Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 1/12/2007

Question
Hi, I have a male and female keet.  The female laid several eggs in her little box a little before christmas. She sits on the eggs all the time and only comes out to feed or be fed by the male and eat herself. Sometimes he sits in the box with her. Last night we heard a ton of ruckous and noticed this morning she has a small baby bird in with her other 4 eggs (she threw the shell off to the side.  Is it safe for the male bird to stay in the nest with her?  I noticed he still goes in a little while and I can every few hours hear the little bird screaming?  

Answer
Hi, Melvina.  Thanks for posting!

The male should be feeding his mate (the female), while the mate feeds and cares for the babies.  It's OK for the male to go inside the nesting box.  So, yes, he needs to stay in with the family.  If you are hearing a baby keet screaming, you need to investigate why the baby is screaming.  Babies "beg" to be fed, but this isn't the same as screaming.  If a baby is being picked on by the male or female, you may need to remove any babies that hatch and handfeed them yourself.  However, this depends on what's going on inside that nesting box.  

Chrys