How long must I wait to handle?

[rparisan]

My lovebirds had their first clutch and only one baby has hatched. He/she is 8 days old now. My question is how long do I have to wait before I can take it out and handle it? I am considering either hand feeding or hand raising w/ parents feeding. I know I should wait til about 14 days if I want to feed it, but if I just want to handle it, how long should I wait?

Thanks!
Rachel

[birdlady49]

I'd wait until the baby is at least 14 days old or preferably when he starts getting feathers. Make sure you wash your hands and that they're very warm when you handle him. If you're inexperienced with handfeeding, let the parents raise this baby.

[rparisan]

Thanks! I thought it would probably be the same time frame. I have not hand fed before, but the lady that I got my pair from has done it many times and is willing to teach me. I am a sahm so I don't have to leave the house for work and I have the time to commit. I have everything I need here for hand feeding,got it just in case the parents decided to ignore the baby. I still haven't decided which way I want to go yet.

I am still kind of hopefull that one of the other 2 eggs will hatch, although it has been 45 days and is very doubtful.

Rachel

[birdlady49]

Well since it took 39 days for this baby to hatch, a 45-day old egg is not necessary a lost cause! But I wouldn't put too much hope on them either.

Good luck and keep us posted on what you decide to do.

[Lori~D]

I pull the babies for handfeeding as soon as I see the eyes just barely beginning to slit open. I feel they make the sweetest most imprinted babies at this point and seem to take to the syringe easier than waiting until they are open and can see the parents feeding them. If you are a stay at home mom and someone with expirience can show you than I say go for it. I use a bottle warmer and electronic thermometer to keep my syringes full of food warm. I also have caps for my syringes to keep the water in the warmer from getting in.

[rparisan]

Thanks! That's a great idea to have caps on the syringes. I've only seen people have the formula in a cup/dish and then have to keep filling up the syringe. I know you're supposed to have a different syringe for each bird and thought it defeated the purpose if you were placing them all in the same dish of formula... I only have one baby at this point, but will try to figure out some kind of cap(maybe wax) that will fit on my syringes. I did go out and buy a bunch of supplies:syringes(different sizes), electronic cooking thermometer, plastic critter aquarium/terrarium, bedding, measuring spoons(so I have a set just for bird formula, etc. Do you know if it is ok to use one of those stick on heat pads that is used for reptiles? It is just a flat little pad w/ self adhesive that sticks on the outside of the aquarium and you plug it in. It doesn't have a thermostat on it, but I tried it out and it just warms, doesn't bake! I also put a stick on thermometer inside the cage, do you know what the internal brooder temp should be?

Thanks again for all the help! I love this group!
Rachel

[birdlady49]

Huntress does have some good information for all of us! Thank you, Huntress.

Brooder temps for newly pulled birds should be between 80-85 degrees fahrenheit and gradually reduced as the birds feather out.

[rparisan]

Thanks! I've been searching for that little bit of info and nothing I find seems to mention the temp for the brooder. That will help me out a lot!

[Lori~D]

Beware of those stick on pads - they mostly work but I had one catch fire when I had snakes! Ask your vet about the caps. They come with something and she wouldnt give me all of them but she gave me enough and I gaurd them with my life! LOL.
I go in and plug in the bottle warmer before I make the food. I keep the temp dial in one place and just unplug or keep two of them on a strip and flip the switch. Digital thermometer in each one, and it takes a several hours to get it set to where you want it and stay there (thus not messing with the dial anymore). I keep it at about 106 to 108. My syringes are small and cool quick. I make the formula with water that is almost boiling but not from a water cooler that heats, I feel it makes a nice smooth formula. So, with the HOT formula I go in and put it in the cool water that is heating up. About a half hour later it has all evened out and Ive never had a problem since doing it this way with slow crop or have ever burned a baby (god and hope to never!) I did have a baby that was not being fed proper (new parents) and dint seem to be doing so well digesting so I filled his syringe last and added one or two drops of Real Apple Cider Vinager to his mix. It brought him back to normal within 48 hours and he caught up with his brothers and sisters quickly.
I dont feed any formula under 104 and dont save any for the next feeding EVER!

[Lori~D]

BTW, My brooder is homemade and utilizes a ceramic element that screws in like a lightbulb but emits no light at all and a reptile thermostat and a seperate thermometer and hygrometer (placed down where the babies are) and a dish with Oasis, water, and a tad of apple cider vinager to keep bacteria at bay.