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Congratulations. Now I must ask, what is the gauze square for? I would be afraid that it might unravel and get caught on toes, wings, and necks.

Hi Christie,

Thanks.

Actually what I think you see is not gauze, but a chunk of cuttlebone.

I put it into the box on vet's advice.

Interesting, It usually is just fine inside the cage or scraped on soft food.

Congratulations on the new baby!!! How excited you must be. I have been wondering how Charlotte was doing with her eggs. Take care and send more pictures as the chicks grow.

Quigley

The same thing happend to me. My 10 year old female laid 12 eggs. I thought they would be "duds" but one did hatch! Mom & Dad were good about caring for the baby. They raised "Twill" on their own. She is a sweet funny bratty little thing! good luck!

Things here are going remarkably smoothly, or at least they seem to be. The oldest of the five chicks is 9 days old and the youngest hatched yesterday. A lot of chirping in there, but it's hard to see exactly who's who since the "big" guys are on top and others splayed out beneath them.

I guess the term "clutch" may come from the way they snuggle together, even spreading their hairless wings around each other. It's very sweet.

It took me several days, but I've finally been able to recognize the crops, and the ones I can see appear to be in order. Charlotte and Buddy are staying pretty busy, and Charlotte is looking less haggard now that she's not laying. I do not plan to put her through this again.

We did lose one egg. It opened but the chick didn't hatch.

I'm glad to hear the chicks are doing well! I hope the parents don't become too overwhelmed with too many chicks!

Try and make sure that the smaller chicks are being fed enough and that they are not being squished by their older siblings, otherwise they could get splayed legs (easy to correct if done when first noticed, but cannot be corrected as adults)

Sorry to hear you lost one though... either it was a DIS (dead in shell), or there wasn't enough humidity at the time of hatching, could have suffocated, or just wasn't strong enough to survive.

Well, Monica.. here's where we are.

The first two chicks are nearing 3 weeks, about 2 and a half really, and they seem to be doing quite well.

As I mentioned, egg #3 didn't hatch.

Eggs 4 and 5 both hatched, but the chicks lived but a day or two.

Sensing something was wrong, when the 6th egg hatched I tried to hand raise it, but failed.

Given that misfortune, I thought the 7th chick might have a better chance in the box, but that one also died.

With the eighth egg I was prepared to go back to hand-rearing, but like the 3rd egg it finally proved today to be unviable.

I feel bad for the little chicks that didn't make it. If I were to do this again I certainly would know more of what to look for and would better understand how to respond. But I've intended all along to allow a single clutch, and having seen what the mother has endured I'm certain that's the right course. With no eggs left in the nest she has returned to the big cage and seems relieved.

I wish all the birds had made it, but I'm thankful for the two that did.

that is excting. budgie parents are pretty good parents.
I had a budgie that laid 12 eggs but only one hatched. That one is twillinger the one I've mentioned in a different comment about her being obese. Her mom was HUGE. Good luck with your babies. Make sure mom & dad get fresh veggies and clean water.

I'm sorry that not all the chicks made it... but it's still good that two survived! They say though that first time parents (usually the first to third attempts at breeding) aren't very good until they get experience... so it could be due to a lack of experience, maturity, or otherwise.

The hope the two that did make it will grow up to be strong healthy bappies!

Thanks, Monica.

Thanks for your support through this whole experience.

Just got back from the vet. The chicks are prospering!