Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 12/26/2007

Question
We have a pair of budgies that are 18 months old.  In the last 4 months the hen has nested three times and laid approx 6 eggs each time.  The chicks have hatched but seem to die within 24 hours of being born.  She has also thrown out some eggs that have had chicks in them.  She has manage to raise one chick that is now about 2 1/2 months old.  There was another from this batch but it died not long after leaving the nest, for no apparent reason.  The male is very attentive and is always taking her food, and fed the surviving chicks.  Can you tell me why all the babies are dying?

Answer
Hi, Tania,

Happy holidays!

Well, I can try to help with this problem.  However, you are going to have to provide a lot more details so I can see if I can figure out what the problem might be.  I need to know details like type of diet your birds are on, type of breeding set up, type of nesting box and if you put anything inside the box, are these birds housed with other birds, health of the adult birds, etc.  This problem may be as simple as the birds being overbred.  Chicks do not die for no reason.  They must be sickly when hatched or are not being properly nourished, adults may not be healthy.......there can be many reasons why chicks don't survive.  However, the survival rate of the chicks being produced by this pair is very poor and there is a reason.  Please provide as many details as you can and I'll see if I can help.

Thanks.

Chrys