My Green-cheeked conures

Question
Hello

I have a pair of Green-cheeked conures that have bred. They have laid 5 eggs successfully, and last week one chick hatched which looks healthy. The mother is still incubating the other 4 eggs.

My question is, do they normally hatch out progressively over a few days / weeks or are they all supposed to hatch at the same time?? The rains have not come yet this season, so i dont know if this has something to do with it (i know they hatch out with a humidity of about 50 - 55%).

She laid them over about two weeks every couple of days.

I am a budding zoologist, but have had no luck finding this out on the net or in any books. I really want to be successful in rearing these magnificent creatures, but everyone i have asked (including my vet) dont know.

I would appreciate any assistance in this matter, as well as when would be the best time to take the chick out to hand rear it, and what formula i should give it and how many times a day.

I would just like to add that my intentions are good and for the benefit of my beautiful birds, as this question in other forums has failed to receive any feedback due to the question being blocked because of a "no breeding information policy" due to abuse of avian species etc.

Thanks a million!!

Sharina

Answer
It's normal for them to not all hatch the same day. I've had some that were even 5 days apart! Humidity does have a HUGE impact on hatching rate, when I incubate eggs, I leave the humidity between 80 and 95%. The reason humidity is so important is because without it, the chick sticks to the edge of the egg and dies. Also, they usually lay more eggs than what will hatch, so you may only have one baby this time around. Take the chick out RIGHT AWAY to hand feed it. (I leave mine with the parents for the first few days just because, like with humans, the first bit of gunk (food) that the mother gives the baby has LOTS of good immune system boosters in it.) Just make sure that you know how to hand feed babies. It's VERY easy to pop their crop, give them crop burn or crop stasis, and shouldn't be done by an amateur. If you've never hand fed a bird before, I suggest not starting now. Have your vet show you the proper way (AVIAN vet, not just any vet) and you can try it, but be very careful.
The best formula is roudybush and then weaning them onto roudybush pellets. Do NOT use Kaytee because there are so many harmful bacteria in it (their factory isn't very clean or sanitary). I would contact a conure breeder in your area (or online, I can help you if you wan) and have them tell you the specifics of feeding the baby (I've never done conures, just other birds).
HAHA were you on the "mytoos" forum? I can't stand Jerry... Come contact me through email and I can point you towards some REAL helpful forums and people. My email can be found in my website http://www.cockatootrainer.com