New baby lovebird!

[Daiqattack10]

(:
I finally got her.
I've been waiting since this past summer. The breeder i got my other bird from hadn't had any lutino babies until now, and i just got her today.

Only thing is, i think she's a cinnamon?
Lutinos don't have blue rumps right? And they're darker yellow/red.
And the band on her beak, lutinos don't have that.
I'm not an expert though lol.
What do you guys think she is?

Idk if this makes any difference, but the breeder says her parents are a green split to lutino, and a lutino. But i'm assuming maybe she got the lutino part confused with a cinnamon?
Either way, one parent is green, one's yellow. Lol.


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs778.ash1/166832_182409601779419_100000311415543_515517_1723 448_n.jpg

http://l27.sphotos.l3.fbcdn.net/hphotos-l3-ash1/hs756.ash1/164722_181832945170418_100000311415543_512564_2729 8_n.jpg

[linda040899]

Your new baby is definitely cinnamon and also genetically a female. Dad is a double split (if dad is the green bird) because females show sex linked colors but can't carry them. Dad is split ino and cinnamon.

You're right. Inos don't have blue rump feathers and they don't have dark splotches on their beaks. My best guess right now would be Pallid (Australian Cinnamon) Green.

[Daiqattack10]

Thankyou for confirming Linda (:
I'm slowly getting the hang of this lovebird color mutation thing.
I really appreciate it (:

[linda040899]

The baby is really cute! :)

[Daiqattack10]

Thankyou (:
Its really weird because i got my other bird when his wings had been clipped, but she's fully flighted. I had no idea they could fly so good. My other bird had his wings clipped in july and he still isn't a great flyer. But she's like a boomerang.

I need your opinion on something else though. :(

I just found out this baby was born Dec. 1st, which makes her about 6 weeks old.
I thought lovebirds take around 8 to wean?
She's not eating by herself.
If she eats any seeds, i have to feed them to her one by one.
I'm really worried about her.
She's flapping her wings and peeping, and i'm not experienced with baby lovebirds but i think she's begging for food. Either that or she's got some kind of nervous tick or something lol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9bXXpNEAaE

What should i do?

[linda040899]

I didn't even have to watch the video for more than 30 seconds to tell you that your baby is not weaned! Shame on the breeder for selling you one so young!

You have a couple of choices. Let the breeder know the baby is not eating on her own and will need to be hand fed for at least another 2-3 weeks. If the breeder won't take the baby back to finish weaning, you're either going to have to hand feed yourself or find someone who can. I actually am close enough where I can help if you have no other options.

Bottom line is this. The baby will die of starvation without formula. Judging by the amount of time you've had her, I'd say you are running out of time to do something. I'm going to send you my phone number by PM if you need my help.

[linda040899]

If you are unsure about hand feeding with a syringe, a plastic teaspoon will work just as well. While it's a bit messy, the baby does the work and you simply keep the spoon full of formula.

Anyway you slice it, this baby needs food and needs it soon. I currently have 2 youngsters that are just weaning and they are closer to 9 weeks old. I finally stopped the morning and lunchtime feedings this past Friday. Heaven forbid, however, they don't get fed before they to go sleep!

Eight weeks is the right time frame for parent fed babies. Nine - twelve is more like it for hand feds.

[Daiqattack10]

Alright, thankyou.
I'm going to go get her some now.

[linda040899]

OK. I will post instructions on how to feed her (temperature, consistency, etc.) for you. Just let me know which formula you get.

[peteandtilly]

in the video it looked like the baby was trying to get the other bird to feed her... poor thing !!! hope everything goes well

[linda040899]

That's exactly what was happening! Breeders like the one that sold this baby give those of us who do it the right way a bad name! >:

[Daiqattack10]

Yes, my other bird regurgitated for her once. Which is surprising because he isn't too fond of her.

I went to incredible pets and the only formula they had, was the kind they feed their own babies. Its the Kaytee Exact hand feeding formula.
They told me have it be 105-106 degrees.
When i got home she was screaming so i heated up the water, then mixed it into a bowl with the formula.
I made it a bit more watery because i dont know which formula she was on before, and her last hand feeding was yesterday morning.

oh, and The breeder is out of town delivering a baby bird.

I had a plastic spoon and i put her on a towel and she ate it. I fed her until her crop looked full and she didn't want anymore, then i rinsed the spoon and put some warm water in it she she drank it.
Then i had to wipe off the messy little girl.
She's sitting in her tent in her cage right now preening herself.

She's stopped the wing flapping and head bobbing and chirping.
I don't know if i did anything wrong but its definitely better than her not eating.

Any suggestions?

[linda040899]

I've got no problems with what you've said here! 106F for formula temperature is ideal and you can safely go as high as 108F without fear of crop burn. While Kaytee Exact is not my first choice, it will work for a baby her age. It won't be her only source of food. After she's eaten, make sure there is other food available for her to try. Homemade birdie bread, fresh vegetables, sprouted seed, millet, and small seed are all good things to leave for her. Babies are naturally curious and will try almost anything you put in front of them. I would even add a few small pellets, just so she knows what they are.

Offer her the formula 3 times/day and let her eat what she wants. Follow up with water to clean the formula out of her mouth. When you begin to eliminate feedings in about 2 weeks, start with the noon feeding. Next one to go is the morning one. Drop night time last, as I, personally, don't like my babies going to bed hungry.

Job well done! You just saved your baby's life, as following the breeder's instructions would not have worked.

[Daiqattack10]

No, YOU saved my babies life Linda.
I've got millet, and seeds/pellets in her cage. My other bird is showing her how to eat it...especially because it tastes better in her cage than his ;)

I got her to eat a little bit of a blueberry earlier. I'm slowly getting my other bird Daiquiri to eat other food besides just the seeds, so I'll do the same with her.

So, would it be ok to feed her in the mornings, like around 7 or so, and then again at around noon? I work most nights, so is it ok to feed her at around 9 at night?
Sorry for all the questions. I want to make sure my baby Saffy is ok (:

[Daiqattack10]

oh and her poop is looking more normal now (: !

[linda040899]

So, would it be ok to feed her in the mornings, like around 7 or so, and then again at around noon? I work most nights, so is it ok to feed her at around 9 at night?
Sorry for all the questions. I want to make sure my baby Saffy is ok (:Perfect! We usually recommend 30 days quarantine for all new birds but this time is the exception. If your older lovebird can teach Saffy to eat on her own, go for it.

Do each of them have their own cages? If so, I would separate them at night, simply because Saffy is so much younger and your older lovebird hasn't had time to get used to her being there. As long as you are there to keep an eye on them, being together is OK.

By all means, ask questions! The only dumb ones are the ones you should have asked but didn't! Our community is successful if your birds are happy and healthy. :)


oh, and The breeder is out of town delivering a baby bird.I hope the one she's delivering is older and weaned..... Darn! That's a frightening thought. >:

[Daiqattack10]

Yes, they each have their own cages (as if Daiquiri would share..haha!)
He's not mean to her or anything, he'll preen her a little bit, but then he'll bite her toes or nibble at her face near her eyes and it makes me nervous so i keep them separate unless i'm in the room with them.
I would have quarantined if they didn't come from the same house.

I dont know about the bird she's delivering, but i'm really surprised by this. The first one i got was fully weaned and active and healthy and really well socialized.

This baby had never been in a cage until yesterday, as she keeps her babies in boxes with bedding on the bottom. Its really sad watching her trying to climb the bars in her cage, her feet haven't built up the strength and she's really clumsy.

Is it normal for babies to talk constantly and flip their wings? if i even look at her she peeps, and if i pet her she like flicks her wings up. Like in the video.
She's begging for food again, should i give her a little more?

[linda040899]

She's begging for food again, should i give her a little more?Considering what she's been through, I would go ahead and give her more formula. She's most likely very hungry because of the gap in time between when you fed her and the last feeding she had before that. Understand that, in the mind of a baby bird, no food = death. She's never been able to eat enough to keep herself alive so she needs to be able to trust that you will supply what she needs. Try offering warm soft food in between feedings and see if she will eat them. Here is the link to my recipe for homemade cornbread: http://www.lovebirdsplus.com/community/showthread.php?t=190
It's easy to make and most birds adore it. Served warm is the way all of mine like it. I prefer not to use cornbread mixes, as I like to know what my lovebirds are eating!

If she wants more than 3 feedings/day right now, do it. Self confidence is what you are looking to build.

Many breeders keep unweaned babies in plastic containers and transfer them to weaning cages at around age 6 weeks. Baby lovebirds are still in nest boxes until they are 6 weeks old so I do the same with my own babies. You got Saffy before the breeder transferred her to a cage. She will build up the strength in her legs and will be able to climb all around the cage in just a short while.

Can she fly yet? If her wings have not been clipped, they should not be until Saffy can fly and fly well. My 8 week olds are fully flighted and are just getting good at landings. Clipping them too soon can damage their flight ability.

[Daiqattack10]

Alright, thank you. I'll definitely make her some of that cornbread. She'll eat just Bout anything I give her when shes hungry begging for food.
Oh yes, she's a very good flyer, she's got a really big wingspan too. She's bigger than Daiquiri even though he's older. she puts daiquiri to shame. Then again he was clipped after his first flight and his flight feathers still haven't grown back out. I don't plan on clipping her wings ever.

She seems to be happy now, she goes to sleep right after she eats, and her poop isn't the really dark almost black stuff anymore.

They sure let you know when they're hungry don't they!?

Ohh and I wanted to thank you for all your help. I dont even want to think about what would have happened to Saffron without your help. I really really appreciate it!

[linda040899]

Oh yes!!! Baby birds will let you know when they want food and once you've seen them beg, you don't soon forget. :)

Change in droppings can indicate change in health. Once you see what her normal droppings look like, check everyday to make sure there's no major change. You can see the difference between before and after you started feeding her. From our Resource Library: http://www.fortunecity.com/marina/harbourside/1829/AvianSources/id51.htm

I'm just glad you let us know that Saffron seemed to be having an eating problem. Most babies survive about 72 hrs if no one realizes they can't eat enough to keep themselves alive. We've had several die from starvation simply because no one realized what was happening.

[Daiqattack10]

Thankyou :) your links are really helpful.


http://touch.facebook.com/?w2m#/photo.php?pid=516088&id=100000311415543&aid=34205

SAffy thanks you for your help too :)
I hope that works, I'm on my iPod since I'm at work ;)

[linda040899]

One more thing I'm going to add. Don't be afraid to hold and cuddle her. She's still very much a baby and needs the close contact. You won't spoil her. Lovebirds are very social and Saffron is away from all her young companions for the first time in her life. The world is a scary place when you are in unfamiliar surroundings and you are alone.

Hope all is going well and we are here if you need us. :)

[Daiqattack10]

The breeder just came and picked her up about 15 minutes ago.
:( I'm sad but a little relieved.

Oh, and as far as snuggling goes

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1395.snc4/164793_182459338441112_100000311415543_515943_5661 236_n.jpg

I'm a professional with that ;)

[linda040899]

You get her back once she's weaned, right?

Truthfully, I think you could have handled it by yourself but that's OK. It's really the breeder's responsibility in the first place!

[Daiqattack10]

Yes, she's going to give her back to me in a few weeks.

I would have preferred to handfeed her myself, but she was begging for food about every one to two hours :X and i was gone from 3 to 9:30 today, and my mom called me twice while i was at work because she was crying non stop and my mom had to feed her (which made me super nervous even though i fed Saffy in front of her and she knew the proper temperature and everything).

The breeder told me that Saffy has been off of formula for a week?
I don't see how thats possible, because she isn't skinny or anything. She seems happy and healthy and active, she just got really hungry.

If she's telling the truth, is there any way that leaving the 9 other babies she was with and the car ride and being in a new cage set her back? Its like she deteriorated mentally, as if she time traveled backwards in her head or something. Sorry if that doesn't make sense.

[linda040899]

OK. I went back and looked at all the photos and the video you shared with us. Based on the dark splotch on Saffron's beak and length of her tail, she's at least 6 weeks old. She may even be a week or so older, which would make the hatch date that the breeder gave you wrong. Am I sure about 6 weeks? Yes.

If she's been off formula for a week, going from the breeder's facility to your home is stressful enough to take away the confidence she had in her ability to eat on her own. Newly weaned babies have been known to revert back to wanting to be hand fed and this may truly be the case with Saffron. But any way you slice it, she was not eating on her own at your home. That's not your fault. The breeder actually still sold her too young. When I let my hand fed babies go to new homes, I hold them at least 2, sometimes 3, weeks past the last hand feeding.

I would expect to get her back within the next week or so.

[Daiqattack10]

Oh and I forgot to add one thing. After the initial handfeeding, which she ate Alot at, when she was begging for food a little while later I gave her some but she ate about a spoonful and then flew away. And then when she cried later and my mom tried to feed her she didn't want it. But then later that night when she was flipping her wigs and begging I gave her some and she had a few spoonfuls. So it seemed like when she was crying, most of the time it was for comfort feedings? Because she hardly touched it, but when she wants it she really chows down. I don't know if that helps of anything. All the times I fed her I checked with two thermometers to make sure he temperature Was accurate, also.

[linda040899]

When babies are getting ready to wean, sometimes the parents will feed them snacks in between feedings so that could be what you were seeing. Begging can also be for cuddling/attention. Hopefully, she will fully wean at the breeders and this is not an issue you will have to deal with when she returns. :)

[Daiqattack10]

Lol so the breeder just texted me and said she's eating her seeds/pellet mixture and her poops all look normal. When the breeder took her I let her take her in MY cage so she wasnt put back with her clutch mates or anything. She said she's playing with her toys and flying around.

[linda040899]

Sounds like Saffron regressed back to wanting to be hand fed because of the stress of separation from all that was familiar. Give her a week to grow up a bit more before you think about bringing her back home. :)

[Chickobee]

Saffron is a really beautiful bird!

It's good that she is back with the breeder until she if fully weaned.

One thing you noticed is that Saffron is larger than Daiquari. This is normal. Baby birds get really plump and will be larger than the parents when they begin to wean. Then when they start flying and are more active they will lose their baby fat. Don't be alarmed if Saffron is a little slimmer when you get her back again.

Later on after she is a very proficient flyer you may decide to change your idea about leaving her fully flighted. Life in a house can be a dangerous place for a flighted bird, and they can become extremely independent and cocky about having their own way all the time. We notice an immediate attitude adjustment with our birds when they can no longer fly up to the top window sills or to the upstairs stair railings.

But, for now she needs to have her wings! Watching baby birds learning to fly is wonderful. :happy:

Congratulations on your new flock addition.

[Daiqattack10]

You're right, if Saffy is in danger I would get her wings trimmed. But Daiquiri picks on her a little bit, aside from her being young and learning to fly, that's another reason I want to keep her flights untrimmed. Daiquiri is a bad flyer and she can easily get away,

I loveeee watching her fly, Shes so graceful and she bends her neck so she can look underneath herself when she flies. Daiquiri just flies forward and plops down, he doesn't get Alot of lift so he climbs to high places to fly down to where he wants to go.
It seems saffy only has to flap her wings like twice and she's eye to eye with the ceiling fan lol.

If I were to get her wings trimmed just so she wouldn't get so much lift how many flight feathers would be good?

What I meant by bigger is she's longer in length, and her beak and feet and even her wings are all longer and bigger than Daiquiri's. Its hard to see in the pictures bc she was always crouched down.