Something is killing my chicks!

[Moll. 1,770]

I thought the first ones had died because of the storm but not now.

First ones were 'under' an up turned nest, 2 dead, one of them partially eaten. The other 2 i tried to save by putting them with the other hen and chicks, but one died later that day and found the hen eating the other.

Then the following morning (whatever happens, happens during the night or early morning) found the remaining hens chicks disturbed, one of them had vanished completely. One dead with marks on it's body. The third chick was still alive and the parents looked after it all day yesterday, Hen was sitting on it last night.

This morning, it was on it's back frozen in the nest.

Could mice do this, spotted a mouse in the run this morning!

The dead chick when i picked it up had lice/mites leaving onto me.

Could it be a fledgling.

Or other canaries?

I am absolutely gutted for the canaries.

 

Help please because others have paired up and i dont want it happening again

Edited May 26, 2011 by Moll.

[skycat 6,173]

Defo mice Moll. When I had big aviaries I used to have to block up every tiny crack along the slabs where the aviary panels stood on them. Even then I found where they'd tried to gnaw their way in: field mice they were. I thought they were after the seed etc, but found a dead chick on the floor one day partially eaten: forgot to mention that the other day when we talked. I think it had fallen out of the nest, and the mice had got in. Extra protein for their own young at this time of year: even rabbits have been known to kill and eat the young of other rabbits to get more protein into their bodies to feed their young.

 

The mites would also make them too weak to survive: literally sucking the life out of them. Had that problem one year too. Don't know at what age you can sprinkle diatomaceous earth on chicks, but certainly something you could do with the adults. But you need to burn all nests and perches in a bad infestation: bloody hate the sodding things.

[bunnys 1,228]

Defo mice Moll. When I had big aviaries I used to have to block up every tiny crack along the slabs where the aviary panels stood on them. Even then I found where they'd tried to gnaw their way in: field mice they were. I thought they were after the seed etc, but found a dead chick on the floor one day partially eaten: forgot to mention that the other day when we talked. I think it had fallen out of the nest, and the mice had got in. Extra protein for their own young at this time of year: even rabbits have been known to kill and eat the young of other rabbits to get more protein into their bodies to feed their young.

 

The mites would also make them too weak to survive: literally sucking the life out of them. Had that problem one year too. Don't know at what age you can sprinkle diatomaceous earth on chicks, but certainly something you could do with the adults. But you need to burn all nests and perches in a bad infestation: bloody hate the sodding things.

hi there moll sky cat right mice will eat chicks fledlings but red mite are the master vampires of small chicks in the nest they suck the bloody life out of them ,leaving little bite type marks on them the hen usually chucks the chick out then has a effort to clan the nest.if using avaries put natural sites and not pans etc bunches of leylandi,are good then renew each clutch i believe an a few of other fancier pals that i know that mite dislike the pine effect of the leylandi. we hang the bunches on twine tied together kept away from communial perches and the wood spars of the flight etc this may give you a chance while you try to get on top of any mite that are about. atb moll bunnys.

[francolin 449]

moll regarding the mites ,one year a bought in some birds +red mites came free,found that in day they clustered under nest felts feeding from birds at night,cleaned and sprayed were poss,taped holes up under nest pans,put vim powder in nest pans replaced the nests makeing sure birds could not get at powder,soon cleared the mites they didnt like the old vim mice moll will spoil eggs,chicks,good luck.

[Meroman 105]

Moll I'd say its most likely mite, do as skycat and Bunny's says and burn all the perches and nests, if you still have young in the nests or eggs in them take them out,get a ball of moss, put it in the nest pan and fashion a new nest with a light bulb then replace the chicks or eggs in the new nest.

You need to spray all your cages with an antimite treatment, if you soak a beer mat in Jezes fluid for a few hours hook it behind the nestpan and any remaining mite wont get near the new nests...

[francolin 449]

another that seems to keep mite at bay is harkers spot on used it on pigeons it keeps em clean of most mites ect,for washing cages,jeyes fluid or duramitex diluted if its still available,agree with meroman about burning perches,a good clean and paint or blow torch cages sometimes get rid of mite but not always there hard little sods to kill off

[bunnys 1,228]

This his the problem getting shut of the little bugs ,the red mite can live up to around 9mths they are entropads hope i spelt this write ,the cycle they feed become full of blood then lay there eggs 3 5 days they hatch and are grey in colour almost invisible to the naked eye ,they feed become red cycle recomences .they can live up to 9mths without feeding ,the hot weather seems to give them a gee up .duramitex his good but they are known in some areas to become imune to the old malathion .one spot harkers good but good old ivomec his my choice of the one spots .also i have and fond the poultry shield very good andi use this each and every time i clean the cages ,keeping on top of them seems the best way can be heart breaking,when ya lose the chicks . some fanciers use tcp,diluted and can be good ,northern mite are buggers also they hitch a lift in they are host to the blue bottle fly.Keeping on top of the bugs the bacterias etc the cage bird can be susepticleto his hard work in its self BUT THE REWARDS AND IMMENCE enjoyment one gets when the regime his working out ways all the negatives and yes we all get negatives . atb bunnys

[bunnys 1,228]

ps just realised the harkers one spot his ivomec o.1 per cent

[Moll. 1,770]

They were not red mite, more lice like, than Northern mite.

The lice/mite were not responsible for the deaths though? Something was able to upturn the nests and partially eat some of the chicks.

 

I am always on top of the housing with regards to mites. Houses are washed and bleached regularly, and every time they are cleaned out sprayed with a combination of benzyl bezonate and Aludex (Amitraz). Bedding is powdered with powder mite killer.

 

All hens and canaries have been sprayed/dabbed with frontline.

 

There is definitely a mouse getting in, and my money is on that. One of the hens is sitting again so some live catch traps will be put inside and kill traps outside.

 

Other than that i don't know what else i can do?

[Meroman 105]

Put down some poison in block form, secure it so the mouse cannot carry it away because with the seed that is scattered from the birds they have a ready food supply and carry off other food stuff including poison to store it and by tying it down it ensures they eat it and die.

[Moll. 1,770]

I don't think i can put poison down anywhere because of the hens Meroman

[k94v 12]

I don't think i can put poison down anywhere because of the hens Meroman

hi moll hows your mice ive got the little shits now ive done ££s today on live traps and poison doing me head in lol :gunsmilie: :censored:

[Meroman 105]

I don't think i can put poison down anywhere because of the hens Meroman

 

 

Moll you could cut both ends off a mineral bottle securing the poison inside the centre of it so the mice cannot carry it away and your hens will not have access to it then...