Baby lovebird issues

[Noodles]

I was given a baby lovebird by a breeder. She gave him to me for free because the one I paid her for, the day I was going to pick it up, flew out of it's cage and hit a window and died.

Super sad. But anyways, she gave me a little nine week old peach faced one. When I recieved him, I did a look over and noticed a few things. He is skinny, he had three missing toes that were all scabbed over, and he sleeps all the time.

My questions are this:
How do I fatten him up?
Is it normal that every time I pull him out of the cage he falls asleep in my hands? Also he barely makes a peep in his cage and is extremely docile.
Now that the toe scabs have fallen off at about 10 weeks, is he alright?
Thank you!

[linda040899]

Shame on the breeder! Did she keep the money you paid her for the one that "died" or did she refund you the purchase price and give you this one? I'm a breeder and I have extreme distrust for other breeders who do things like this. It's totally unacceptable. >:

That being said, kudos to you for being willing to take this baby. Do you have any photos that you can share with us so I can see what you are seeing? I'd like to see a front view and one that includes his tailfeathering. Since you've had him for a week (I hope I'm reading your message correctly), I'm assuming he's eating OK but if he's skinny, he's actually not getting enough. Try offering millet, as it's easy to eat and, contrary to what you may or may not have heard, there is nutritional value to it. Also, try offering him warm food while he's sitting with you. He's still a baby but I'm thinking he should be a bit more active than he is. Was he hand fed or parent raised?

Sorry to answer questions with questions, but the more information I have, the better my answers will be. So that you know, for security purposes, we do not allow photos to be uploaded to the forums directly from your computer. You will need to upload them to an online storage site and then copy/paste the picture URL here.

[Noodles]

Hi Linda, to answer your questions:
No the woman didn't make me pay for him. I took him to a local avian pet shop and the owner said he wasn't too skinny just juvenile and might have been weaned too early. She recommended slightly warm oatmeal, Kaytee hand feeding formula (which she gave him some and he gobbled it up like it was the most amazing thing on earth) but she did wonder about the bronzing in his feathers and mentioned he was oily feeling. Here are some pictures of him. When she fed him she got food on his feathers which made him look kinda raggedy but the picture of him on my daughters shoulder is what his feathers were looking like. Also notice the bronzing in his tail feathers and wing feathers?

What do you think?

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/lollipoo/library/Mobile%20Uploads

[linda040899]

I think you have a very cute Medium Green Peachfaced Lovebird! :)

The dark coloring on the upper part of his beak pinpoints his age as between 8-10 weeks old, probably closer to 8 than 10. The beak is horn colored (adult color) at age 12 weeks and there's too much dark left for it to fade that quickly. I think he's one very lucky baby to have found a home with you.

What doesn't make a lot of sense is the mention you made of scabbing coming off his toes about a week ago. That kind of injury usually happens in the nest so I'm questioning just when she took this baby from its parents. He takes the formula because he's hungry. Even babies that were parent raised but weaned too early will take food in any form they can get it. The missing toes should not cause major problems, as he will adapt but the fact that he likes to cuddle with you and sleeps in your hand indicates that he has a need to feel safe and he seems to feel that way with your family.

I would offer the formula at least once/day. If he doesn't need it, he will refuse. I also would not use oatmeal unless it's one without sugar or other additives. Warm sweet potato, warm homemade cornbread or warm vegetables such as carrots will be taken quite readily, as babies like food that is warm.

Please let us know how he's doing.

[longobongo]

Awww, poor lil guy. He's so cute!