock is a green, and the hen is a blue. Right now they have had five chicks hatched and one more to go. The oldest is nine days old. Here's my Questions:

1.) Should I pull the two oldest ones so that she only have to take care of four? On littletweet.com, it does say to start pulling at 10 days old, and don't allow more than four chicks in the nest. Does everyone agree with this? Or do you have a different opinion?

I pull my parrotlet babies at about 10 days. The first two probably hatched around the same time, hence I pull two babies to start depending on the size of the clutch. 4 babies in the nest is a good guideline. Just don't leave 1 baby alone in the nest. The parents may feel that one baby isn't worth the trouble and start a new clutch.

2.) I am also concerned about handfeeding, on littletweet.com it says to feed 1cc three times a day for a one week old, 2cc three times a day for a two week old, 3 cc three times a day for a three week old, and at four weeks old feed as much as desired until it turns awaythree times a day. Does everyone agree with that? I thought that they would need fed more often? Any suggestions?

Starting at 7am every morning until 11pm every night I feed my babies no less than every 4 hours until the day that they wean. I don't give exact amounts to each baby, each is fed depending on their own crop capacity. Especially the first several days keep an eye on those babies crops between feedings and if empty feed early. I stay on this schedule until the babies are fully weaned. Not only do you want the babies to survive, but you want to build trust and bonding and have strong healthy happy babies.

I just want them all to survive! They have layed three clutches, this is there third clutch. The first was infertile, the second they hatched, and she neglected them, and the third is this one, and I want them all to be survivors! Also:

3.) I have the box inside of the cage, I have to detach the box, open it, get the babies, and reattach the box. Do you think after I do this the mom will neglect the babies?

This all depends on mom's temperment. It could be ok this time, and not ok a few clutches down the road. I would hang the box on the outside of the cage and disturb the parents as little as possible when pulling the babies. Mom will leave the box a couple of times a day for short periods. If you can try to catch her out of the box and pull the babies then.
Let me know ASAP!

Michelle

How are things going with the babies now?

[animalover2005]

It's going great, they are all growing very fast, the oldest is 3 weeks 2 days, all have survived so far!! I am so excited!!!

[blueroseaviary]

Congratulations!! Glad to hear all is going well. Before you know it they will all fledge and you will be even more in love with them. They are just like kids, each one will have it's own endearing personality.

Enjoy! Raising babies is very rewarding.