Family left behind ☹️

[Luvbirds]

Hi guys, so I just lost my lovebird Luno due to pneumonia . Was very sad BUT I have another worry, he left behind Pepita and 3 + 1 hatched egg . Will Pepita be sad after she attends her babies? Is there something I should be worried about?

 

[Icey]

So sorry for your loss
@Zara , @BrianB , @Pixiebeak .
I have tagged some members who may be able to help.

 

[Zara]

I am very sorry for your loss.

She may be ok, but monitor very very closely. I don't mean watch over her all the time and invade her nest constantly. Just check in periodically, either every hour or half hour while you see how things are going. Be sure the crops are having food put in them (keeping in mind that if those other eggs hatch, they will first absorb the yolk sac before being fed).

Bring the food and water bowl closer to the nest entrance so she can eat and drink easier, as she has no male to feed her or the chicks. Does Pepita eat pellets? You could crush some into powder and make a formula for her and feed it her on a teaspoon.

Have a DIY brooder set up on standby. As well as hand rearing formula ready, just in case. Keep it sealed so if you don't use it, you can return it, donate it, or save it for future clutches.

I am lucky that I don't know how grieving lovebirds will act, yet, so a concern would be not only abandoning the chicks, but she may attack them out of frustration or sadness. Are they in the same room as you? It would be good to be able to hear the nest. You would also know if the chicks are begging a lot (which they shouldn't really, they should beg, but then be fed quite quickly, not be begging and cheeping a lot). Baby lovebirds are quiet most of the time. If they have their own room, maybe put a chair in the corner of the room for you to sit on and read or work etc to be closer.

 

[Luvbirds]

I am very sorry for your loss.

She may be ok, but monitor very very closely. I don't mean watch over her all the time and invade her nest constantly. Just check in periodically, either every hour or half hour while you see how things are going. Be sure the crops are having food put in them (keeping in mind that if those other eggs hatch, they will first absorb the yolk sac before being fed).

Bring the food and water bowl closer to the nest entrance so she can eat and drink easier, as she has no male to feed her or the chicks. Does Pepita eat pellets? You could crush some into powder and make a formula for her and feed it her on a teaspoon.

Have a DIY brooder set up on standby. As well as hand rearing formula ready, just in case. Keep it sealed so if you don't use it, you can return it, donate it, or save it for future clutches.

I am lucky that I don't know how grieving lovebirds will act, yet, so a concern would be not only abandoning the chicks, but she may attack them out of frustration or sadness. Are they in the same room as you? It would be good to be able to hear the nest. You would also know if the chicks are begging a lot (which they shouldn't really, they should beg, but then be fed quite quickly, not be begging and cheeping a lot). Baby lovebirds are quiet most of the time. If they have their own room, maybe put a chair in the corner of the room for you to sit on and read or work etc to be closer.

thank you so much for your help!! ! A couple just hatched last night so I’ll definitely keep an eye on her and them. They are in my room currently for temperature reasons - we are currently located in Guatemala and the weather has been crazy and cold. But I can definitely hear their little cry when they are hungry . If I were to feed mama bird will she abounded the eggs because of me sticking my hand in the box?

 

[Zara]

will she abounded the eggs

Given the sudden and unexpected passing of the male, it is worth keeping a very open mind on what could happen. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst type situation.
If she does abandon the chicks for any reason, be there to scoop them up and move to a brooder. You can make one using a critter carrier (like a plastic box with slits in the lid for air circulation), if you can't find one of those where you live, get a nice size plastic storage tub with a lid, and drill holes all over the lid and top of the sides of the plastic container for air to get in. If you don't have a drill, hold a screwdriver over a flame to heat it and then create holes with the heated screwdriver. Line the bottom of the container with wood shavings, about 4 inches deep. Use aspen. If you can't get aspen, buy coarse pine. Avoid fine pine as it can be inhaled easily. Cedar is toxic, never use.

While the chicks are small, the hen will be feeding approx ever 1-2 hours. So check in enough to catch if they are not being fed. If you hear them crying and she is not tending, check their crops, if crops are empty, step in and feed. Just be mindful when she is in or out of the nest and give her chance to tend to the chicks before stepping in. Once you believe she is ignoring the cries, step in. I hope I explained that well?
You can try co-parenting at first, see how that goes. Sometimes the parents wont notice/don't seem to mind, other times they will reject the bird completely or even pick at it meaning the baby needs removing and put into the brooder.

Keep your room warm, and spend more time in there so you are nearby.

 

[Tyrion]

So sorry for your loss

 

[Luvbirds]

Thanks for those tips!! They are so handy!!!!
I’ll try today and see what happens

 

[Zara]

@Luvbirds I just came across your emergency post for Luna/Luno and saw the photo. I am curious what species your hen is? I saw you had two Fischeri lovebirds before, but Luno was Roseicollis. Is Pepita Roseicollis also?

 

[WillowQ]

I think I would make sure mom has a plentiful supply of soft food and favorite foods, and hope that she can manage the babies by herself.

I wonder if it might be ok to put a food dish right in the nest box so she doesn’t have to leave to get more food? And maybe put a water dish near the nest box entrance as well.

 

[Luvbirds]

@Luvbirds I just came across your emergency post for Luna/Luno and saw the photo. I am curious what species your hen is? I saw you had two Fischeri lovebirds before, but Luno was Roseicollis. Is Pepita Roseicollis also?

Luno (turned out he was a boy ) is a Roseicollis.
Pepita is a Fischeri. My other Fischeri (Penelope) past away about a year ago due to an accident .

 

[Luvbirds]

I think I would make sure mom has a plentiful supply of soft food and favorite foods, and hope that she can manage the babies by herself.

I wonder if it might be ok to put a food dish right in the nest box so she doesn’t have to leave to get more food? And maybe put a water dish near the nest box entrance as well.

Thanks I thought about that as well . But new question, her 3rd egg hatched yesterday at 7pm but has been crying all night. I open the box and Pepita is right on top of them. Why would the hatchling be crying? Food? Stuck In the egg? Hot? Cold? A crybaby ?

 

[WillowQ]

Maybe mom is afraid to get up to go get food but they’re hungry? Could you offer mom food from a spoon while she’s on the nest? Because that’s part of what daddy bird would do.

 

[Emma&pico]

So sorry for your loss I hope she still looks after her babies and you have a happy endings

 

[Zara]

There is a lot of "think"ing, "wonder"ing and "maybe"s.
I already posted to address the food and the male not contributing to feeding,

Bring the food and water bowl closer to the nest entrance so she can eat and drink easier, as she has no male to feed her or the chicks. Does Pepita eat pellets? You could crush some into powder and make a formula for her and feed it her on a teaspoon.

hatched yesterday at 7pm but has been crying all night

What time is "all night"? If hatched at 7pm, that means those hours going into the night, the chick will be absorbing the yolk sac first before being fed by their mother. By the early hours of the morning, the yolk sac should be absorbed and the chick should have been fed, check the crop to see the contents. If the crop is empty, or almost empty, give the hen 10 minutes or so and then step in and feed the chick.
Return the chick to the nest after the feed and monitor closely for any signs of being rejected (not being brooded, being pecked at). An hour later check crop to see if another feed is needed or if there is still food in the crop or if hen has fed him.
I asked what Pepita eats, if she eats seeds, you will see the difference in the chick and know if the crop contents are remnants from your feed or seed from mum.

Stuck In the egg?

That would be something you would need to check in the moment. Sometimes it can take a little time to hatch, but the hen will usually assist.

A crybaby ?

Lovebirds are not the cry baby / fake cry / attention seeking type. When they cry, there is usually something going on (though when they are a little older, then can sometimes "cry" while falling asleep, cheeping quite loudly.

Be sure you are getting in there and checking the chicks. I found that distracting the hen with some millet spray in her cage would buy me enough time to check in the nest. You could try that, or her fave treat, see how you get on.

Luno (turned out he was a boy ) is a Roseicollis.
Pepita is a Fischeri.

In case I forget to mention it later, these chicks are all infertile. They are hybrids. If you decide to rehome/sell some, it´s important to be honest with the other person and be sure they understand.

 

[Luvbirds]

There is a lot of "think"ing, "wonder"ing and "maybe"s.
I already posted to address the food and the male not contributing to feeding,



What time is "all night"? If hatched at 7pm, that means those hours going into the night, the chick will be absorbing the yolk sac first before being fed by their mother. By the early hours of the morning, the yolk sac should be absorbed and the chick should have been fed, check the crop to see the contents. If the crop is empty, or almost empty, give the hen 10 minutes or so and then step in and feed the chick.
Return the chick to the nest after the feed and monitor closely for any signs of being rejected (not being brooded, being pecked at). An hour later check crop to see if another feed is needed or if there is still food in the crop or if hen has fed him.
I asked what Pepita eats, if she eats seeds, you will see the difference in the chick and know if the crop contents are remnants from your feed or seed from mum.


That would be something you would need to check in the moment. Sometimes it can take a little time to hatch, but the hen will usually assist.


Lovebirds are not the cry baby / fake cry / attention seeking type. When they cry, there is usually something going on (though when they are a little older, then can sometimes "cry" while falling asleep, cheeping quite loudly.

Be sure you are getting in there and checking the chicks. I found that distracting the hen with some millet spray in her cage would buy me enough time to check in the nest. You could try that, or her fave treat, see how you get on.


In case I forget to mention it later, these chicks are all infertile. They are hybrids. If you decide to rehome/sell some, it´s important to be honest with the other person and be sure they understand.yh

Thank you your always so helpful great points

 

[Zara]

How is Pepita doing? Are the chicks being fed? And the little one? all ok?

Did you manage to sort out a DIY brooder?

 

[Luvbirds]

How is Pepita doing? Are the chicks being fed? And the little one? all ok?

Did you manage to sort out a DIY brooder?

She is doing great but she is calling out for Luno (I imagine) every once in awhile-which makes me sad and worried. She is feeding the chicks but the chick seems to cry at night but during the day he's fine . I forgot to mention, When I opened the box there was 2 chick so I got confused that it was a third one hatching .

 

[Luvbirds]

How is Pepita doing? Are the chicks being fed? And the little one? all ok?

Did you manage to sort out a DIY brooder?

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=266656232850609

 

[Zara]

She is feeding the chicks but the chick seems to cry at night but during the day he's fine

As long as they are being fed, brooded, and not bitten by the mother everything is well. They look fed in the video, and don't appear to have any marks on them. I don't know why they are crying at night, you could check crops to be sure they have been fed, and if not give a supplement feed.

I just noticed you are not using a wooden box, it is cardboard. Do you have a spare box?

 

[Luvbirds]

As long as they are being fed, brooded, and not bitten by the mother everything is well. They look fed in the video, and don't appear to have any marks on them. I don't know why they are crying at night, you could check crops to be sure they have been fed, and if not give a supplement feed.

I just noticed you are not using a wooden box, it is cardboard. Do you have a spare box?

I had a wooden box originally but Pepita didn't seem to like it and chose the cardboard box. What can happen with a cardboard box??