THEY HATCHED, THEY HATCHED, THEY HATCHED!

[HowieDawn]

WOW, On Sunday morning, I went to give the birds their food and change their water. Noticed that Delilah was acting funny. (Really weird noises) Looked but saw nothing. On Monday, I went to clean out the cage. Decided that it had been long enough (internet says 18-24 days.) and lo and behold, there were two itty bitty pink naked chicks. They are so itty bitty tiny.

WHAT DO I DO NOW???? http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/confused.gif

[Karen]

Hi! How exciting! Congratulations to everyone! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif
When you first posted in http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/Forum18/HTML/000037.html
AdoreMyDogs gave a very complete answer to many questions including:
If they do end up hatching chicks, the parents will do all the hard stuff, not much for you to worry about. But please keep in mind that birds need a huge variety of foods for proper health, especially when rearing chicks. If you give them a strictly seed diet, it's not only uninteresting and incomplete to the parents, but it may effect the growth and health of the chicks.

You should re-read her whole answer over there, it's very complete.

[HowieDawn]

http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif we are going today to Petsmart to see what they reccomend . Thanks Karen for smacking me back into reality. I was so excited that I forgot all about the other post.

[Logan]

So how are they???? Give us an update on the babies. How exciting! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif

[HowieDawn]

I bought nesting food for the parents. The two little chicks are doing just fine. I am reading everything that i can find. I am not going to hand feed them, because I don't want to do something wrong, maybe next time http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif

[gini]

How incredibly exciting!!! Those little guys have more Aunts and Uncles out there who will want to know every little morsel of information about them. When you can take the time, please let us know EVERYTHING! And here I thought you were just "egging" us on. I sincerely apologize. Congratulations!!!

[tatsxxx11]

Oh congratulations!!!! I read your first "fearful" post when the eggs were laid! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif And now you're a.....stepmother??? How sweet. I wish I could have that experience one day! You are doing one terrific job! Keep us updated! (Any chance of a pic?)

[HowieDawn]

Actually, we bought a digital camera not too long ago. But, I have a redish cast to the pictures. I need to work out the bugs http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif

Anyway, the babies opened their eyes on Monday. http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/eek.gif They are getting fuzzy http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif They are still so ugly ...that they are cute. I don't have a clue as to what I am going to do with them http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/confused.gif

[AdoreMyDogs]

Oh my gosh...I just now noticed this post! I have been playing catch-up since my business trip to Chicago area last week. CONGRATS! I am so happy for you and for the proud bird parents http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif I hope all is well, and I hope you enjoy every second of it http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif

[gini]

I know I can speak for all of us - we will be anxious to see your pictures whenever you have time. I bet when they get a bit older you will have many takers - that is if you can part with them.

------------------

[HowieDawn]

oh boy, my parakeets have layed two eggs so far. My parakeets are little boogers. I have never been able to hand tame them. I see all of these posts on here about parakeets and all of the pictures of them, and how sweet they are. My parakeets can be sweet one day and bite a chunk out of you the next day. I think that they don't like me because they don't like to be held down to have their nails clipped. Anyway, this is leading somewhere. I found out this morning that one of the little stinkers bit a hole through one of the eggs. so, I don't think that we will be having any baby parakeets.

I know that I shouldn't have done it, but i put the other egg in with the lovebirds. She actually took to it very quickly and started guarding it and sitting on it.

Another thing- the lovebirds are doing the "Birdy Dance" again. Won't this hinder the birds in some way....if they have another clutch so early? http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/confused.gif

[HowieDawn]

this is driving me crazy....how do i add photos?

[Paul]

Originally posted by HowieDawn:
this is driving me crazy....how do i add photos?

   If you type then a URL to an image followed by the photo will appear in your posted message. some_URL

   It may be easier for you to email me ( [email protected]) an image(s). I will put them on the PetoftheDay.com server and email you the text to add to your messages.

   I know we should have much better instructions on the website.

[HowieDawn]

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1266393&a=9371242&p=42471809

This is a picture of one of the lovebirds. It is 4 days old here. Ugly Ugly Ugly!!!

Thanks Paul! Hopefully this worked http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif

[Karen]

Wow! That's amazing, a teeny teeny bird! We'll all look forward to more pictures as they grow. How old are they now?

[HowieDawn]

3 weeks on monday

[HowieDawn]

Ok, you have to use your imagination with this one. Considering the bird was pink, the color blended in with my hand. I put my hand into a halftone...so that it would bring out the chick a little more. Here it is one week old....still ugly, eyes still shut.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1266393&a=9371240&p=43922842

[gini]

Your photos just knock me out. I am so glad you figured out how to post the pictures. I just sat here saying awwwwwww!!!
Thank you - keep them coming. What a wonderful event to share!

[Daisy's Mom]

Hey I think they're cute! So ugly they're cute http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif I am so excited for you! Keep us updated. What are you going to name them? And by the way I had birds who HATED me so don't feel bad. They were budgies and they bit me any time I went near them. They hated me so much that they would avoid me at all costs; I could leave their cage door open and they'd stay in there so as not to have to be near me. I wasn't mean to them so I don't know why! It made me feel so bad. Anyway, they ended up getting so viscious I gave them to a "bird woman!" http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif They did sing so sweetly though. Well good luck with the babies!!!

[HowieDawn]

up close picture of the lovebird chicks. They opened their eyes last Sunday. They will be three weeks old on March 19th. They are just now starting to grow their flight feathers. I don't know what color they are supposed to be, but right now they are grey.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1266393&a=9371240&p=43968979

Here, Samson is looking at the babies, while Delilah is getting out of the nesting box.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1266393&a=9371240&p=43968976

awww they are trying to feed each other.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1266393&a=9371240&p=43968974

Delilah in her usual position. Guarding the babies. You can see the parakeets eggs in this picture.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1266393&a=9371240&p=43968972

[HowieDawn]

question for ya. Am i supposed to be cleaning out their nesting box? It looks pretty gross.

Speaking of their birdy box. I have to share this with you. When I first bought the box, neither of the birds would have anything to do with it. So, being the mean mommy that i am, I put Delilah in there, and stuck a sock in the hole. I left her in there for about 5 minutes with the eggs. Unplugged the hole, and it did the trick.. She didn't want to come out.
The whole "building the nest" process was really neat to watch. I put cotton balls at the bottom of the cage. She would run down, tear off pieces, and put them in her rump feathers. It was funny to watch, because they would fall out, and she would look so aggrivated. THEN, (grrr) I have them a really nice long latter reaching from the top of the cage to the bottom. Its a rope and wooden latter. Anyway, they totally chewed up the rope and put it in the box. Little boogers.

Delilah is still guarding the parakeets eggs. These pictures were taken last night. That is the third parakeet egg...but only the second to survive.

[HowieDawn]

did that last set of pictures work? They are Xed out on my end.

[Paul]

   No, they did not work. Photopoint gives an error message.
Apparently the number 9371240 should have been 9371242. These look like they are
your images.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1266393&a=9371242&p=43968979
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1266393&a=9371242&p=43968976
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1266393&a=9371242&p=43968974
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1266393&a=9371242&p=43968972

[Daisy's Mom]

Awww I really think they are cute!!!! Keep the pictures coming http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif Delilah and Samson are quite beautiful also.

[AdoreMyDogs]

Hi HowieDawn http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif

What cute "grandkids" you have http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif They are looking really good and nice and plump, just as they should. Good job to you and to the parent birds.

As for the nesting box, yeah you should be cleaning it once a week or so. The easiest way for me was to first put the chicks in a temperary, warm nest and then get a good sized paint scraper and scrape the sides and bottom then toss out the dirty and refill it with fresh nesting material. Pine shavings are what I used but cotton balls sound fine too.

Have fun with the gang http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif They are adorable, I just love baby birds!

[Annie]

Those are the sweetest baby birds ever! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif
Did you find out what you are going to do with them yet http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/tongue.gif

Annie

[HowieDawn]

Hmmm I don't know what I am going to do with the babies yet. I know that I cannot keep them all.

I will be cleaning out the nesting box.

If you would like to see more pictures, go to www.photopoint.com (http://www.photopoint.com) and type in my e mail [email protected]

thanks paul for fixing the pictures

[HowieDawn]

Parakeets have 4 eggs now.

Anyone near me in WV. I have no clue what I am going to do with the babies.

After what Daisy's mom said about her budgies, I don't feel so bad about the parakeets http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif thanks I needed that (anyone want a parakeet http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif)

[Jamaican 17]

The birds will do most of the job, nothing much for you to worry about, but keep checking up on them regularly and notify someone if something happens. http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif