dfleischer
07-31-2006, 10:22 AM
Our parakeets bred for the first time this year, & 3 healthy chicks hatched about 5 weeks ago. At 4 weeks, the oldest chick ventured out of the nest box & was greeted by a happy father & a scolding mother. The mother bird became so agitated, she began attacking the baby. We intervened & separated baby #1 & the father bird from the mother. Baby & father are doing great now, with the baby eating some on it's own & growing steadily more independent. Our current problem is about the remaining chicks. Yesterday baby #2 ventured out of the box. Again, the mother reacted with scolding & agitation. Since this baby is older, it's much more agile around the cage, flying & hopping on the perches easily... so the mother has not attempted to attack it like the first chick. However, she continues to scold (CONSTANTLY), & hops away any time the baby approaches, crying for food. Last night, as is her habit, she bedded down in the nesting box with the last chick & baby #2 went back in the box as well. This morning, mother & baby #2 came back out to the same behavior as yesterday, if not worse! What should I do? I've thought about putting baby #2 in with baby #1 & the father... or should I move the mother into a separate cage & put the father back with all the babies? Help!!