If you have a parakeet chick (also known as a wavy parakeet), you can help it grow healthy and happy by giving it the right attention and providing it with the right environment to live in. Let her parents take care of her for the first few weeks, but try to be helpful and monitor everything. Once the chick begins to leave the nest, you can facilitate the weaning process; when it is ready, you can move it away from the artificial nest.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Offer the Best Environment
Step 1. Let the parents take care of the chicks
If you have a parakeet chick that was born to a parakeet pair at home, it is important that the parents do their best to give it all the attention. One aspect of creating the best possible environment for the little one is to help parents take care of them; they are the real experts, so you should let them do their job. However, you should always keep an eye on them to see if the chick is growing properly.
- Try to handle each specimen as little as possible, especially during the first 2 weeks.
- When they are still small they are very fragile and the long neck is not yet able to support the head; you have to be very gentle and move them slowly when you pick them up.
Step 2. Ensure a dry, dark and warm nest
Chicks are born blind and featherless, so they are very vulnerable to environmental factors such as light, heat, cold and humidity; the bird should stay in the artificial nest for the first few weeks to start developing in a protected environment. Make sure it's not in a place exposed to direct light; there should also be good air circulation, but the nest should be warm and insulated, away from drafts, cold or humidity.
- A good artificial nest should be made of wood and filled with plenty of nesting material, such as whole grain oats or safe wood chips. It is the parents who build the nest, but having a good, safe and discreet place, such as a wooden box, can help the chicks feel more protected.
- A cardboard box is generally considered a little too thin and it is better to choose wood.
- It should offer enough space for the birds to move around inside, but it should be small enough to make them feel safe and secure.
- Put the artificial nest in a cage, but try not to interfere; let the parents organize the environment. If possible, the ideal would be to stick the nest outside the cage and thus leave more space inside.
Step 3. Keep the environment clean
Adult budgies try to keep their chicks clean, but you can help them by making sure the baby's legs and beaks don't get dirty with dirty substrate or other debris. When the chicks begin to develop feathers, you can start cleaning the nest regularly; be careful if large patches of dirt form and clean these areas by collecting the debris and placing new clean substrate.
- You should also scrape the wooden insert at the base of the nest to clean it as needed.
- Do this task preferably once a week, but also more often if necessary.
- Place the chicks in a large bowl, previously lined with a soft cloth, while you wash the nest.
Method 2 of 2: Promote Chick Development
Step 1. Monitor the baby for the first few days
The parents take care of it to the best of their ability, but you can regularly check the health and development of the nest; if he starts showing signs of illness you should take him to the vet. When she is a few days old she should show some bright colored feathers and start gaining weight; generally when it is still minute it is more prone to pathologies or it could be attacked by red mites.
- If you don't notice any signs of growth or don't get fat you should contact your vet or feed him yourself if possible.
- Once the feathers begin to develop and grow to about 1cm long, you should feel more robust to the touch when you touch them.
Step 2. Check the little one for obvious development problems
If you are concerned that it is not growing properly you should consult a veterinarian for advice, but you can also observe some aspects to help the chick develop in a healthy way. The first thing to do is to inspect the area under the upper jaw (beak); if you see that food has accumulated, the beak may stretch too far.
- If you see food stuck in this area, gently remove it with a toothpick.
- If you think the legs are developing outward, you should add more substrate to the nest.
- If the chick is unable to stand up, stand on a perch or walk easily, it may have legs apart; see if it tends to pull them to the sides instead of keeping them straight under the body.
- If you are unsure or think your little one is sick, don't hesitate to contact your vet.
Step 3. Help him in the weaning phase
When the chick begins to come out of the nest you can help him in the process of weaning and abandoning the nest. When you notice that it starts wandering you have to get a shallow dish for the food and put it in the bottom of the cage; the little parakeet begins to eat from the saucer, thus entering the weaning phase.
- You should let the process follow its natural pace, but closely monitor the animal to make sure it is eating enough.
- Offer him a small bowl of fresh water as well, so he can learn to drink from there.
- Monitor the brood and parents; when the young are no longer fed by the adults for at least a week, they do not require food, they manage to eat the seeds by breaking them and fill the crop correctly, you can consider them weaned.
Step 4. Remove the chick from the nest
When it reaches this stage you can remove it from the brood; this helps him to grow and favors the development of other children. Place the weaned one in a large cage specially designed for young birds. Make sure there is plenty of food in different corners of it, but especially in the saucer on the bottom; do not forget that fresh water must always be present.
- Monitor the young bird carefully and check that it eats enough.
- Make sure his crop is full before covering the cage for the night.
- The goiter is the area where the parakeet stores food; when full you should notice a noticeable lump on the chest.
Step 5. Consult your veterinarian
Once the bird has developed and become independent, you can schedule its first check-up visit to the doctor. Having him checked out reduces the likelihood that he is suffering from some hidden problem; the vet is also able to give you some advice on the care to devote to your little feathered friend. However, it is a good idea to prepare for the meeting before you go to their doctor's office.
- Make a list of all the foods and supplements you are giving the bird.
- Try to be able to describe the environment in which the bird lives; also bring photos if possible.
