Things You'll Need
- Plastic hamster cage
- Heat mat (reptile mat or beer making mat)
- Thermometer with probe
- Hydrometer
- Thermostat
- Cotton wool balls
- Bird formula mix
- Antibacterial gel
- 3 small bowls
- 2 measuring spoons
- 2.5 milliliter plastic syringe
- Tissue/clean cloths
- Bird disinfectant
- Cleaning brushes
Instructions
Make a Brooder
Ensure the plastic hamster cage does not have any bars, so wind cannot get in. Remove any hamster equipment, such as hamster wheels.
Place the heat mat under one side of the cage.
Attach the thermometer to the heat mat.
Attach the hydrometer to the cage.
Set the thermostat to 35.5 degrees Celsius.
Soak cotton-wool balls and place them in the cage to increase humidity to about 55 percent.
Hand Rearing Baby Budgies
Place the babies inside the brooder after they hatch. Allow them time to settle in as babies may display signs of stress from being moved.
Read the instructions for making bird formula from your packet. The instructions vary depending on brand.
Boil the kettle.
Wait for the kettle to finish and allow the water to cool a little.
Wash your hands using antibacterial gel before and after handling the babies.
Measure out the appropriate amount of dry formula.
Measure out the necessary amount of water into a bowl using the measuring spoon. This is usually around 15 ml or 3 tsp.
Add the formula. Use the second measuring spoon to mix the formula and remove any lumps from the mixture.
Add more water, and mix again.
Leave the mixture to cool after you have added the correct amount of water and powder. The mixture should thicken slightly as it cools.
Fill the syringe with formula. Hold the syringe at an angle so you prevent any air getting in.
Make an "O" shape with your thumb and forefinger. Hold your hand against your stomach with the "O" at the front. Allow your thumb and forefinger to relax. This is how you hold the baby for feeding.
Place the baby in your palm, keeping it in a loose "O" shape toward your stomach.
Hold the full syringe in one hand, and use the thumb of the hand the baby is standing on to apply gentle pressure to the baby's head, so it tilts gently back and to one side.
Put the syringe in the baby's mouth, and slowly dispense a small amount of food -- no more than 0.3 ml at a time. The baby may not recognize the syringe at first, but will soon settle after it has eaten some food.
Remove the syringe and allow the bird to swallow. Wait a few seconds and repeat.
Wipe the baby's mouth with tissue or a clean cloth regularly to prevent food build-up around the head.
Record how much the baby ate and repeat Step 1 through Step 17 with any other babies.
Change the cotton wool regularly to keep humidity high.
Feed the babies regularly. A good schedule is 7 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Babies should not need night feedings, although especially weak babies may benefit from a late-night feeding.
Decrease the temperature as the babies age. Babies that are 2 days old and younger need 35 degrees to 36 degrees Celsius, 3 days old to 7 days old need 34.5 degrees Celsius, 7 days old to 21 days old require 32.5 degrees Celsius, and 21 days old and older require 30 degrees Celsius. Always reduce temperature in line with the age of the youngest baby.
Wash the babies cage using bird disinfectant and sterile cleaning brushes once a week, or more if necessary. Ensure you remove any bird droppings from the cage, and that the cage is thoroughly dried before the babies are transferred back into the cage.