babies growling

[tony34]

hi again,
we removed our babies for hand feeding,they are just over 4 weeks old.
last week they seemed very calm in the nestbox but since we brought them in they just lie down and growl is 4 weeks too late for hand rearing or will they come round?

we would have liked to leave them with parents but unfortunatly nobody wants parent reared babies.

any info again would be gratefull

thanks

[McmillanBirds]

Hi Tony

Your babies are just very scared. It is not impossible to handraise them this late. They will require a lot of extra tender loving care. Just hold them a lot but dont force them into being overly social. Sit with them in your lap, or tucked into the crook of your neck. Try handling them at different times, not all of the babies together though as they will learn to rely on you and not on each other. They may never eat completely willingly from you, from past experience of babies given to me at that age from the nest, but they become surprisingly hand tamed and bonded to you afterwards. Some of them accept you within a week or so, others take longer. All it is is a little patience, perseverance and gentle talking to them.

Regards
Carmen