Birds--General/Love birds

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Expert: - 1/20/2008


Question
Is there any kind of special food to start feeding the pair  when they start making their nest? Will I need to hand feed the babies or will the parents take care of them?

Answer
Hi, Pamela,

Your birds should already be on a diet of a variety of healthy, nutritious human foods, pelleted food, with seed left as an occasional treat.  Just making a nest doesn't mean they need special food.  However, if your birds are on an all-seed diet, their diet is not healthy and is lacking.  Therefore, you may need to supplement their diet.  Birds won't readily eat food they don't recognize as food, so you just have to keep offering any new food every day until they try the new food(s).  However, if they are about to lay eggs, you can't change their diet now.  It would be too stressful for them.  Ensure there is a cuttlebone in the cage to supplement any needed calcium.

The parents should care for their offspring, as long as they are old enough, etc.  However, with lovies, babies won't be tame enough to handle if they are not handfed by you.  Visit my website for more information on handfeeding, etc.:  www.angelfire.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html.  www.birdchannel.com is also a good website.  

Chrys

Birds--General

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Chrys Meatyard

Expertise

I`ve been raising/breeding/handfeeding/selling parrots for over 20 years (parakeets/budgies, cockatiels, 6 subspecies of conures, parrotlets, amazons, lovebirds, etc.). I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England. I can provide advice in raising healthy birds, handfeeding/weaning babies, some health problems (although I'm NOT an avian veterinarian), nail/beak/wing clipping, general husbandry, etc. I also have experience with racing/showing homing pigeons. I cannot diagnose specific illness over this website. If you suspect your bird is ill or if you have an emergency, contact an avian veterinarian or emergency pet clinic ASAP.

Experience

Experience: Over 20 years raising parrots and over 13 years raising pigeons. Organizations: Currently, American Racing Pigeon Union and American Federation of Aviculture. Prior member Miami Valley Bird Club, Southern Ohio Pigeon Association, National Cockatiel Society, Miami Valley Sportsman's Club, others. Publications: Monthly newsletters of bird clubs.

Publications
I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England.

Education/Credentials
American Federation of Aviculture, completed Level I course, Fundamentals of Aviculture. Keeping/breeding parrots and other birds for over 20 years.

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