Auntie Ron
12-09-2005, 10:35 AM
Hi,
It has been a bit since I have posted; I normally seem to figure things out on my own but I should really share more on this site for the valuable insights.
As most of you have read previously, my lovebirds (seven adults) were moved outside into an outdoor aviary which i built. They were moved early to mid-October. I installed three heat panels on the ceiling with perches just under them so that they can break the chill of our cold desert nights and winter days.
So far so good, it seems these little guys are powerhouses and seem to be thriving well. I have four nest boxes, two pairs were definately bonded and the odd three seemed happy to be a trio.
Well just before evening last night I came in from school to find one of them on the bottom of the cage looking exhausted, just sitting there puffed up. I looked up to the others and the perches were covered in blood. I was able to determine this is one of the odd three. I immediately set up their old cage in my bedroom and ran out there and retrieved her ( assuming it is a her), she was no problem picking up at all; just let me scoop her right up. Her right foot is covered in blood and along her belly where she had been tucking it up under her. I searched for any opened wounds but all I can tell is that the scales seem stripped from her foot.
This morning she is doing well, eating and drinking, not alot of jumping around. She has been screeching a bit because she can hear the others outside thru the window. I believe she will have to stay indoors thru the rest of the winter until spring. I will get her on some antibiotics today just incase of infection.
My thoughts on this is that I know the odd three have been sleeping together in one nest box, whereas the other two pairs have thier own boxes; and that two of the three decided for what ever reason that she was an intrusion in their box and there was an attack. They may have been trying to get her to move on to her own box to find her own mate although she still wanted to be with her trio setup. (although this threesome arrangement might have been two males and one female, or even two females with one male) I understand that females can be the deadliest when laying down the law in regards to her own chosen box. All of this is speculative for now.
I feel terrible this happened and still feel dread and trepidations about having them out there, especially since a few nights have dropped as low as 19 degrees. They do utilize the heat panels during the day, but at night they all utilize the boxes which sit just adjacent to the panels. There is no way the boxes are maintaining any significant heat from the panels. So my mind has been thinking in regards to the cold.
My thoughts were this could also be a self inflicted wound. Since this is the first time that any of them have experienced cold air like this, there is the off chance that her foot became very cold. Since I know when my hands get cold they hurt like heck. She could have actually bitten her own foot in response to the pain she was feeling. I am only guessing, so having her here in the house to recover for the winter seems my only option, but not offering an actual explaination as to what took place.
I, like most of you, feel that lovies should be pets and that they should be protected from the elements and danger. It is our only job really to make sure they are safe, sound, and healthy. These little ones however have always been together in the same cage, and not much room considering how aggressive they can be with one another. This is mainly why I felt they would be perfect for an outdoor aviary. I have always considered them a wild flock given their past years together in one cage. I am the third owner of this flock and they have not been allowed to raise young. So having nest boxes is a new concept for them and now that a few months have past, I may very well be seeing the outcomes of what takes place when territory and pairing off happens.
I would love some insight from those that have several pairs together in an aviary situation. Do you keep them in pairs only, or do you allow an odd bird out to remain? I am assuming that my specific number ratio might have caused this birds inevitable conflict with a bonding pair, whereas before the nest boxes there were no attacks on one another since there was no reason to defend any territory.
I think alot about what will happen once babies start arriving, and one of my main concerns is that there is the greatest possibility that these are all related birds. I decided that I do not want more birds than what I already have and would likely trade one baby for a mate for this odd bird out. This would introduce new blood as well as pair her off so that she would not be part of the trio anymore. The rest of the young would be sold to recoup expenses and feed. I may very well find myself removing eggs in the future to prevent a population boom and to prevent myself from the problems of finding adequate homes for them. I see ads in the Thrifty Nickle (local sales paper), with baby lovies for sale all the time. So I am pretty certain that there are probably more lovies than there are homes for them at this point in time.
Sorry for such a long post, I guess i let it build up in me before getting all these thoughts down on a post. I will try to be more diligent to smaller rants and raves.
As for my little injured lovie, I am certain she will be fine now that i have her indoors and safe. She is being active for the moment and that is a good sign overall. She scared the dickens out of me when i found her all puffed up and feeling bad. Her injury will heal and eventually Spring will be here and I will determine if it is safe for her return to the flock, otherwise she can remain her in the house with me and maybe a future partner (for her) if that works out.
Wishing everyone a safe and warm Holiday Season, ...Biggest Huggs, Auntie Ron
It has been a bit since I have posted; I normally seem to figure things out on my own but I should really share more on this site for the valuable insights.
As most of you have read previously, my lovebirds (seven adults) were moved outside into an outdoor aviary which i built. They were moved early to mid-October. I installed three heat panels on the ceiling with perches just under them so that they can break the chill of our cold desert nights and winter days.
So far so good, it seems these little guys are powerhouses and seem to be thriving well. I have four nest boxes, two pairs were definately bonded and the odd three seemed happy to be a trio.
Well just before evening last night I came in from school to find one of them on the bottom of the cage looking exhausted, just sitting there puffed up. I looked up to the others and the perches were covered in blood. I was able to determine this is one of the odd three. I immediately set up their old cage in my bedroom and ran out there and retrieved her ( assuming it is a her), she was no problem picking up at all; just let me scoop her right up. Her right foot is covered in blood and along her belly where she had been tucking it up under her. I searched for any opened wounds but all I can tell is that the scales seem stripped from her foot.
This morning she is doing well, eating and drinking, not alot of jumping around. She has been screeching a bit because she can hear the others outside thru the window. I believe she will have to stay indoors thru the rest of the winter until spring. I will get her on some antibiotics today just incase of infection.
My thoughts on this is that I know the odd three have been sleeping together in one nest box, whereas the other two pairs have thier own boxes; and that two of the three decided for what ever reason that she was an intrusion in their box and there was an attack. They may have been trying to get her to move on to her own box to find her own mate although she still wanted to be with her trio setup. (although this threesome arrangement might have been two males and one female, or even two females with one male) I understand that females can be the deadliest when laying down the law in regards to her own chosen box. All of this is speculative for now.
I feel terrible this happened and still feel dread and trepidations about having them out there, especially since a few nights have dropped as low as 19 degrees. They do utilize the heat panels during the day, but at night they all utilize the boxes which sit just adjacent to the panels. There is no way the boxes are maintaining any significant heat from the panels. So my mind has been thinking in regards to the cold.
My thoughts were this could also be a self inflicted wound. Since this is the first time that any of them have experienced cold air like this, there is the off chance that her foot became very cold. Since I know when my hands get cold they hurt like heck. She could have actually bitten her own foot in response to the pain she was feeling. I am only guessing, so having her here in the house to recover for the winter seems my only option, but not offering an actual explaination as to what took place.
I, like most of you, feel that lovies should be pets and that they should be protected from the elements and danger. It is our only job really to make sure they are safe, sound, and healthy. These little ones however have always been together in the same cage, and not much room considering how aggressive they can be with one another. This is mainly why I felt they would be perfect for an outdoor aviary. I have always considered them a wild flock given their past years together in one cage. I am the third owner of this flock and they have not been allowed to raise young. So having nest boxes is a new concept for them and now that a few months have past, I may very well be seeing the outcomes of what takes place when territory and pairing off happens.
I would love some insight from those that have several pairs together in an aviary situation. Do you keep them in pairs only, or do you allow an odd bird out to remain? I am assuming that my specific number ratio might have caused this birds inevitable conflict with a bonding pair, whereas before the nest boxes there were no attacks on one another since there was no reason to defend any territory.
I think alot about what will happen once babies start arriving, and one of my main concerns is that there is the greatest possibility that these are all related birds. I decided that I do not want more birds than what I already have and would likely trade one baby for a mate for this odd bird out. This would introduce new blood as well as pair her off so that she would not be part of the trio anymore. The rest of the young would be sold to recoup expenses and feed. I may very well find myself removing eggs in the future to prevent a population boom and to prevent myself from the problems of finding adequate homes for them. I see ads in the Thrifty Nickle (local sales paper), with baby lovies for sale all the time. So I am pretty certain that there are probably more lovies than there are homes for them at this point in time.
Sorry for such a long post, I guess i let it build up in me before getting all these thoughts down on a post. I will try to be more diligent to smaller rants and raves.
As for my little injured lovie, I am certain she will be fine now that i have her indoors and safe. She is being active for the moment and that is a good sign overall. She scared the dickens out of me when i found her all puffed up and feeling bad. Her injury will heal and eventually Spring will be here and I will determine if it is safe for her return to the flock, otherwise she can remain her in the house with me and maybe a future partner (for her) if that works out.
Wishing everyone a safe and warm Holiday Season, ...Biggest Huggs, Auntie Ron