questions about the babies, taming, and cages

[raquel]

My three babies are 8 weeks old and I had been holding them for a few minutes a day. Now one is ok with it, another will tollerate it and the other fights me. I have to actually catch them and hold them or they fly off. I have just clipped their wings. That helped. Should I reach in and catch them or what? I know I should do the step-up with them. When I take them out the parents are hollering like crazy and that makes it hard. They don't seem that interested in millet, yet.

I think I'm gonna move mama to another cage soon. And daddy at ten weeks. Will this make a differance. I want them to just be a velcro bird and play on a gym outside the cage. Not fly around scared. I know it will take time. Any suggestions would be great.

What do yall think?

[Mummieeva]

I would not remove a parent unless the parent is being mean to them(or trying to lay eggs again).Just keep taking them(babies) out as often as you can. I would try to teach them step up still because it can go a long way. They will go through periods were they seem less tame and want to go on their own. I would work a little more with trying a dowel with the one who does not seem to like being grabbed out. I am more of a open cage and let them come out type when they do not like being removed by me. How does he/she do once out of the cage? Sometimes mom and dad can see babies being treated well and they calm down some too.Hope i am making sense.

Steph

[raquel]

First mom and dad doesn't calm down even when I hold the babies right in front of them. Once they are out of the cage the one is still just crazy, and the other two aren't too bad but I have to hold or they will fly away. The main reason I'm thinking of moving the mama is cause I caught her with dad doing the naughty stuff again.

[LauraO]

I would sort of step back a little with the babies. The behavior they are demonstrating is very normal for babies of this age. A wing clipping is a great start. I'm wondering how many feathers you clipped? This will make a difference.

The step up command is ABSOLUTELY necessary in continuing to move forward with the babies. While babies don't mind being grabbed and handled, lovies at this age and beyond generally don't like being grabbed. This goes for even the tamest of birds. Babies can learn to step up at five weeks old so this is your next step. To do this, you must make sure the wings are clipped sufficiently but not too much. I would suggest you go in a darkened room where the babies can see but can't fly around to work on the step up command. You can try having them step up on your finger, but if they are really nervous about this, you can try a stick or dowel. I would especially work with a dowel on the baby who's really scared. No matter how hard we try, some lovebirdies just aren't hand friendly and the more we grabbed them, the less trusting they are. It doesn't mean this baby won't make a great pet bird, it just means it may never be handtame.

Taking the babies in another room to work with them is also a great way to get them away from the parent's screams. However, the more you intergrate the parents into taming the better. Of course, if the parents are not tame this is difficult. You may want to let the whole family out and watch the fun.

Good Luck. Hope this helps.
:D

[raquel]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will start going to the bath with them. The thought of letting the whole family out at once wow that would be a challange. The parents aren't tame at all. The daddy will let me get close to the cage and talk as long as I hide my hands. I think he got a bit lonely while mom was busy in the nestbox. I clipped about 5 feathers. I started out with just a bit off at a time until they were flying just enough.