Today I have some photos of the four chicks that Flower and Daniel raised on the floor of their cage. I had read before of hens laying and incubating eggs on the floor of their cage, but this is the first time any of my hens have done it.
I tried to get Flower to use the box. At first I kept putting each egg in the box as she laid it. Eventually it became obvious that she wasn't even going to go near them. I finally just let her keep the new ones she laid on the floor, and soon she had too many to keep under herself. I could see that she could manage five eggs at a time but that the extra ones would end up just out of her reach. So I candled the eggs and removed all the clear ones, leaving her with five.
I tried to get Flower to use the box. At first I kept putting each egg in the box as she laid it. Eventually it became obvious that she wasn't even going to go near them. I finally just let her keep the new ones she laid on the floor, and soon she had too many to keep under herself. I could see that she could manage five eggs at a time but that the extra ones would end up just out of her reach. So I candled the eggs and removed all the clear ones, leaving her with five.
Watching the new parents when the eggs began to hatch was interesting. All of that is usually hidden from view inside the box. I check inside nest boxes twice a day, but when I do, the parents just leave the box until I am done, so I don't see them interacting with the chicks much. With the eggs right on the cage floor, I was able to watch from a distance.
I know that some new parents don't know what they are doing, and will sometimes neglect to feed the new babies. So I was a little nervous as I watched both Daniel and Flower sitting up on the perches just looking at the tiny little pink thing. They didn't go near it for quite a while. I was even concerned that Flower would not go back to sitting on the remaining eggs.
I know that some new parents don't know what they are doing, and will sometimes neglect to feed the new babies. So I was a little nervous as I watched both Daniel and Flower sitting up on the perches just looking at the tiny little pink thing. They didn't go near it for quite a while. I was even concerned that Flower would not go back to sitting on the remaining eggs.
Eventually curiosity got the better of them. Daniel went down and started examining the chick by gently nibbling it all over. Flower settled back on top of her eggs, but didn't bring the chick in under her at first. Neither one fed the baby that first day.
If a chick isn't fed by its parents after 24 hours, I will usually step in and give it a feeding of thin hand rearing formula. But on the second morning, I was pleased to see that there was a tiny bit of food in the chick's crop. Supplement feeding it wouldn't be necessary.
If a chick isn't fed by its parents after 24 hours, I will usually step in and give it a feeding of thin hand rearing formula. But on the second morning, I was pleased to see that there was a tiny bit of food in the chick's crop. Supplement feeding it wouldn't be necessary.
Daniel and Flower did get the hang of caring for their chick, and on the third day, two more chicks arrived. Now I was able to watch both parents feeding the tiny babies. Most budgie fathers stay out of the nest box and leave the raising of the chicks to the mother during the first couple of weeks. In this case, Daniel had been involved with the incubating process, cuddling near Flower and even sitting on some of the eggs. It was only natural that he would help out with feeding the chicks as well. I was very relieved to see that both parents were good feeders.
The fourth egg never did hatch. The day it was due came and went, and the last chick to hatch was born on the due date of the fifth egg.
Being raised outside of the box didn't seem to affect their growth and development. The only thing that was really different was their ability to wander off away from the group, once they learned to walk. For the most part, they were good about sticking together. But sometimes one would get separated and not seem to be able to find his way back. I would put it back myself when I saw this, but I'm sure it must have happened many more times than I observed. The cage is only three feet wide- I'm sure the parents never lost track of where their babies were!
Being raised outside of the box didn't seem to affect their growth and development. The only thing that was really different was their ability to wander off away from the group, once they learned to walk. For the most part, they were good about sticking together. But sometimes one would get separated and not seem to be able to find his way back. I would put it back myself when I saw this, but I'm sure it must have happened many more times than I observed. The cage is only three feet wide- I'm sure the parents never lost track of where their babies were!
Flower was removed from the cage when she started to lay new eggs, as I didn't want her to raise a second clutch on the floor. Daniel finished weaning the chicks just fine on his own, and then he was also
removed.
The chicks have been independent for one week now and seem to be
holding their own, so they should be ready to go to new homes very soon.
removed.
The chicks have been independent for one week now and seem to be
holding their own, so they should be ready to go to new homes very soon.