Weaning too fast? Should I be concerned?

[Clarissa]

Hello, everyone! if some of you read my introduction to the forums, I informed you all that I have a Lovebird named Valentine, and then am getting another soon after he's weaned from his mother...

Valentine and my new Lovebird are half siblings, from the same mother (different fathers). Valentine, when he was in the nest, his entire clutch was still in the nest and feeding from mother five weeks into their little feathery lives. Which was fine and all, it gave me plenty of time to prepare for him to come home with me, gave me time to make and buy toys, set up a cage, and stew in my anxious excitement to finally bring my little guy home... He was with his mother for eight weeks before she finally forced them out.

But this clutch is different... Oreo (the mother, a blue black masked lovebird) started with three eggs, Haku was the first to hatch, then two days later the second egg, and the third never hatched. The second baby died a week later, leaving Haku the soul survivor of the clutch.

Anyways, Haku has grown incredibly fast, at six weeks old (today) he's already as big as his mother and a tad bit bigger than my Valentine. But the thing is... she's already forcing him out of the nest?!

I was at my friend's house last night to spend some time with him and bond with him, but when they were putting the birds to bed, we noticed Haku outside the nest box. Which was odd, as he usually goes right in at bed time. He tried to go in, but Oreo, and a baby from Valentine's clutch (this baby stayed with mommy) pushed him out again!

After a while, Haku was allowed to return to the nest box... but...

Oreo seems to be tiring of her baby much quicker than she did with Valentine's clutch... Is this too soon for him? I mean, he's eating seed already, but still feeding from his mother as well. Was Valen maybe just a late bloomer?

 

[IolaniAviary]

I think that someone may have the age down incorrectly. Even my split long-feather chicks are smaller than their parents at 6 weeks. If the bird is successfully eating and drinking on his own there is no issue.

My question is why these birds are all caged together. There are chicks from a previous clutch in with a mother and her chick? That does not sound like a good idea IMO. The nest should be removed once the chicks hit a stage where they are out and about, a female getting ready to reproduce will often kick out her chicks and lay another set.

 

[MikeyTN]

I agree with the reply post above!!!! You shouldn't let them have multiple clutches anyway, its not good for the mother! You need to give her time to rest.

 

[IolaniAviary]

I believe there are different hens being used, but yes each pair should only be allowed 2 clutches per year. People tend to think the males will be fine, and they can be used over and over. NOT the case, often times males help feed chicks and take care of them. It is just as stressing, especially for parent raised. There should be two clutches a year by complete different pairs, and these should be separated by months for each pair.

 

[MikeyTN]

From reading it over again. It stated the two he's getting them from is from a friend who breeds them. The two had the same mother but different fathers. As he puts it as half siblings.

 

[IolaniAviary]

Right! It doesn't make a lot of sense because the mother of the one chick is raising a chick from the mother of her first bird. Which means the clutches must be pretty close, and the chicks are all housed together with the one mother. The whole thing is confusing haha.