[Amie]

My question isn't regarding handfeeding, actually.

A friend of the family owns an exotic pet store. Brian is actually working there until his job starts in July (he worked there while working towards all of his teaching certifications). Well, they have many connections with breeders, obviously, as they sell birds.

A breeder in the area was raided by the SPCA or police, and their breeder contact is friends with the owner of the store. She couldn't take in all of the babies herself (the adults went to various rescue organizations --apparently, none of the adult breeders were given to other breeders which is what had been happening here since Katrina. I'm very happy about this progress!). The pet store owner ended up with a Mexican Red Headed Amazon (or Green Cheek) and 3 Congo Greys. All between 3 and 4 weeks old.

She's not a breeder, although she does buy the birds she plans on selling in her shop unweaned so that she can make sure they're all handfed and used to human interaction before selling. She OBVIOUSLY wasn't planning on having 4 babies plopped into her lap, and like most people, has a weeklong vacation planned in the VERY near future.

So, we shall be babysitting and handfeeding said babies. Which I'm UBER excited about. I'm going over today for a refresher course in handfeeding (I haven't hand fed a beeb in about 10 years) and if all works out, I'm going to get one of the CAGs once weaned for UBER cheap! (I'd continue handfeeding myself, but with the move, the wedding, and the honeymoon in the next month, that's not going to happen!)

So, my actual question is this:

What precautions do I need to take to keep Scarlett safe while babies are here?

All of the adults from the raid were tested and have all been given a clean bill of health. My family friend took this as good enough and is keeping the babies in her bird room with her macaws and Amazons at home. I'm assuming it's good enough, too, but I want to make sure. I'm not giving up my baby just to help out a friend, you know? Of course the Grey would be quarantined once I actually adopted him/her, but while handfeeding, they won't be interacting with Scarlett at all. I will, though. If I put them on a towel while feeding so they don't touch my clothes and wash my hands really well after handling them, is that enough to keep Scarlett safe?

Or am I going to have to change my clothes 5 times a day?

Just curious. Thanks!