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Birds--General/my baby lovebird

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Expert: - 5/14/2006


Question
hello...i have had a pair of pet lovebirds for a few years now and this spring they hatched a egg out and now i have three!? i am very concerned that mum and dad might try to harm the baby as it grows further...do you have to seperate the family or can they all leave together?

any advice on this will be great  

Answer
Hi, Katrina.  Thanks for posting.

The parents should take good care of their offspring, if everything is normal.  It isn't necessary to separate them, unless you are going to handfeed the babies.  Handfeeding the babies will ensure they are tame when they grow up.  In this case, the babies should be pulled completely from the parents at about 10 days of age and you would have to handfeed them using baby parrot handfeeding formula and a handfeeding syringe.  See my website for more information on this:
http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html

If you don't pull the babies for handfeeding, they most likely will not be tame.

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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