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Pip hatched on the 14th at 12:17 pm and Squeek hatched last night/this morning (the 17th) at 12:57 am



I can't believe how much 2 days makes a difference! Pip is so big compared to Squeek!



Question: When should the other unfertilized egg be pulled out? One got shoved off to the corner and wasn't being sat on so I took it out and put it in the fridge (just incase they freaked out and I needed to put it back in.) Right now I'm not really worried about it cuz its been like an extra thing to keep Pip and Squeek warm when CJ and Buddy are busy. I just don't want to leave it in TOO long.

Thanks! I'll keep updating this with more pictures as they get older!

OMG aren't they precious!

you can leave the egg in a bit longer no probs
They are cute little fuzzies aren't they
Hope all goes well

Cute little fuzzies! My lil lovie's name is Pip!

More questions!! CJ and Buddy are supposed to be on a mainly soft food diet to make for better feedings for the babes. I cannot get them to eat soft foods.
I've gotten CJ to play with cooked brown rice but won't eat cooked pasta, broccoli, softened pellets, apples, bananas, pears, kale, eggs (hardboiled, scrambed). Thus far it's only been plain generic cheerios without additives and plain shredded wheat. I'm about to try raw oatmeal groats because it seems like if it's soft they avoid it. They've both been feeding Pip and Squeek whole, undigested seed (since its pretty much all they eat.) and thats whats filling theirs crops. They're passing the seeds undigested (I wouldn't ever expect their bodies to be able to handle seeds at 5/2 days old) and I'm worried they aren't getting the proper nutrients because CJ and Buddy aren't eating right. What should I do? Thus far I've removed the seeds and left them with pellets and the plain cereals.

Also, I read that you're supposed to let the crop drain before next feedings. CJ is feeding them every 30-45 minutes. Is she overfeeding? How do I stop/recorrect this behavior if it is unhealthy?

Thanks!

Mum & Pop know what they are doing. it is perfectly fine for them to eat seed and they know when to feed the babies too!

It's better to feed a variety of fresh foods because it's healthier. It's also easier to digest than seeds, or so I assume. You can check out this thread for other ideas on foods you can feed. - which btw, have you tried mixing veggies and rice together? Chopped? Diced? Sliced? Julienne? Steamed? Fresh?
cockatiel/topic99796.html
Just keep offering fresh foods. You may have better luck once the chicks start to wean and become curious about their environment. Sometimes, it's the chicks who teach the parents to eat better.


As for the chicks, I don't think they are suppoesd to be passing whole seeds... that's something that you might want to ask an avian vet about.


And in regards to allowing the crop to drain, this is in handfeeding only. It's recommended to allow the crop to drain completely at least once within a 24 hour period, and this usually at night. Otherwise though, many breeders/handfeeders haven't had any issues with "topping up" on chicks even when they've still got a bit of food in their crops. Overfeeding is when the crop gets too stretched out and the chicks need a "crop bra" in order for them to digest food. So long as they are digesting food without any issues, then there should be no reason for concern...

CJ has been feeding them to the point where they cannot lift their crops up and they wriggle and roll around on their sides, almost like they are in agony. I've pulled them from the parents at the request of a Avian Specialist and a vet, and CJ and Buddy "babysit" them while I go to work for 5-6 hours. Once I get home I pull them back to the brooder and allow them to attempt to work out the overfeeding and properly digest things and give them correct feedings once the crop empties out (which has taken about 6 hours). They seem to be doing better and seem more comfortable this way. CJ has her heart in the right place but, she's forcefully overfeeding them, to the point where she gets rough with them when they are full and she wants them to keep eating. At least they'll still be getting they're care, just without being stuffed like thanksgiving day turkeys.

Whoa! I've never heard of anything like this before BUT then again, I was shocked when I saw Linus ripping the feathers off one of the babies At that point, I realize I had to pull the babies and hand-feed them myself.
Thank you for sharing your stories and experiences with us. I learn something new everyday.
keep us updated

Are CJ and Buddy pet birds?
I keep hearing more and more stories of petbirds doing a terrible job at looking after their babies
Probably best not to let them breed again.........

What I did with my breeding pair was to feed them 3 times a day (they did have a large clutch though! 6 Babies ) and that was mainly multigrain bread, pellets and seed, broccoli and bok choy and I would also mash up a hard boiled egg every day and mix it in with softened pellets and some egg & biscuit (the commercial stuff). Don't leave that in too long though as it spoils.
I did not give my tiels corn as I heard that that can cause problems with young chicks so I waited until the chicks were weaned with reintroducing corn.
Good luck, sounds like you are doing a good job

OMG those babies are soooo flippin cute... I can't even imagine how cute they are in person.. Good luck with them..

How are the babies doing?