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Post by blueeyedchick on May 8, 2019 9:14:33 GMT
I'm trying to be a veggie Helen a gradual process, animal welfare is my reason. Yes, annoying about the cost of postage of Mealies to Ireland? Hope all is well with your eggs! Awfully wet day here. poor birds they look like drowned rats!
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Post by hfriel on May 8, 2019 12:58:40 GMT
Despite temperatures in single figures and rain pouring down, lovely Lucy looks as snug as a bug in her feathery nest.
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Post by springtime 66 on May 8, 2019 13:15:48 GMT
she's in the best place out of the horrible wet day and lower temps again, lovely cosy nest
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Post by WildlifePaul on May 8, 2019 13:52:41 GMT
Lucy's got the right idea Lovely picture Helen!
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Post by elle on May 8, 2019 20:18:24 GMT
Food intolerances are a pain in the butt, I have a few myself, it’s always the things I like to eat as well i’ll be Looking forward to hatchlings coming along, your right, weather is horrendous! More like winter where I am, thank heavens for central heating I say!! Elle xx
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Post by sammi on May 8, 2019 20:19:28 GMT
What an absolute beauty ......Iovely photo.
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Post by hfriel on May 15, 2019 21:53:43 GMT
6 out of 8 chicks hatched on Monday Was all excited and about to post my good news but then I read Paul’s tragic news.....I was so upset....Paul you’re doing a fantastic job, you’re a real ‘Birdman’ very few would do what you’re doing.... Matt just love the home office and wild life garden....pond definitely on my list for next year. ‘Lovely Lucy’ and ’Marvelous Mark” are greet parents, although Mark not great with the ‘Poo’ yet as seen in Video.......
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Post by matt on May 15, 2019 22:02:03 GMT
I think he's leaving that one for Lucy! Great vid and fab news!
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Post by sammi on May 16, 2019 7:21:05 GMT
Lovely video Helen. Yes he looks like he isn't quite sure what he's supposed to do Hope they all thrive.
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Post by suep on May 16, 2019 8:04:57 GMT
Great news Helen. Lovely video - Marks’ reaction to the poo did make me laugh, typical male Sue
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Post by Beechnut on May 16, 2019 8:15:33 GMT
Nice video Helen - poo-wise, in the first few days the GT females usually eat the poo sacs, so the males leave it to them. Is it the same with BTs?
Did your other 2 eggs hatch?
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Post by WildlifePaul on May 16, 2019 11:35:31 GMT
Lovely video Helen, I am glad everything is going well for you!
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Post by elle on May 16, 2019 15:18:08 GMT
Loving the video Helen, Looks like lovely Lucy has got a lovely cosy nest there, & now a lovely family! Hope things continue to go well, hopefully Mark will get the hang of his duties soon Elle xx
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Post by hfriel on May 16, 2019 18:50:04 GMT
Did your other 2 eggs hatch? No sadly, for some reason I have always had one unhatched egg but 2 is unusual, considering she hardly ever left the nest during incubation. Meanwhile Marvelous Mark has got the hang of the poo sacs she stood back and let him have the honor so he’d no choice Slightly concerned that there are no caterpillars or mini mealies from my ‘Scott feeder’ being offered to the chicks, they seem to be feeding them suet from suet balls, I know a lot of people take these away during this time, but I’ll hold off till tomorrow and search pet shops for larger mealies. I think they actually feed the chicks regurgitated suet so it has some liquid in it. They have done this other years without obvious harm, but I’d prefer real live food
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Post by elle on May 19, 2019 18:35:32 GMT
Helen, glad things are going ok, but my blue tits have also avoided all the minis, haven’t touched them at all, & my female is also feeding the babies suet and sunflower hearts! I have never taken away any food, I think the parents plus other local birds still need the various choices of food Elle xx
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Post by hfriel on May 20, 2019 19:35:12 GMT
Chicks a week old today, one has just disappeared, no idea what happened, 6 healthy chicks one day and 5 next day.
The remaining 5 all look healthy and the same size.
I took away the suet feeders Elle 2 days ago and they started taking the mealies.
WARNING Don’t read any further if you’re squeamish
While they were being fed broken pieces of suet, the parents had to prize their poo sacs from their rear ends some of the time, but now with only live food it just oozes out easily like toothpaste. So definitely a hydration issue with suet and sunflower diets when they’re very young.
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Post by WildlifePaul on May 20, 2019 20:18:48 GMT
Seems to be few deaths last 2 days Hope your remaining 5 stay healthy Helen
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Post by elle on May 20, 2019 22:40:23 GMT
Mine were exactly the same Helen, healthy chicks one day, then one gone the next Elle xx
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Post by blueeyedchick on May 21, 2019 7:16:34 GMT
Hope all 5 are still with you this morning Helen?. Yes sounds like a problem somewhere with the poo sacs however at least you know they are being fed. My middle 3 chicks passed in similar way dehydration issues I think so your deaths could be related same. I think that is the most likely are they bringing in plenty Caterpillars as they've waned here?
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Post by suep on May 21, 2019 8:00:13 GMT
Hi Helen, so sorry about the two chicks lost. You would think the parents would know about the chicks needing moisture but I guess they are like some human parents and have to learn on the job. I think the moisture problem probably accounts for a lot of chick deaths. As Elle says, other birds should be allowed choices but many are also feeding chicks at this time of year so I guess the predominant food must be live to sustain them. If only we could label them ‘for chicks’ and ‘for older birds’! Sue
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Post by sammi on May 21, 2019 9:29:16 GMT
Hi Helen Sad news about your two chicks. Seems probably a food/ hydration issue as others have said. Maybe these very heavy rain showers have mare of an effect than we think. Such fine margins for these little chicks. Hope the others thrive.
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Post by YorksherLass on May 23, 2019 9:09:54 GMT
So sorry Helen to read you've also lost two chicks, but that the others will be OK.
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kevin
Senior Member
Posts: 123
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Post by kevin on May 23, 2019 9:37:21 GMT
Helen it’s sad that you have lost two chicks, but hopefully the others will be ok.
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Post by hfriel on May 23, 2019 11:30:05 GMT
Thanks guys, sorry I’m not getting the time to post as often as I would like but I try to read everybody else’s. I only lost one chick so far, it was sadly Paul who lost the 2 chicks overnight if I remember correctly. I had 8 eggs with 6 hatching and now I have 5 hopefully healthy in the nest. I’ve now managed to source mealworms in large amounts, but they are ridiculously expensive, somebody is making a fortune here. But they’re worth it .
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Post by suep on May 23, 2019 12:53:02 GMT
I’ve now managed to source mealworms in large amounts, but they are ridiculously expensive, somebody is making a fortune here. But they’re worth it . Shame I couldn’t have forwarded mine to you Helen, I had loads of Mealworms and a brand new order of waxworms - fortunately the sparrows, blackbirds and robins are loving them. However, glad you have managed to get some and I hope your birds are appreciative of your brilliant efforts. Sue
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