GCC Dilema...

[SniperIX]

Well I have a pair of GCCs that had 3 babies recently. The youngest one is two weeks and the oldest is 3 weeks. I've being thinking about pulling them out and hand-feeding the babies but I'm still unsure...and time is running out.

I've being reading articles on hand-feeding and while it is looks possible there is a lot of room for mistakes which could be fatal for the babies. Not to mention that the feeding schedule would be hectic. I am on summer break for the next 2 months which would give me time to raise them but then a job or social events are out of the question.

Then there is my other option, leave them with the parents. It seems like a good idea because my original GCC pair would be happy raising their babies but then there we'll have 3 wild GCCs which can't be handled at all.

My last option is selling the 3 babies to a local bird shop, it would be hard to see them go...but at least they would be raised correctly and most likely find loving homes when their weaned.


To summerize I can either: 1) hand-raise the 3 babies myself, 2) leave them with their parents or 3) sell them. Any advice would be appreciated...

Also I wonder if there is any middle ground on the issue, such as leaving the babies with the parents a couple more weeks and pulling them out when they only need to be fed 2-3 times day. I'm also worried about my original GCC pair, would they be sad if I sold their babies or began hand-feeding them myself?

[Flappuccino]

There is another option you didn't mention...
Go ahead and let mom & dad feed the babies- but you can still take them out for 15-20 minutes several times per day to socialize them.
Who says you'll have 3 wild babies? If you let the parents continue to care for the babies. you aren't tied to a handfeeding schedule and the babies get exactly what they need (beneficial bacteria, correct temp, etc.)
I did handfeed my Jack from the age of two weeks- and LOVED it! But if I had had her parents on-site, I would not have had to time every errand and my sleep schedule around feeding Jack.
Handfed does not mean a well socialized baby- time and attention do.
It's up to you- but you can have 3 wonderfully tame and sweet babies in the end and still get a full nights rest and be able to go shopping if you want!
By the way- the ages they are right now is perfect to begin socialization... HAVE FUN!!!

[SniperIX]

That sounds great but I remember reading somewhere that the parents won't take care of the babies if you remove them from the nest, even for a short period of time. I usually look in on the babies from time to time but don't touch them

[Flappuccino]

Are the parents tame? Semi-tame?
If the parents are not afraid of you or feel threatened by you that won't be an issue.
There are those breeder birds that are so skittish that they would rather see the babies dead than come to harm by an outside threat- but this is not the norm.
You know your pair best, but I can tell you that many wonderful breeders use this method all the time.

[SniperIX]

Their tame in the sence that they can be handled safely by me and my parents. But they are quite aggresive when I look in on their babies, usually they run over and stand where the lid closes. Their first time parents and have being doing a good job, I'm not sure how they would react if I was to take out a baby and then return it. I'm afraid they will shun it or even worse attack it.

[Monica]

It's an old wives tale that if you handle the chicks that the parents will abandon them... actually, it's quite rare for birds to abondon their own chicks if they've been handled by humans... but the old wives tale is to try and protect wild birds from being picked up and brought home by people or kids who cannot properly raise the birds themselves.... hence, the parents still being able to care for their own offspring.

The parents usually do not have too big of a fit over loosing their offspring and may happily produce more..

My last option is selling the 3 babies to a local bird shop, it would be hard to see them go...but at least they would be raised correctly and most likely find loving homes when their weaned.
I must ask you, if nature intended for the majority of bird species (or any animal species for that matter) to raise their own offspring, how is handfeeding them raising them correctly???

As far as I see it, we *COULD* be doing more harm by handraising the birds, rather than allowing them to be parent raised because the offspring end up not knowing how to be a bird, and then get frusterated when we don't understand them... although handraised birds are greatly preferred over parent raised, budgies and cockatiels are often sold parent raised, and many people still buy them! And they still end up with loving talking birds so long as they socialize them and tame them down! So honestly, I don't see any problem leaving the chicks with the parents, and handling them several times a day, every day, until they go to new homes, if you don't keep them that is! However, if you do this, you must understand that there will come a time that the chicks will completely reject being handled because they notice you as an intruder, even if you've been handling them since they were born! It's only natural.

[SniperIX]

That makes a lot of sence :)

I'm going to leave the babies with the parents but I'm going to handle them so that their at least used to humans. I intend to keep them by the way.

That being the case, would it be possible to clean the next box?

[Flappuccino]

Nope- no need to clean it. That probably WOULD upset Mama.
I know it gets kind of gross, but she has it just the way she wants it.
If you really want to, you can very gently remove just the very top layer of poop, and add a tiny bit of carefresh, but try not to make it noticeable at all.
Do not try to re-do the whole thing. Believe me, she'll know.

[SniperIX]

Hm yes its getting quite smelly now

Would adding new wood shavings on top be okay though?