Leia has a clutch of 8 eggs? Need advice!

[Artchic528]

Thats not feeding behavior ive ever seen.I think you have her worked up. Maybe you shouldnt disturb her.

That’s what I’m thinking. I closed up the nest box and left right after I stopped filming. I’ll try and not disturb her so much. Just trying to see how the chick is getting on. Maybe I should’ve installed a camera or something.

 

[Rebel]

That’s what I’m thinking. I closed up the nest box and left right after I stopped filming. I’ll try and not disturb her so much. Just trying to see how the chick is getting on. Maybe I should’ve installed a camera or something.

More than likely she will do just fine. Is the father in with her? My male did 90% of the feeding. Disturbing her too much may make her abandon the baby or worse.

 

[Artchic528]

More than likely she will do just fine. Is the father in with her? My male did 90% of the feeding. Disturbing her too much may make her abandon the baby or worse.

Yes. I didn’t want to stress anybody out by seperation (they are clearly very bonded) and know that Dad helps feed Mom and the chicks, so they are all in the same cage.

Pico comes and goes from the nest box frequently during the day. Most likely to feed Leia and the chick. Then he settles into the box at night with them to sleep.

I put out a dish of finely chopped veggies (almost a pate) for them. Nice soft food. They also have two dishes of Higgins Sunburst seeds mixed with Roudybush Daily Maintence Pellets and some Vitacraft Eggfood sprinkled on top. There are two dishes of water and two of those birdbaths that twist into the base so I can easily take them out to clean them.

Pico has been making a mash out of the water and food to serve to Leia and now the chick. I can see the results in the water dishes and bird baths. It’s a bit messier than the usual “bird soup” but nothing I can’t manage.

 

[Finchbreed]

Good advice from Rebel re - not too much disturbance.
These are 1st time parents - they will probably get it right - but will be made nervous if you keep checking them.
Yes - Rebel - some birds are smart enough to tell false eggs from fakes. But at the least it convinces them that the eggs are duds.

 

[Artchic528]

Good advice from Rebel re - not too much disturbance.
These are 1st time parents - they will probably get it right - but will be made nervous if you keep checking them.
Yes - Rebel - some birds are smart enough to tell false eggs from fakes. But at the least it convinces them that the eggs are duds.

Just curious. As long as I hear the chick peeping inside the nest box, aka begging for food, it should be fine? I’m wondering how to balance letting them have the privacy they need and how to know when to intervene.

 

[Emma&pico]

Just curious. As long as I hear the chick peeping inside the nest box, aka begging for food, it should be fine? I’m wondering how to balance letting them have the privacy they need and how to know when to intervene.

It shouldn’t be constantly begging I would give space but you always do need to check the crop Is full or looks to have been fed

 

[Artchic528]

It shouldn’t be constantly begging I would give space but you always do need to check the crop Is full or looks to have been fed

Okay. Maybe a camera then? If I open the nest box Mom gets very furious and lunges to protect her brood. I don’t want to stress her out anymore than I need to.

 

[Karearea]

There are usually brief times of the day where both parents leave the nest, often when you bring in food for them to eat in the morning. You can check the chicks more safely during these times.

 

[Rebel]

I was able to see through the nesting box hole.

 

[Artchic528]

I was able to see through the nesting box hole.
View attachment 466516

My nest box is a boot shape with the opening on the side at the top of the “boot” and a hinged door on top of the “toe”. The toe is also the darkest spot so where the nest with the eggs/chick are.

Dad Pico is inside the box last I checked. Mom Leia hardly leaves the box as the air in the house is cold. I’m in North Carolina so we’re in the middle of Winter Storm Gianna right now and temps outside are about 23°F (-6°C) but feel like 3°F (-16°C) due to the wind chill. House thermostat is at 68°F (20°C) but some parts can dip down a few degrees lower. We live in a town house and the cage is in our living room, against the wall separating our unit from the next one, far from any windows. I even have a cage cover partially draped over the cage and nest box to add a little extra warmth and darkness.

There was no peeping coming from the nest box with Pico inside so I’m assuming feeding is going on and chick and Mom are placated for now.

 

[Artchic528]

So, Momma Leia keeps making this one call. I still don’t hear the chick. Pico spends a lot of time in the nest box with Momma and chick. I do hear scraping, lots of thuds and scuffling noises coming from inside the box. Perhaps Mom and Dad are tidying things up/feeding etc? I don’t want to open the box up and stress them out anymore today.

Momma bird inside the nest box making sounds to her mate and/or chicks.

Momma bird calls out while both her and mate are in nest box with chick.

youtube.com

 

[Finchbreed]

Routine is the best thing for new mommas. So check only once a day - at the same time every day.
About an hour before bedtime is best, as this is when it is critical that junior has a full crop to get through the night.