Ask Lafeber

Question:

April 25, 2022

Chicks ++++


Hi again, I need more advice, lol ok, I have 4 chicks out, 2 are weaned and living in their own cage..The 4 th one came out on Friday and keeps going back in and out again..I have heard this happens..(chick I’ds 34 days old.. The last chick is 33 days today and has not left the nest yet.. I checked the nest today and mom is breeding again. One egg, will it hurt the last chick to take her out of the nest and remove the nest .. Or leave her and just remove moms eggs. Tks hope to hear back soon .


Answer:

Hi Linda,

You can do either. I think it’s probably OK to take the last chick out & take down the box as long as it’s about as feathered as the others were when they came out. That is the safest option because mom might get aggressive with it, wanting it out of the nest so she can sit on new eggs. And I think I mentioned before that some parents will stop feeding the chicks to take care of a new clutch, and let the chicks starve if they don’t figure out how to self feed. Fortunately parakeets do tend to wean quickly. The breeders who are all about volume, to sell to pet shops, will wait til most of the chicks have left the nest, catch all of them and then pull any stragglers out of the nests and transport them directly to the pet shop. So the poor things go from nest to having to eat or starve and luckily most watch the other chicks and start to eat pretty quickly. It’s a sad practice, but there are also plenty of responsible breeders out there who let the parents wean the chicks and make sure they are independent before selling them.

Thanks for the update,

Brenda

Subscribe to our newsletter

Click here to subscribe to our newsletter

×

Join our Lafeber Flock

Enjoy our Pet Birds' weekly newsletter, featuring captivating stories, care tips, and more.
Opt for Small Mammals' monthly edition for delightful facts about rabbits, guinea pigs, and more.
Choose our monthly Backyard Chickens newsletter for insightful information to keep your flock happy.
*