information on handfeeding baby lovebirds

[indigo]

I have referred to this site a few times in the last bit. They seem to have good information. Once again I am considering hand feeding though - but I have nobody who will show me how to do it right. I may contact the nearby bird rescue and see if anyone there can make sure I don't mess up. The babies are nicer once I have had them out for a while, and I don't want that to change (them being sweeties).

http://www.parrotparrot.com/lovebirds/handfeed.htm

 

[Peta]

Indigo, once you know how it is very easy, and now that they are older it should be okay. I'm sure the bird rescue place will help, if not try to speak to a breeder who has babies, I'm sure they will be only too pleased to help. As I said before I'll help all I can.

 

[birdcrazy]

are tehy old enough where they will eat it off a small spoon? that way you wouldn't have to worry so much about it going down wrong. I'm sure you know this but just to remind you proper temp is very important.

 

[indigo]

Yeah I know temperature is critical to get right and I will try a spoon I think. Think I could give it a try with some well crushed up pellets mixed with water (just to see if they will take it off the spoon); made into a pea soup consistency. If they take to it I'll get some proper food though, but just to try it with them? Honestly, I am kind of prefering to hand feed them, I just don't want to kill them - funny that.

 

[Peta]

Make sure that you have a sryinge as well, Kito would NOT take it off the spoon, he hated it. I would have prefered the spoon but if he didn't like it he wasn't eating properly,

If this is something your serious about then you'll do great, If you decide this time isn't the right time there's always next time, and with ma & pa feeding them while they are so tiny helps.

 

[indigo]

See the thing is this: Serenity is being very over protective of her babies. Taking them out or putting them back usually results in my either getting bitten, or nearly getting bitten. It doesn't matter if shes in or out of her cage, she will charge at me and if she can she will at least try to bite. She is fine when I have the babies out, and always goes in to check on them when they go back in, but it is her aggression level I am not pleased with. Shes not a snuggly bird, but shes not this bad usually (as in when she does not have eggs). Pix is fine with them going in and out but when Serenity is doing her aggression thing he sometimes does too (I think its a monkey see monkey do type thing). He sees her reacting aggressively and he figures there is a threat.

 

[Peta]

Yeah thats perfectly normal, I can't get near Gemini or Leo when they have eggs, even to do a cage clean I have to wear my armour suit. They are evil,

 

[indigo]

I am thinking about getting some heavy duty (and long) rubber gloves to clean properly.

 

[birdcrazy]

I was going to say there's no such thing as a momma being "over protective" ) Even though Misty has never mated she still charges me any time i open the door and sometimes any time i walk near the cage - when she is sitting on eggs

 

[indigo]

I was just mentioning that I dislike being biten lol

 

[Peta]

I was just mentioning that I dislike being biten lol

Your not alone there, I worry now if I go a week without being bitten by one of them. :04: (Usually the little guys)

 

[indigo]

I think the little ones are more prone to bite because we are that much bigger than they are.

 

[Peta]

Yeah thats a fact, the linnies tho just sit there and look at me, and Harley, well she's our Rockie of the bird world, only she NEVER bites. :04: Its usually the tiels, or the Rosellas, little devils. And its always the same finger they go for each time. OUCH painful.