Help with 4 week old IR chick

[Slappy]

Hi there

First post here. Awesome site.

I have a Pair of Lutino Indian ringnecks. The male was a rescue I got him a Female to keep him company. Neither are tame.

Just to make it clear I am not a breeder. Nor do I want to be. The reason I put a breeding box on the cage was that they were laying eggs at the bottom of the cage in the corner. For first 3 years none of the eggs were fertilised.

This season 1 of the 4 eggs hatched. It is now 4 weeks old and healthy.

I went to a Bird store and told the owner about this chick. He recommended that I take it out the breeding box and hand rear it. His reason was that the male could kill it if he wants to mate again. Is this true? He also said that either way after 10 weeks I have to separate the chick from its parents.

I was given all the things I'd need to hand rear the chick. Everything was free except for the formula. They also gave me verbal and a lot of written info on hand rearing. I have also read a lot about it on the internet.

I do want to keep the chick and given the options I'd like to try tame it.

Should I chance leaving it with the parents and remove it after 10 weeks and then try tame it, or start hand rearing it now?

oh btw I will be making a plan to discourage the Pair from breeding now that they have had success.

[rewki]

What made you wait more than three years to use a breeding/ nesting box? This possibly caused great stress on the females breeding attitude. Why not joint feedings? Since you have the birds for a few years they know you and will not be threatened by you. Why seperate a chick at this young and crucial age from its parents? It barely has its feathers, they sleep with it and keep it warm, at least the hen does, you can always try to tame it at a later date. What is the rush? If the parents are taking care of it and feeding and caring for their offspring why not give them the chance. It also may be difficult to train if even in the same room as parents. In my opinion I have never known of my males "killing: their offspring. Nor a friend of ours who also has a flock of ringnecks never heard or encountered the males "kiling" chicks. The opposite is true as far as my experience goes, the female may reject or neglect the chick but not the males. They are the providers of nourishment for the hen both before and after hatching and at about the month stage for the chick as well. Both parents feed their young. Is it not obvious? You say the chick is healthy. I would leave nature be nature at this stage, just sneaking in a feeding or two a day for all to accustomed to your handling the chick. Keep us posted please. Perhaps you should check out the Ringneck Section for more precise advise.

Rebecca in Israel

P.S. I usually do not have negativity in my responses but this is by far probably my harshest posting ever on Ringnecks.

[Slappy]

What made you wait more than three years to use a breeding/ nesting box? I didn't wait 3 years or more, After the first time I saw eggs at the bottom of the cage I attached a breeding box. I apologise if what I said was misunderstanding.

The reason I asked the questions about what the guy at the pet store told me, is I wanted a second opinion. Simple as that. After all he is a Breeder.

Both birds are wild. Even after 3 years they are very scared of me or anyone that approaches them. Maybe because I rescued the male from street kids that had him wrapped up in a towel on a hot summers day with just his head sticking out. They both hate hands or people approaching them.

Therefore Joint feeding's may simply lead to them killing or abandoning the chick.

This is not the first time I've had Birds.

I've had a tame Alexandrine, 2 African greys, Tame Blue Fronted Amazon, Cockatiels and Rosellas

I was hoping that I'd get a somewhat less attacking reply.

[rewki]

Slappy,
"I was hoping that I'd get a somewhat less attacking reply. "

I apologise, for my post but even after I re-read it it does sound as if this is your first bird experience. That is the only reason I was harsh in my response. There are too many people out there, who put birds through literal hell with their conception of what a bird is supposed to act like.
Therefore once again I aplogise to you if I came across as attacking. I hope that all works out for you and your birds.

I therefore extend the proverbial olive branch in Peace, with the hope that we may become "birdowner friends" .

Reebecca in Israel

[Slappy]

rewki I am new to hand rearing and this is the first time that any of my birds have had a chick indoors inside a cage with a breeding box attached. The others just bred inside their aviaries outside.

I only want what is best for my birds.

I'm sorry if how I write makes me seem like I have no idea what I am doing.

I understand why you are upset now.

Hopefully I can get some more info from you or other members.

Peace out.

[Slappy]

Here are 2 pics of the chick. Taken with cell phone. Unfortunately its the best I can get atm.

Baby.jpg
Baby2.jpg

[rewki]

My heart is melting.... really it is I just am crazy when they are at the pinfeather stage. You'll do alright I am confident of that. Looking good, beak is a nice color head is held up high. Legs are spread out perhaps just a tad too much, but send a pic in a week and I'll let you know how the legs are. Once you put him down in the box he probably scrambles for a corner with his head down, am I correct? He is soooo cuuute !! I promise not to be so critical now that you explained yourself better. Thanks for the photos.

Rebecca in Israel

[Slappy]

Hi rewki. At the moment I don't touch the chick as I am worried that the parents will hurt or abandon it if they smell me on it.
That is also why I am unsure whether joint feedings is a good idea. What do you think?

Thanks for all your suggestions. All your help is appreciated.

[shellbeme]

I use to raise cockatiels and never had a problem handling the chicks, but I had a great relationship with the parents too. I know there are some breeders who instead of hand feeding will just play with the chicks as the age :) so I don't think you handling it is going to cause the parents to abandone it.

[rewki]

Your birds are accustomed to your smell, so I don't think there should be any problem there. The chick is healthy looking like I said before. Take it out for a minute or two, the next day for a little longer, see how the parents react. If you like you can try feeding it but remember to always FEED FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF ITS BEAK ONLY !! Never ever from the right.

Good luck!!
Rebecca in Israel