Experienced Bird person in Spring, TX???

[Pipsqueek]

Hi,
I'm new to this site, and am very excited about all the info. available! I currently own two Lovebirds and 5 eggs. I'm planning on handfeeding/raising the young once they are old enough. Although I still have a probably a month before they are old enough, I am searching for someone who is experienced enough and willing to show me how to hand feed a baby in person, and would be helpful in what I need to buy and have ready for chicks. Of course ANY suggestions on this board would be great! But, someone that might live in the Spring, TX area might be even more helpful. Please contact me if you would like to help me out. Thanks!
-Erin
K9_Girl17@yahoo.com

[Monica]

You can buy several books on handraising and breeding birds... Here's a few you might be interested in:

Parrots: Handfeeding & Nursery Management
by Howard Voren and Rick Jordan

A Guide to Incubation & Handraising Parrots
by Phil Digney

Care & Breeding Series: Self Raising Baby Parrots
by Mike & Marianne Liddel-Taylor & Dr. Andrew Greenwood

Hand-Feeding and Raising Baby Birds
by Matthew M., Phd Vriends


Check out these sites for some more books or even videos
http://www.silvio-co.com/store/items/breeding/
http://www.parrotsupercenter.com/sho...CategoryID=149
http://www.parrotparrot.com/lovebirds/handfeed.htm


You can also try looking for some local libraries or bookstores that may even have some of these books or subjects on what you are interested in. This shall give you a start as to where to look and some books you might want to check out.


Over the internet we can provide you with information on what you need, how much, temps, etc, however we cannot tell or show you how to breed (which is my understanding why you are looking for someone in your area, CONGRATS at being logical and educating yourself!).

[Pipsqueek]

Thanks Monica for the great links and books. I look foward to reading them.
"however we cannot tell or show you how to breed (which is my understanding why you are looking for someone in your area)"
Please don't get me wrong, I never meant for my post to sound like I was asking for help on how to breed. My pet birds(not knowing they were male and female) had a clutch and now I need help in raising the babies. I by no means want breed them anymore. And I would like to have a hands on teaching on how to feed baby birds.
Thanks again for your info. I will definitly look into it all.

Originally Posted by Monica

You can buy several books on handraising and breeding birds... Here's a few you might be interested in:

Parrots: Handfeeding & Nursery Management
by Howard Voren and Rick Jordan

A Guide to Incubation & Handraising Parrots
by Phil Digney

Care & Breeding Series: Self Raising Baby Parrots
by Mike & Marianne Liddel-Taylor & Dr. Andrew Greenwood

Hand-Feeding and Raising Baby Birds
by Matthew M., Phd Vriends


Check out these sites for some more books or even videos
http://www.silvio-co.com/store/items/breeding/
http://www.parrotsupercenter.com/sho...CategoryID=149
http://www.parrotparrot.com/lovebirds/handfeed.htm


You can also try looking for some local libraries or bookstores that may even have some of these books or subjects on what you are interested in. This shall give you a start as to where to look and some books you might want to check out.


Over the internet we can provide you with information on what you need, how much, temps, etc, however we cannot tell or show you how to breed (which is my understanding why you are looking for someone in your area, CONGRATS at being logical and educating yourself!).

[Monica]

You are welcome! What I meant is that since you believe that you will have chicks you are looking for advice and help as to what to do! Many new people don't read up on what to do if their bird(s) lays an egg. I've even read/seen (over the internet) some cases where a single bird in a household (the ONLY bird that is) laid an egg, and owners wanted to know everything that they could do to help hatch the egg (remember, they only have one bird! and no males around!). Some people have even asked if the mother bird would feed the chicks, because they thought that the mother WOULDN'T, and that they HAD TO raise the chicks themselves (makes you wonder what they really do in the wild if this was true).

I'm only assuming however that you know their sex (as two females can take on the role of a male-female pair and lay eggs), and that you may be able to tell if the eggs are actually fertile or not. I'm just saying that you are looking for help and advice where-as other people may not and try to raise the chicks themselves or leave them be only to end up with problems later, if the chicks survive.

I hope you are able to find a breeder in your area. You may try local bird clubs??? Or some bird shops that has someone that knows how to handfeed as well??? Just a couple other thoughts.

[Pipsqueek]

Monica, since no one else seems to be replying.. Would you mind giving me a list of things I will need to have ready when I start handfeeding? ( I'm planning on keeping them in a 20gallon aquarium, is this ok?) I need bedding ideas though if I do that. And give me some ages on when to start pulling them from the nest to handfeed them? If you don't mind answering those two things, I would VERY much appreciate it! Thank you!
-Erin

[Monica]

As for supplies, you'll need atleast a few syringes (ones without the rubber I've heard are better, or a spoon that has been bent inwards at the end), handfeeding formula, a heating pad, a heating light, two thermometers (one for inside the aquarium, and one to measure the heat of the food). As for bedding, you can use towels, paper towels (you'll need them atleast for cleaning up the chicks), wood shavings (not cedar).

At the moment this is all I can think of. I know that there are other breeders here that would be more helpful as far as breeding, raising, and supplies go. I'm not a breeder myself, so I hope that this information will help you!