BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Birds lovie question...

hi everyone...

now i have a proven pair of lovies that are now breeding, im waiting 4 the first egg <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> i have been reading alot bout hand feeding but i think i would rather hand feed older birds 14,15 days. my question is if i do decide 2 go ahead and hand rear i would like 2 pull the babies at 14,15 days, but how mant times do i have 2 feed the chick a day at this age? do the need 2 be kept warm at this age or will they be ok in 1 of thoose plastic tanks u get at pet shops?

thx 4 any help:)

Michael:)

Two weeks is the perfect age to take them for handfeeding Michael - any earlier & they have to be fed more often & any later & they don't adapt easily to the handfeeding. At 2 weeks, they have to be fed every 4 hours or so. They will be fine in the plastic containers - just cover the top with a small towel to keep the heat in. If there are 3 or more babies, you shouldn't have to provide heat - but it is good to have a small heating pad available to set part of the container on - just be to safe. If they are kept in a warm room, they should be fine though. If there are only 1 or 2 babies, I would have the heating pad under 1/2 the container (turned on low) so they can sleep either on or off the heat.

hi Mavis, thx 4 the reply...

you say they nedd 2 be fed every 4 hours, is that through the night aswell?
also what does the consistency of the food hhave 2 be like at this age? Do u have any good links for handfeeding lovebirds?

thx so much 4 the help Mavis you a star:)

Michael

Overnight, you can let them go a little longer Michael. The last thing I did before going to bed was to feed the babies and then I would feed them first thing in the morning.

I really don't like to give handfeeding information in writing as it is much better to have someone show you and then watch you as you do it. Is there anyone who handfeeds birds in your area that you can talk to?

The consistancy changes as they get older - it gets a bit thicker as they get older. You have to be so careful about the temperature and only mix up what you will need for each feeding - never keep leftovers for the next feeding.

so how is for feeding times...

6.30am 1st feeding
12.00pm
6.00pm
11.00pm last feeding

and the i do the first feed again 6.30am the next morning
i got theese feeding time of of this site www.flyinggems.com/Lovebirds/handfeeding.htm
take a look and lt me know what you think:)

Michael

I raise hand fed lovies and I wait and pull them from the nest closer to three weeks of age and have had no problem with them accepting a syringe, especially at the second feeding! They are fed every 5-6 hours throughout the day, with last feeding being at MY bedtime. Then they get breakfast first thing upon my rising. My feeding routine might be 8AM, 1PM, 6PM, 11PM. I believe if you pull them younger you should feed at least once overnight.

You should, by all means, learn to hand feed from an experienced breeder. The syringe must be placed correctly, formula has to be about 102-104 degrees. You need to know about sour crop and other potential feeding problems. I recommend you purchase and read "Hand-Feeding and Raising Baby Birds" by Matthew M. Vriends, Ph.D. It's a wonderful reference.

Cute baby pictures Janet.
Yes - at 3 weeks & older, 5 hours between feedings is good.

Since it looks like you want to feed them at 5 hour intervals, Michael, it would be better to leave them with the parents for another week. They do fight the handfeeding at first - but like Janet says, they do adapt by the 2nd or 3rd feeding & then they eat well.

thx so much 4 the replies:)

janet i have read that u need to put the syringe in the left side of the beak... is that my left or the birds left when feeding?

any other advice will be great:)

If you're right handed: Put the syringe to the left side of the baby's beak angled down to the right, hence next to your left hand. Good luck!