Unexpected hatching - help!

[Kiwibird]

That's a pity about the chick.
Every 30 minutes is going to be a busy time with those starlings! Wow!

 

[aart]

In the end, the chick didn't make it.

Bummer.

 

[Theblackpukeko]

Yeah, I was really sad, but I'm fine now. I had always suspected there was something wrong with him. And while he had been really energetic for a couple of days, he was very apathetic yesterday and I felt it was coming sooner or later.

The starlings are indeed a handful! They keep me busy all day. Luckily, I have super nice workmates, and they allowed me to bring them and were all excited to see them. So now it's a bit easier to take care of them during this first week. Can't believe that in a month they'll be all grown and joining the local flock!

Chickies are also well. I've got another one that's a bit smaller, it nearly froze to death in the first night after the move because it was too stupid to cuddle with everyone. Now it knows the way back to the heatlamp and is doing great!
The pukeko is still being bossed around by the chicks, despite being twice their size! Quite fun to watch them

 

[Theblackpukeko]

One of the starlings just died. Looks like it regurgitated it's food and suffocated, but I had last fed it 4-5 hours before that and it had been fine when I checked an hour ago. Anyone knows what could've happened?

 

[aart]

One of the starlings just died. Looks like it regurgitated it's food and suffocated, but I had last fed it 4-5 hours before that and it had been fine when I checked an hour ago. Anyone knows what could've happened?

Your theory sounds plausible....but I know nothing about 'artificially' raising starling chicks.

 

[Kiki]

Do you think that the food that you're feeding it could be the problem?

 

[Theblackpukeko]

Do you think that the food that you're feeding it could be the problem?

I don't think so, because I got the recipe from a website specializing in starlings. And the other baby is fine...

 

[Theblackpukeko]

The other starling is fine now. I was very worried because it refused to eat the whole morning. I don't know whether starlings also survive on the yolk for a while. It started to eat again, and now it's taking very small but frequent portions compared to yesterday.

I saved the small chick from freezing again today. I had just read a post about how to help weak chicks and found the advice to put the chick in a bandana around your neck, guess where it is now? Gave it some sugar water and warmed it up, it's singing nicely now and seems very content in there. Sleeping is gonna be an adventure! I'm gonna get some electrolytes tomorrow and give them to her. And then I'll see how she goes. She seems fine during the day and eats quite a lot of mealworms if I offer them. It's only during the night that there's a problem.
I weighed them today. The biggest one from the same nest (artificially incubated) is 51 grams, while she (under the hen) is only 24. I don't really know what to do to get her to grow stronger.

Oh god I feel like I'm always writing novels on here, when I could make it much shorter for you guys!

 

[aart]

I feel like I'm always writing novels on here, when I could make it much shorter for you guys!

You're fine!

I saved the small chick from freezing again today.

Why is it not staying warm in the brooder?
What are you using for heat?

 

[Redhead Rae]

I saved the small chick from freezing again today. I had just read a post about how to help weak chicks and found the advice to put the chick in a bandana around your neck, guess where it is now? Gave it some sugar water and warmed it up, it's singing nicely now and seems very content in there. Sleeping is gonna be an adventure! I'm gonna get some electrolytes tomorrow and give them to her. And then I'll see how she goes. She seems fine during the day and eats quite a lot of mealworms if I offer them. It's only during the night that there's a problem.
I weighed them today. The biggest one from the same nest (artificially incubated) is 51 grams, while she (under the hen) is only 24. I don't really know what to do to get her to grow stronger.

I've had bad experiences with small chicks. Like I said earlier, they either catch up and disappear into the crowd, or they stay small and have issues. Do all you can to help them, but don't drive yourself crazy trying. They will either start thriving, or they won't. I had one that that seemed perfectly normal, except that he was really little. He was a Chocolate Orp/Bantam Cochin cross. I named him Tiny. He seemed fine but was very small. Unfortunately, he suddenly keeled over at 7 months. It was so sad. He was a handsome little cockerel. Unfortunately, I cant find the pictures I took of him when he was full grown.

Here are some pictures with his hatch mates.

The chick in the background is a large fowl Dark Cornish chick that was 2-3 weeks younger than Tiny but still a good bit bigger.

Here is a picture of him when he was older and a picture of his brother at the same age. He was less than half his brother's size.