Hi, I am just after opinions on Hand raised budgies (as in pulling from the nest and hand feeding) vs Parent raised hand tame (where you leave them with the parents and have cuddles every day). I have started breeding with my daughter as a hobby as she loves birds. I think I like the idea of the parent raising the birds so they will have all the benefits of the parents and we are still able to handle them. But as we will be giving most of the babys to friends also with children I was wondering if I should be hand feeding them- some say they are friendlier. I cant imagine the babys we have now that are 3 weeks old(minty and cinnamon) being any friendlier than they are now. But I thought I better ask. Any info on how you raise your babys would be very much appreciated.

 

I hand raise and hand feed baby IRN's of my husbands once they are 16 days old. So I have done that before. But is it different with the different species of birds or pretty much the same?

Edited April 25, 200817 yr by rah

I can't say it any better then this article on our site Bird will Be Bird but only if you let them (CLICK TO READ)

they're all different and although you have experience it's always better to be left with the parents.

I hand rear only when there is no other option, e.g. when i have no other hens with chicks or any acceptable fosters.

A chick who is parent raised can become just as tame as a hand reared one, it depends on the time and effort that is put in with the bird and the birds personality. I've had bubs raised from a week old by me who turned feral at the first chance, and others who were totally parent raised yet love human contact. There is no specifics to say which is better and who is tamer, because that can only be determined by the owner. However what is better for the bird, if provided a proper diet with nutrients, then leaving them with the parents will always come first as they truly know how to care for them. No amount of formula, vitamins, minerals or suppliments can ever give the birds as healthy a look than good parents. PLus there's alot of downers to handr earing and alot that can go wrong. My motto now is to only interfere if i have to. otherwise it all comes down to training once they're old enough :hap:

Only my personal opinion... other may differ

I'd be in the Parent raised is better camp... Like libby said I would leave hand rearing as a last resort...

i have only handraised as a last resort and i have 2 tame budgies in the house and one is parentraised and one i handrasied and they are both friendly.