baby budgies

[dedah]

hi, im concerned about my baby budgies, i clean their nest box once a week and this week i found two of my 5 chicks were dead. it was the youngest 2, and they were flat! the thing is i think they died just after the last time i cleaned the nestbox...a week ago. so now im worried about illness or anything resulting from the remaining chicks being exposed to the dead bodies for almost a week! please respond if you have any advice for me

[Florence]

Dedah, if you want to be completely sure about them having no illnesses etc. (I wouldn't see why that would be so) you will have to see a vet who can run some tests...<br><br>Post edited by: Florence, at: 2008/11/01 17:50

[dedah]

so is there a chance for illness? because the chicks seem fine, do you think i should just disinfect the nest box? the oldest chick is sticking its head out of the nest box now and its 4 weeks old they should be ready to leave the nestbox right? i dont want to let my budgies breed again, when can i seperate the parents so they wont start again? ( the daddy bird is already bugging the mommy bird!) and one more QUESTION

[Florence]

dedah, obviously when they are separated they cannot produce more babies you know that

I don't think they are infected at all. I am a great believer in nature, meaning that all bacteria and viruses usually get sorted out without intervention of human beings

[dedah]

i was asking WHEN is it ok to seperate them? whenthe babies fledge?
the oldest is trying to leave the nestbox and when she does the hen chases her back in...is this normal?

[Florence]

That would be around 3 to 6 weeks, Dedah.

[dedah]

so its ok to seperate their parents when they are 3-6 weeks? who should the chicks stay with (the mom or dad) untill they learn to care for themselves properly? im sorry im very new to the world of birds (i was always a cats person) i actually found the budgie hen on a golf course when she was a still a baby! that was a few years ago and i fell in love with parakeets ever since! but i dont know anything about breeding and its really awesome to be able to ask questions and stuff from someone who does know