New Addition to the Family! =D

[Cecilia]

So as most of you may know it's been a while since I have been on the forums. I was pregnant with my son and wanted a Macaw. After everyone's advice I decided against that. I've had lovebirds in the past and decided that's what I will stick with. My son is now 7mos old.. and lone be hold.. I ended up getting pregnant not even two month after I had him... LOL not cool! So I have my 5 yr old son and my 7mo old son. NOW I'm having a girl! My husband and I are thrilled....

Back to the lovebird... Well, I fell in love with this little one because he hatched on my birthday (2-26-2011 was the hatch date) and I've always wanted a black masked Lovebird. The mom was a So here are some photos and a video! Hope everyone enjoys. My 5 yr old named the bird Kix. (have not got the bird sexed)

Cecilia

 

[Boo]

I love Black Masked lovebirds!!! Kix is so cute ! Congrats on the new bird, and your coming-soon daughter lol!

 

[Cecilia]

thank you so much! He/she is a funny one. I was trying to upload a video but it keeps giving me an error... =)

 

[MikeyTN]

Lovebirds are adorable!!! welcome back to the forum and congrats on your new additions to the family!!!

 

[Cecilia]

I'm trying to figure out how to change my avatar... lol it's been so long..

 

[Cecilia]

Okay so question.. He is on 3 feedings a day. 7am 2pm and 9pm. He isn't even eating 5ml of the formula before he turns his head... The woman I bought him from said when he does that he is ready to go on 2 feedings a day. Lately he has be squawking consistently in 3-4 inter-volts this annoying noise until I whistle at him. Normally he does it while he is nestled falling asleep, but sometimes he continues for 40min or so... What is that noise he is making and what does it mean? Today is the first day I am switching him to 2 feedings a day.... and it seems like he is continuously looking at me like... umm when are you going to feed me... LOL I keep fresh seed and water everyday... He has been trying to fly more and more each day... The weaning is very new for me... any advice? Also he is still in a tank with a heating pad on the side and bedding like you see in the photos. When is it good to put him in his cage?

 

[Cecilia]

Okay so I gave in and fed him 6ML and he didn't want anymore so i cleaned him up and he is happy again... He is was playing on me for 20 mins and tried to get back to his tank so I put him back in... So I suppose he still isn't ready for 2 feedings...

 

[MikeyTN]

He's old enough to go into a cage now. Just be watchful making sure he's not cold!!! I would have a open bottom, what I mean is no grates! Put food on the bottom, in a dish and also sprinkled on the bottom. Along with a water dish. He will learn pretty quickly. When I used to raise them, they wean pretty quickly without trouble...he looks old enough that one feeding would do...is he not flying yet?

 

[Cecilia]

He is trying to that's for sure... He was looking at me all weird like, asking me if I was going to feed him... Then when I did, he tried to go back to his tank, and he went straight to his seed, and fresh banana. Then straight to the heating pad.... and asleep he went. Lately though I have noticed him staying away from the little heating pad... So I'm assuming he isn't cold... But after eating he always goes to lay next to the little heater pad.

 

[MikeyTN]

He should be flying any day now....should be weaning soon too! He's a cutie pie for sure..

 

[Cecilia]

But how do I know where he is ready to go down to two feedings? This morning he only ate 3ML and walked away with his beak in the air...and then this afternoon he had 6ML and in another 50 mins he gets one more feeding... but when is a good sign of moving to two feedings?

 

[Cecilia]

I got him to fly tonight. We were having fun getting him to fly from my son to me.. He/she wouldn't go to my son... LOL Attached is the cage set up I have more toys to alternate weekly. It wont let me upload the video... sorry

 

[Cecilia]

His cage set up. minus 1-2 things here and there... I got it for getting a baby sugar glider, and decided a lovebird is what I wanted instead. So I returned the Running wheel, water bottle, and hide away.. and took down one of the round rope toys... So I have a ladder to put in as well as the blocks attached to a chain. =)

 

[MikeyTN]

He's a fledgling now. Cut it down to two feeding...put him in the cage now. You should be able to cut his feeding to one a day in a couple of days. Then watch him eat. Once he starts to eat, stop feeding. But do check his weight and make sure he is eating on his own. If not, resort back to handfeeding...

 

[Cecilia]

Awesome Thanks! I put him in his cage this morning. I'm assuming a boy till I get him sexed. I'm a stay at home mom / college student so I spend plenty of time with him, when he isn't sleeping. Plus his cage is behind my PC more so in between my husband and my pc's so he always see's whats going on. We are moving into a BIGGER place on the first so he will be able to enjoy seeing the Entire living room being active. I got such an awesome video of my son laughing while he flew off him to me. It was priceless.

 

[Cecilia]

Okay So I fed him at 8:40am for his 2nd feeding when should I feed him? 8:40pm?

 

[Cecilia]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LZWVjoXiMk]YouTube - Kix first flight 20110406 2039[/ame]


The video of me getting him to fly to me. My son was so excited! lol
Excuse his attire he was getting rdy for bed... LOL

 

[MikeyTN]

Okay So I fed him at 8:40am for his 2nd feeding when should I feed him? 8:40pm?

Yes, that's perfect!

I love Lovebirds, they're really smart birds!!!!! The ones I raised before flies to me on command. Don't ever get him a mate, they have a tendency to get wild if you get them a mate! Some people don't have that problem, but mine started attacking me after I got him a mate even though I raised him as a hatchling...Very cute video you have there, thanks for sharing!!!!!

 

[Cecilia]

Yeah I had that issue when my little sister got a lovebird for herself and decided to put them in the same cage together... LOL So the bed you see in the photo posted above in the cage.. I ended up taking out due to him staying in there ALL day. He wouldn't come out of the bed unless he saw the syringe... LOL So he's not too happy but he will have to get used to it for now.. I mainly kept it in there so he would have a warm place to go to if he got cold.. But he is using it just stay in there and hide... then he screeches consistently! lol little booger.

 

[MikeyTN]

They do like to huddle close to something or hide in something!!!