Oh wow thanks! I actually just started weighing her today, she was about 2.84grams(empty crop)
When you get your bedding material it should be at least three inches deep. ( you may not be able to make it too deep by using your shoe box) . use your fist to press down the area ( like an inside bowl shape) big enough for the chick and a couple of the cloth buddies.
If I get motivated over the next few days I'll try making a narrow feeding spoon to show you how to do that with a plastic spoon. I'm not sure how small they make the feeding spoons for something as tiny as your little baby...but most people would just use a very small spoon. If I had my druthers I would use a feeding spoon over a regular spoon. And, as @PoukieBear mentioned you can change over to feeding with a spoon after a couple of weeks. It's a safer method of hand feeding with less risk of aspiration of formula. The baby will transition well to it with a good feeding response. It's just a little messier than feeding with a syringe.
Do you mean I should start feeding with a spoon now? We have (human)baby spoons I could try to use
You have done so well with this sweet baby so far, I can't believe how well you have done! And all our folks here who chimed in with all their knowledge are amazing, aren't they? I just wanted to tell you that you, chick, and egg are in my prayers! I wish people who are interested in breeding could read this entire thread, or that the admins could pin it somewhere, so that people could actually see what goes into trying to take care of a baby bird!
Thank you so much, you are so sweet
No.. use the syringe you are using for now.
How long do you wait between feedings? It's ok if there is a small amount of formula to be present on scheduled feedings during the day. At night time you want the crop to completely empty before the first feed of the day. On these day old babies I'm not so sure about going the six hours without feeding during the night. It is important though... for the crop to COMPLETELY empty once a day and that is usually during the night.
See the above post.
That´s not a lot of time, even for such a young chick. Give them a little more time for the food to be digested.
No, I never left her that long without feeding. They´re just too fragile.
Her crop used to empty within 30-45 minutes, but someone told me it was emptying so fast because of air bubbles from me feeding her too slow. So today I started feeding her faster, and she’s slowly been having a longer time in between feeds, this time I waited an hour to check (she wasn’t crying for food, but I’d thought she should eat anyway) but it still looks a little full
See the above post.
I said this on my second reply to this thread back on the first page I think. Fill the container with the shavings, gently press them all down, then make a slight bowl/dip with your closed fist, put the baby directly in there with the knot and the egg.
That´s all. No paper towls or anything like that
That´s not a lot of time, even for such a young chick. Give them a little more time for the food to be digested.
It´s easy to freak out when they are so small and fragile, but so far they seem ok.
@Mockinbirdiva Thankyou for posting the pics of the knot, that is exactly what I was thinking of!
I fed Adelie through the night when I first took over feeding her, she was 5 days old, a little wriggler. Fed her every 2-3 hours. I just made sure the crop was completely empty once per day, same like older chicks, and I did that during the night, again like older chicks. If I woke and there was still formula, I waited and checked back 20 mins later until it was empty then fed. This way she didn´t go all night on an empty crop like the older chicks do.
No, I never left her that long without feeding. They´re just too fragile.
By now you've probably read Zara's last post. You do make fresh formula each time right? Never save any to feed the next time and if you are heavy on the mixing ( like swirling spoon mixing) you can tap the cup you mix the formula in on the counter to make any bubbles in the formula rise to the surface before you pull it up into your syringe. Hope this isn't confusing.Her crop used to empty within 30-45 minutes, but someone told me it was emptying so fast because of air bubbles from me feeding her too slow. So today I started feeding her faster, and she’s slowly been having a longer time in between feeds, this time I waited an hour to check (she wasn’t crying for food, but I’d thought she should eat anyway) but it still looks a little full
Okay, I just looked again and it seems to be getting smaller, I’m going to wait for it to completely empty just in case though. I’m sorry for all the panic I’ve been having lol
See the above post.
I said this on my second reply to this thread back on the first page I think. Fill the container with the shavings, gently press them all down, then make a slight bowl/dip with your closed fist, put the baby directly in there with the knot and the egg.
That´s all. No paper towls or anything like that
That´s not a lot of time, even for such a young chick. Give them a little more time for the food to be digested.
It´s easy to freak out when they are so small and fragile, but so far they seem ok.
@Mockinbirdiva Thankyou for posting the pics of the knot, that is exactly what I was thinking of!
I fed Adelie through the night when I first took over feeding her, she was 5 days old, a little wriggler. Fed her every 2-3 hours. I just made sure the crop was completely empty once per day, same like older chicks, and I did that during the night, again like older chicks. If I woke and there was still formula, I waited and checked back 20 mins later until it was empty then fed. This way she didn´t go all night on an empty crop like the older chicks do.
No, I never left her that long without feeding. They´re just too fragile.
The bedding should be here in 30 minutes
I had my dad get it for me
Yes I make it fresh each time. Thanks for the tips!
Smaller would be better... about the size she is. As long as she can freely move about in her little spot. You might check out how to candle that egg to see if it's viable.
