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Hi everyone, I'm Sean and I'm from the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. Just thought I'd introduce myself before I post.  Well, my problems go like this. I have a pair of Grey's that I bought about 6 months ago from a woman that had them 4 years without ever breeding. I changed their living quarters, food, nestbox, and toys. About 3 months ago, they laid 3 eggs. One egg hatched and as I usually do, I left the chick with the parents for the first two weeks. The second egg hatched, the third proved infertile. After about a week, I checked on the babies and found only one in the box, and she had all toes chewed off one foot, and the other toes were chewed to the first knuckle as well as both of her wing tips. I pulled her and put her in the brooder. (She is now weaned and gets along extremely well despite her handicap. She will be my personal baby forever). My questions are; why would the parents eat their young like this and will it continue in the future? If the lay again, should I pull the babies once they hatch? If so, what should the brooder temperature be for a newly hatched chick? The parents are housed in a nice quiet, naturally lit, almost completely undisturbed area. Sorry to be so long and ask so many questions on my first post here, but I really don't know another way to answer these questions. Thanks and best regards.
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May be lack of proper nutrients in feed durring nesting time. What are you feeding them durring breeding/nesting?
Well my eyes have seen the horror
Of the coming of the flood
I’ve driven deep the thorny crown
Into the soul of someone’s son
Still I’ll look you in the eye
’cause I’ve believed in things I’ve thought
And I’ll die without regret
For the wars I have fought
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| Hi, that is horrible.....I've heard that some parents - are just bad like that. It happens once in a while to some breeders. They may have felt threatened, or anxious (esp. from their diet..this is a biggie). But now you know.....you'll need to pull the babies and feed them yourself -- this is a tremendous amount of work, and a huge responsibility, esp. from week 1. But at least you won't have any more injuries. I'm sorry this happened - it aweful to see that, also it could have been worse, some parents such as TOOS, will destroy their chicks, because they feel threatened, scared or just plain -- not good parents! good luck,
Manon
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| Hi, As the others said, pull them earlier than you usually would. They must have had some level of comfort with you to have given you babies in 6 months. In my opinion, they shouldnt be called "bad parents" , not yet at least. Also as the others said, diet. Sometimes what might work for one pair needs "tweeked" a bit for another. I had experiences like this in the past when I had Greys. Some pairs got better with each clutch (not all birdies know what to "do" when the kids hatch and I some that never got better and would just assume eat their children. Good luck!
Stacy Shue
Blake Aviary
www.blakeaviary.com
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