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Birds--General/baby love birds

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Expert: - 3/21/2006


Question
I asked before when I would be able to handle and remove my baby love birds from the cage with their parents.
I have been handeling the babies each and every day and serveral times a day.
I have 3 baby love birds, 2 of which are growing and developing rapidly. They are approximately 14 days old. I also have 1 bird whom is about 12 days old and a lot smaller and under develeped than the first two.   Can I remove the two older birds and feed during the day time only, and leave the smaller bird in the care of the parents, or do I need to keep the three birds all together.

Answer
Hi, Joanne.  Thanks for posting.

It's perfectly OK to separate the babies.  In a full clutch of babies, I usually remove the first 2 oldest babies for handfeeding at about 7-8 days of age to ensure the younger babies get fed enough by the parents (the babies that cry usually are fed first) and this also helps eliminate some of the stress of feeding on the parents.  

Keep handling the smallest baby though to ensure it imprints on humans so it will be tame when it gets older.  When the younger baby grows a bit more, you can then pull it completely from the parents for handfeeding, etc.

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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