Raising birdies to be tame

[chrismeistre]

Hi there,

I'm glad to have found this bird forum, there is so much information here.

I think this question has been asked before, but I'd like to just get clarity on a few issues.

I came here just in time, because I was busy considering hand rearing one of the Diamond Dove babies that just hatched yesterday. Why I'm glad I came here is that it made me realise it's not as easy as it sounds. Sure, people have told me how to go about doing it, but I'd rather not risk a little life.

So my question here is what is the alternative?

Wait until they are weaned, then take them away from the parents and start feeding them seeds by hand and handling them as much as possible?

Has anyone here brought up tame diamond doves? Doable? Advisable?

[Monica]

I don't have any doves, nor have I ever had any, but if the parents would allow it, you could try handling the chick every day while it's still in the nest, as well as offering it treats once it weans.

[sodakat]

Hi,

I don't have doves either, but I have recent experience with Eclectus chicks. I did NOT want to hand feed since I expected the parents would likely do a much better job than I ever could, and this proved to be true.

As soon as the chicks' eyes opened, I began to hold them a little each day. The parents DID NOT like this, even though they are very tame themselves. (Nature took over during the chick rearing phase!) Regardless, I took the bites from the parents and held the babies, talking softly with them for a few minutes each day, so they would be "used to handling." This was my thinking anyway... I'm not sure that EARLY handling made much of a difference. If I have the opportunity to interact with another clutch, I'll wait a bit longer to handle them, and will go into another room with the baby to cuddle it for a longer period of time each day. I was so worried about stressing the parents that I likely did not handle long enough each session. I continued this daily handling until they fledged.

As soon as they began picking at the food dishes with their parents, I began offering them soft foods from a spoon. I don't think this made a bit of difference in their attitude towards me, however. They did not really seem to notice that the food came from me, as their parents were eating it off the spoon also!

Now I'll fast forward 5 months. One of them is quite easygoing, allowing kisses and closeup inspection; the other is cautious. These are flighted females. They have been treated exactly the same. They will step up, but the cautious one will only step onto a dowel, not my hand.

Would the cautious one have been a bit stand-offish even if she was hand fed? Who knows? I'm no expert on that. I do think she will become less afraid over time, as most birds do.

Hopefully a dove owner will give you species specific info, but meanwhile, I suggest you spend a lot of time just holding the baby, both sitting and walking, showing it things.

Good luck and enjoy the baby!!!!

Kathy

[chrismeistre]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Will the parents not reject the young ones if you handle them while they are still in the nest?

[Monica]

Originally Posted by chrismeistre

Will the parents not reject the young ones if you handle them while they are still in the nest?

That's an old wives tale, to try and keep kids away from disturbing nests. With that said though, in rare cases, some parents *MAY* abandon their chicks, so it's not unheard of, it's just not common to happen, either.

Originally Posted by sodakat

I don't have doves either, but I have recent experience with Eclectus chicks. I did NOT want to hand feed since I expected the parents would likely do a much better job than I ever could, and this proved to be true.

As soon as the chicks' eyes opened, I began to hold them a little each day. The parents DID NOT like this, even though they are very tame themselves. (Nature took over during the chick rearing phase!) Regardless, I took the bites from the parents and held the babies, talking softly with them for a few minutes each day, so they would be "used to handling." This was my thinking anyway... I'm not sure that EARLY handling made much of a difference. If I have the opportunity to interact with another clutch, I'll wait a bit longer to handle them, and will go into another room with the baby to cuddle it for a longer period of time each day. I was so worried about stressing the parents that I likely did not handle long enough each session. I continued this daily handling until they fledged.

As soon as they began picking at the food dishes with their parents, I began offering them soft foods from a spoon. I don't think this made a bit of difference in their attitude towards me, however. They did not really seem to notice that the food came from me, as their parents were eating it off the spoon also!

Now I'll fast forward 5 months. One of them is quite easygoing, allowing kisses and closeup inspection; the other is cautious. These are flighted females. They have been treated exactly the same. They will step up, but the cautious one will only step onto a dowel, not my hand.

Would the cautious one have been a bit stand-offish even if she was hand fed? Who knows? I'm no expert on that. I do think she will become less afraid over time, as most birds do.

I think it would be a great idea if you wrote down your experiences with your eclectus! I know I'd enjoy reading it myself, and have already thus far!!!

[chrismeistre]

Thanks for that! Glad to know I've finally got a place I can ask these questions, and better yet, even get answers

[sodakat]

Originally Posted by Monica

I think it would be a great idea if you wrote down your experiences with your eclectus! I know I'd enjoy reading it myself, and have already thus far!!!

Glad you are enjoying reading about my parent-raised parrots experience. I worry that I may spend too much time recounting my own experience when replying to posts, but I don't know of a better way to reassure someone. I notice that you are great at finding documented factual data, yet have such an open mind to accepting various POVs. I think that is great!

It's funny, I've been a parrot owner for much of my adult life (plus the budgie experience as a child) and have kept Eclectus for almost 7 years, after we lost (literally) our CAG, but until Rosie hatched that first egg in February I never found the need to reach out to other bird owners for help. Imagine my disappointment when I really could not find any online references to parent raised parrots. I'm still looking! From what I can tell, it's a hand fed baby world. Meanwhile, will take your suggestion to heart. I would probably like to reference it myself if/when my pair lays a second clutch.

Kathy

[Lori~D]

When I had dove babies I Kept the cage close and intereacted with the parents and them daily. feeding, cleaning , talking ect. The parents were docile but not finger perchers. I could easily reach in and take them out by picking them up. They were just used to handeling. The babies then just assumed it was normal. I didnt strt handeling the babies until they were perching and ready to fledge. They were "used" to my hands being in the cage daily and not causing them harm so they were not afraid. They would sit in my hand with no problem. I did not remove them from the nest as I believe it was important for them to be left to the parents but I was right there with my hand when they were ready to come out of the nest. Doves are way diff from hookbills although I have never had the tiny diamonds. Now all my hookbills I pulled at ten days and handfed.

[Monica]

Originally Posted by sodakat

Imagine my disappointment when I really could not find any online references to parent raised parrots. I'm still looking! From what I can tell, it's a hand fed baby world.

Indeed it is! The majority of parrots (not including lovebirds, cockatiels, budgies, and perhaps a few others) that are parent raised probably end up as breeders. I know in Sweden they do things differently, but I don't know how differently, as I haven't spoken with any breeders who live in Sweden.

The general rule of thumb, that I know of thus far, is that parent raised birds are more skittish and hands off than handraised birds, and the majority of people don't want a pet they have to *WORK* with, they want one that is already tamed and loving. There simply isn't a market for parent raised birds as pets.

You may be interested in reading these two posts... by the same arthor, but it describes her experiences with parent raised vs handraised.
Baby sun's update
How late can you start handfeeding?

Abby may have some experiences as well...
Breeding questions:
General questions....
why hand raise chicks?

Here are some articles and experiences on the subject, that you may also find of interest, if you haven't read them before!
uc davis co-parenting amazons - Google Search


As time goes on, there *WILL* be more information about co-parenting, particularly if people are willing to put their experiences up! I hope those links help you! And if you do write about your experiences, I'd love to read it, as well as the next time they breed!3

And thanks!!! Although, I owe a lot of my thanks to others who also bring up these articles!

Originally Posted by Lori~D

I could easily reach in and take them out by picking them up. They were just used to handeling. The babies then just assumed it was normal. I didnt strt handeling the babies until they were perching and ready to fledge. They were "used" to my hands being in the cage daily and not causing them harm so they were not afraid. Doves are way diff from hookbills although I have never had the tiny diamonds. Now all my hookbills I pulled at ten days and handfed.

Lori, glad to have your input here! It is interesting to see how hookbills differ from softbills!

[Lori~D]

Thanks Monica. I do see a differance in Hookbill babies that I pulled "after" the eyes opened or Just as the eyes are beginnig to open. I have even seen this in hand raised kittens. Those whos eyes are opened before you pull them are not as "tame" as those who cannot see.at pulling. Not saying they are not great pets but they are more independant early on if they know birds as being the first thing they see instead of humans. Doves are more docile by nature it seemed to me - and as long as I was there and "mom and dad" werent worried about it then why should they. Parrot parents are worried about EVERYTHING and ANTHING that bothers their babies....so the babies pick up on that. Nature of the beast I guess.