The first baby is a bit more than a week old now, and I was wondering, when can I start handling them? I want them to get used to humans... I know it's about 10 minutes each day, but I'm sorta worried about the details. I also wonder, should I lock the parents in another cage and hide the nest from their view when I do that??

 

I don't want 'em to get worried...

I would start handling them now. Make sure your hands are washed and warm. Start with only a minute and ramp it up over the next two weeks. Try to make it about the same timeeach day and you should see them look forward to it.

Gotcha!

And what about the parents? What do I do when I want to handle the babies??

Edited June 21, 200718 yr by Michelle

Some of mine just nibble me through the hole but it depends on the parent. Some might have a go at you. Some might be fine with it. You will have to see what reaction they have.

Wha, you mean I should actually go grab the baby while the mom's in there? X_o I thought I should put her in another cage or something so she wouldn't see. S'what I did when I cleaned the nest...

I had to COAX Star out of the nest at first. A pencil or pen saves your fingers....(Laughing out loud). Now when I open the nest box lid she goes out into the cage. See if she will budge when you open the lid. If not, as I said coax her out. After a time or two, she should get the idea.

If you tap on the box first, the mum budgie should step out. Take only one baby at a time is probably best. Follow Daz's instructions and all will be well. :ausb:

I usually pick up the budgies from day one :ausb: I just can't help myself.

 

Just to have a 5 second look (literally) and then they go straight back down.

 

I always wash my hands before with warm / hottish water, dry them and then pick up the babies while my hands are still warm. I only do this once a day to have a look see until they're a bit older. Then I handle them more regularly for much longer periods.

 

I usually just tap on the nest box and the mother steps straight out. Sometimes they get a bit cranky and give me a nibble or two but it's all worth it (Laughing out loud).

 

I can't say what I do is the correct way, it's just the way I've always done it. I haven't ever had any problems so ......

One big difference between the pet birds and the show birds is that they have been breed with people always ooking into the nest so from a chick they are used to hearing the tap and the hen leaving, a hand coming in to pick them up.

 

It is rare that one will have a go at me. I have had the hen playfully nibble my hand but have never had one bite me.

 

Everyone that comes to see my aviary sees it. The show birds are so placid. :ausb: .......... oh yes I have two pet style birds and yes they bite me.

Well when I knock Bud stays right there. She's not impressed by noise.

 

And you see, I'm worried because I've always been told that I have to stay out of the nest. And they're pets. My aunt raised some pet budgies and she keeps telling me that I have to leave them alone or else they will get abandoned or something... So I usually wait until Bud is out of the cage and I hurry up to check in the nest to see if the babies are okay. The only time I touched them is yesterday to clean the EWWWWWWWW nest (ewww.) And I put Bud and Pat into another cage during that time, and put a blanket over it so they wouldn't see me mess with their nest...

 

Maybe I take too many paranoid mesures.

Edited June 21, 200718 yr by Michelle

Don’t worry so much Michelle, Budgie have been bred for so long now by people, that the ones that would desert their nests are long gone. Some hens wont leave the nest after you tap the nest, they are all different, I like the ones that leave the nest as it’s less hassle, but some just wont, it’s just their different natures. Don’t worry about them seeing you handle the chicks it won’t worry them so much. If you take the nest down from the cage, after getting the hen to leave the nest, just block the hole so they wont go through it. Then play or train your chicks & replace the nest, they will go back in as if nothing has happened.

birds abandoing their nest is an old wives tale believe it or not. I remember listening to a wildlife seminar and them saying if you see a baby bird leave it because the mother is there. If they are young and they fell out and you can see the nest to pop them back in there unless you can tell they are fledging. Birds do not have a good sense of smell so they can not pick up on the human scent as though and abandon the babies .

 

by the way I added this topic to the FAQ section too.

Hi Michelle, I do as others here have already said. I knock and then open the nest. They get used to you doing it and know what to expect. I just reach in and pick up a chick. One of my hens waits at the nestbox hole until I have finished, but the others usually hop out into the cage. They watch me take out and handle their bubs, and none seem to mind it at all.

 

 

Feathers.

I take them out pretty regularly now. Once Pat even came over and started cleaning it (removing caked poop and everything, scratching the baby). Then he went back to eating some apples. That was adorable.

 

I don't knock on the box though. I tried a few times, she doesn't even budge. So I just wait for her to get out whenever she wants before I go in there. She comes out pretty often to eat and bug Pat with her squeaking anyway. She doesn't seem to mind me taking them out either. She goes back into the nest sometimes though...

 

Should I put the baby back when she's in the nest?

It sounds like she is happy with what ever your doing. Just keep it as one or two at a time. If she hasn't kicked up a fuss with your presence yet she isn't going to.

I always start handling my bubs from when they hatch, but when theyre really little only for very short times and longer as they get older. The parents dont usually have a problem with me handling them but it could be different for your budgies. I also always take them out two or more at a time so that they arent too intimidated by being alone with a giant, (Laughing out loud)...

-Shann

Well Bud too doesn't seem to mind me handling the chicks, that's great! Just yesterday I had one in my hands, she jumped on me and preened her bub for a while. Then she jumped up in my face and attacked my eyebrows, like usual <_<

 

She should at least give me a warning... I'm having lots of scratches in my glasses...

Edited June 27, 200718 yr by Michelle