Major-ret
6 posts
Sep 19, 2005
10:47 AM
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I've got a problem with squeekers that I could use some advice on. Being new to this I'm at a loss. I'm raising young now from 10 breeders I bought in June 05 (reputable roller man). I'm flying 5 young now and their doing good. My problem is that I've had 3 squeekers die just after I pulled them from their nest and put them on the floor(in a protected area. They are approx 3 weeks old with tail feathers about 3 inches long. The 3 are from different parents and each an only child. Nesting material i use is pine needles in a plastic bowel. When on the floor they walk around fine but they all had a weak squeek! The last one died the same night that I put it on the floor in its old bowel. (it was sitting on its parents new eggs next to its old nest site so I had to move it). They all looked healthy and taking food from the parents. Is this a stress response, or food getting stuck (I tried to see but nothing evident). Has anybody seen this. Thanks Steve
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motherlodelofts
275 posts
Sep 19, 2005
11:35 AM
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Steve, how cold is it getting at night ? were they being fed on the floor ? If you are getting a chill at night you may have put them on the floor to young , wait until there are pin feathers left only under the wing, with warmer nights I drop them earlier.
Once they are on the floor I keep a close rye on them and make sure that they are getting food and water and not getting chilled at cooler times of year.
Scott
Last Edited by motherlodelofts on Sep 19, 2005 11:41 AM
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Major-ret
7 posts
Sep 19, 2005
11:58 AM
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I live just above sacramento, ca in the foothills and it is getting a little cooler at night. That certainly could be why the most recent one died. The other 2 were in the summer. yes they had their own water and feed. Just strange that the squeeking was weaker incomparison to the others I have raised (wow a whole 5 other birds!lol).
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motherlodelofts
276 posts
Sep 19, 2005
3:44 PM
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Steve I live in the foothills just below Sacramento and East, and it has been chilling pretty good at night lately, in fact I almost lost one that was a little young on the floor, when the youngsters are on the floor you have to make sure that the parents are actually feeding and/or they are eating and drinking on thier own.
Get in the habit of looking at them and checking thier crops whenever you are in the loft ,and watch for slow blinking of the eye's as this indicates that they need water , just simply dip thier beaks in the water and they will learn fast.
The bottom line is that I keep a watchful eye on them and handle them to be sure all is well.
Scott
Last Edited by motherlodelofts on Sep 19, 2005 3:47 PM
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Major-ret
8 posts
Sep 19, 2005
4:33 PM
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Thanks Scott for the advice. It was chilly and that is probably what did the little guy in. I'll have to slightly alter my nesting boxes as presently the squeekers can cross over to the next box and like this past one did, sat on 2 eggs in the new nest(they can stay with their parents a little longer with the change). Can food that is fed from the parent get stuck in their crop to cause an obstruction (i.e. peas)? I did look down their throats to see but who knows what I was looking at. Sure not easy to hand feed the little buggers! Thanks again. steve
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Velo99
82 posts
Sep 19, 2005
5:32 PM
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If you have more than one squeak, put them together so than can keep each other warm.
G/L Yits
v99
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