Handraising vs parent raised & human handled

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Shrek&Fiona
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Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 11:15 pm

Handraising vs parent raised & human handled

Post by Shrek&Fiona »

I am going to start breeding my Indian Ringneck next year (not this breeding season because she is still young and I want to give her time to get used to me and Shrek and settle in properly). I have already been approached by someone interested in getting a baby but here is my problem. He wants me to sell him one to handraise himself because his wife has one that she handraised and it bonded only to her and he believes this is the only way to get a bird to bond to you. I however, don't want to do this. I don't even want to pull them early for handraising myself if I can get around it. I believe that the chicks get better nutrition and learn vital survival skills and better flying skills if left with the parents that they could not get through being handraised. Also, I feel uneasy handing a bird over so young not knowing if it will get the correct warmth and nutrition to become a healthy and happy bird long term.

I know there are differing opinions about the handraising topic and I know that it is widely used by breeders everywhere without a problem, I just don't prefer it. I was wondering, if I was to go out everyday and handle the chicks in the aviary if that would work as well? I know there is a posibility that in doing so the parents might abandon the chicks which is why with the first clutch I would start doing it at a much later point when I can keep up with the handfeedings no problems. This is also why I want the hen to have a year to get used to me first so she doesnt freak out! My mum used this method when breeding lovebirds and it worked very effectively. My first ever bird Chirpy was one of hers and was the tamest little creature imaginable. She accepted everyone but was still able to occupy herself without distress if necessary. Not giving the chicks out to be handreared elsewhere also gives me the opportunity to ensure that they are exposed to a wide variety of healthy foods so they do not become solely seed eaters. If my idea works, I belive it would be the best method for me. My question is, do you guys think the parents will allow it?
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Melika
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Re: Handraising vs parent raised & human handled

Post by Melika »

I do think the parents would allow it. I personally haven't seen any parrots abandon the young simply because they were handled by humans- in fact I think you're more likely to be attacked by the mother if she's in her nestbox. Perhaps a food distraction would help? I commend you for letting the parents raise their young. I also do not believe hand-feeding creates or even ensures a bond, it simply gets a baby used to human contact. Which can also be done simply by handling- which most people who hand-feed don't do enough of anyway.

Actually, I haven't seen any bird abandon its young after being handled (I've rescued quite a few wild birds and returned them to nests- one I even kept OVERNIGHT after a dog attack to get it through shock and the mother came by and attacked me the next day when I brought the baby outside to see if the parent would come around... she took the baby back quite happily).
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Shrek&Fiona
Posts: 26
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 11:15 pm

Re: Handraising vs parent raised & human handled

Post by Shrek&Fiona »

Sweet! Thanx Melika. I am sort of used to breeding the tinier, more touchy birds like finches and waxbills and you dont go near thier nests with some of them or its completely abandoned. I was semi-confident that parrots were different but its really nice to have another opinion from someone who has more experience. I'm still not sure how I'm going to get around the mum yet but i have a year to work it out before I even try breeding so I will think of something. Mum used to just nudge her mummy bird aside to handle the chicks, but then she was dealing with a lovebird not a ringneck so that kind of confidence is a little easier to come by. I am planning on spending time every day in the aviary for the year before I put the nest box in even so they get used to it. If I come bearing thier favourite food treats every time I'm sure they will see it as a good thing. Then maybe some leather gloves till mum moves? Food distractions sound like a good idea.
If vision is the only validation then most of my life isn't real.
Lauren
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Re: Handraising vs parent raised & human handled

Post by Lauren »

If you can get past being attacked by the parents, I dont see a problem with it. Although I was told ringnecks can abandon chicks but when they are taken from the nest for hand rearing? I dont know how true that is because my male has baby brain with our 5 x 7 week olds and seems to think they are newly hatched and wants to feed them constantly! Goodluck next year! :D
"Jibby aka Gilbert" Indian Ringneck 13 years "Charlie" Rex Rabbit 1 year
ellieelectrons
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Re: Handraising vs parent raised & human handled

Post by ellieelectrons »

Melika wrote:Then maybe some leather gloves till mum moves?
If you are going to use leather gloves with the bird, I suggest you use them throughout the year too to get her used to them. One of our birds is occasionally a problem biter which has led my husband to withdraw from her a bit. I brought home some leather garden gloves the other day and just the sight of them freaked them out... IRNs can be very neophobic (scared of new things).... You don't want to completely traumatise the mother with the gloves when you are trying to handle the chicks.

Good luck and best wishes!

Ellie.
Wessel Gordon
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Re: Handraising vs parent raised & human handled

Post by Wessel Gordon »

Ellie,

You have a very good point about IRN's being wary of gloves. I had the same experience a few days ago when I wore gloves with the fingers exposed because of the weather and most of my IRN's that normally take treats out of my hand refused to come near a treat until I removed the glove.
Shrek&Fiona
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Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 11:15 pm

Re: Handraising vs parent raised & human handled

Post by Shrek&Fiona »

Thanx for the heads up about the gloves. I was planning on spending a year getting them into a routine which would include all the things I would do (and all the equipment i would use) so that by the time they breed they will be well and truly used to me and the things I need to do in the aviary. Shrek is used to me putting my hands in his cage and knows that he has to sit on his perch and wait till I have finished before he can start investigating. I'm hoping his acceptance will provide some positive social referencing for Fiona so she will learn quickly that I bring treats and care not anything nasty.
If vision is the only validation then most of my life isn't real.
rod038
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Re: Handraising vs parent raised & human handled

Post by rod038 »

I have handled my babies at various stages till they have left the nest and the parents have not worried too much about it. My hens have always left the nest before I go into the nest box. None of my birds are tame and this is how the young are when they leave the nest. I dont really think handling them will make any difference. I have bred Budgies in the past and found that they will get very tame even after being fully raised by the parents and removed after they can feed themselves. Ringnecks are a bit different, but I guess if you put the time into them they may come around.
Shrek&Fiona
Posts: 26
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 11:15 pm

Re: Handraising vs parent raised & human handled

Post by Shrek&Fiona »

Yeah, I have never tried it with ringnecks but I know it worked awesome with Lovebirds because it's what mum used to do and my pet I got off her was the most awesome snuggly little bird. After they are weaned I'm going to pull them out of the aviary and bring them inside to socialise them and continue handling them till whenever it is they get sold off. My house is pretty good for socialising because there is 5 people living in it as well as dogs and a cat (they go outside or in thier room during birdie time) and there is always someone home doing something even when I'm at work. They should be able to get used to multiple people and animals. It's going to be a trial and error thing at first, but I'll get there eventually I think.
If vision is the only validation then most of my life isn't real.
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