Green Cheeked Conure - Chicks

Three out of my four Green Cheeked Conure chicks have came out of the breeding box. There have been some big differences as opposed to my Indian Ringnecked Parrots. Firstly they have been very staggered when they would come out at least a few days between each one unlike the Ringnecks that all come out within three days (I guess more related to staggered hatching). Secondly the conures will go back into the box after emerging something the Ringnecks simply did not do, once they where out they where out.

Green Cheeked Conure - First chick out of the box

My first Green cheeked Conure has emerged from the nesting box. I caught it peeking out the entrance hole last night and then he was out this morning. Not quite fully feather yet but flying.

Another Death!!!

I have lost another Scarlet Chested Parrot this time a female I found her at the bottom of the aviary with this weird brown dust at the back of her neck. She had not hatched her first clutch of eggs and never really left the box after and was now sitting on her second clutch. I hope the deaths are unrelated as I could have a real problem on my hands if not. I'm seeking some further information from a forum on the matter.

Mystery Death

I discovered my Scarlet Chested male dead today. He was a recent addition to my aviary and fathered two young recently. He was on an upper branch facing outwards with a tuft of feathers missing on the back of his neck. I suspect attack from a bird exterior to aviary such as butcher bird, the death must have been instant as he did not even have time to fall from the branch...He will be missed he was not only a good breeder but he was also had a lot of personality, with a bit of luck he may still father some further young but I will still need a new male to replace him.

Cage maintenance

Today I introduced fresh branches into all cages. Giving the birds something to chew and to help with boredom. I try to maintain fresh branches but I try not to change them during breeding times as I might upset the process.

I also always keep cuttle bone in the cages for chewing and calcium intake (at least I believe it good for that).

I have had to do some repair work to the rear of the main aviary as some wood rotted and fell away. If I still had my smaller grass parrots in the aviary it could have created a perfect escape opportunity.

The two Scarlet Chested Parrots that sat on eggs have never fully left there boxes and on inspection today I noticed that they both have new eggs. I will see what happens with these new eggs but I probably should have removed the boxes to give each of them a rest.

Worming

I choose to worm my birds with water based wormer twice a year. Based mostly on advice from my father I worm healthy birds to keep them healthy and improve vitality and seems to work.

I have wormed only my Indian Ringnecked Parrots and Princess Parrots as they are the only ones without young in or just out of the nest. I didn't know if it was recommended to worm birds with chicks and the only advice I could get is from a forum advising to to not.

Green Cheeked Conure - Chicks progress

The Green Cheeked Conure chicks are feathering up well. They are lot more active when I take them out to clean the box - flapping wings, climbing the wire wall of the aviary and biting (I suspect because they have not been handled as much as my Indian Ring Necks were).

Green Cheeked Conure - Feathers

The Green Cheeked Conure chicks are developing there pin feathers. Not much to report otherwise, there parent have upped there intake of food (specially seed) to cope with feeding there rapidly growing chicks.