Help!

[AmandaA]

hello all just have a question. So I breed cockateils, but this clutch that I have raised and is now 10 weeks old and eating on their own has gave me a little trouble. I’ve never dealt with what’s going on and idk how to fix it. But 2 babies out of this clutch has passed away and I’m not sure why. I’ve done everything that I normally do from formula feeding to weaning them to seeds, fruit and millet. Can someone help me or suggest something that could be going on? Please and thank u

 

[Shezbug]

Bump

 

[Mizzely]

Have you talked with your vet about the other deaths at all?

I imagine there's likely 100 different reasons this can happen; a necropsy of the chicks that have passed may provide more answers. Barring that, can you provide any details related to their passing? Stools, behavior, intake, temperature, housing, etc?

 

[Finchbreed]

Parent birds when given the opportunity - do a better job than people.

 

[melissasparrots]

I think you need a vet to do a necropsy on at least one of the chicks. I'd bring weight records and observations with you. For future clutches, make sure to keep weight records and observe changes in crop motility. Bring babies to the vet right away for a gram's stain or culture and sensitivity at the very least. I never had a problem with yeast infections, but apparently cockatiels are prone to them. Otherwise, it could be something genetic, poor crop motility due to temperature or infection, ingesting bedding material...so many things. I'd bring one of the remaining chicks to the vet for a good work up and maybe culture the parents to make sure they aren't harboring a subclinical infection. Check over the surviving chicks for things like stress bars that can indicate suboptimal temperature and rearing conditions.

 

[Jayced!!]

@T. gillii May have some insight!

 

[T. gillii]

Questions

Where are the chicks from? Did your own pair hatch them? Is this their first clutch?

Have any of your birds or chicks been exposed to any other birds?