Gigibirds
Rollerblading along the road
- Joined
- 2/15/21
- Messages
- 1,035
Hi everyone!
I have an overly-excited mama lovebird (Ginger). She has two babies (well, they aren't really hers, and she adopted them, but that's a longggg story), and she has started plucking all the feathers off her tummy (excuse the improper name) for the babies. I can't really see the babies because she hides them from me by sitting on them or covering them with leaves, but the last time I got a peek they were just fine, squirming around and with full crops. They are one week old as of today, and the 'parents' are taking care of them very well! However, Ginger is just so excited and protective of these babies. She lives in a little aviary outside, with just one other lovebird (her mate/bff, who is also a girl, and the mom of the babies, but she did all of the nest-building and eating for the family). I'm in SoCal, so the weather is really nice, but I don't want Ginger to over-pluck herself. She can't fly very well, so she basically lives in the nesting box now, coming out only twice a day (ish). How can I help her? I could go to my other bird's cage and collect feathers from the bottom of it and offer those to Ginger, but I don't know if that would help her. I would really appreciate any tips! Thanks!
I know the situation is confusing so I will try to lay it out a little if you don't want to read that whole thing:
1. Ginger, my lovebird, adopted 2 babies. She can't fly very well, and I am 99% sure she's a girl based on her behaviour, but she was not DNA tested
2. She has been plucking all of the feathers out of her tummy to line the nest with (I think)
3. The real mother of the babies, Mango, is now Ginger's mate/bff and is acting like the dad, but still helping her raise the babies
4. Coldness is not an issue, but I want to help Ginger. How do I discourage her from plucking? And how do I help her in general?
I have an overly-excited mama lovebird (Ginger). She has two babies (well, they aren't really hers, and she adopted them, but that's a longggg story), and she has started plucking all the feathers off her tummy (excuse the improper name) for the babies. I can't really see the babies because she hides them from me by sitting on them or covering them with leaves, but the last time I got a peek they were just fine, squirming around and with full crops. They are one week old as of today, and the 'parents' are taking care of them very well! However, Ginger is just so excited and protective of these babies. She lives in a little aviary outside, with just one other lovebird (her mate/bff, who is also a girl, and the mom of the babies, but she did all of the nest-building and eating for the family). I'm in SoCal, so the weather is really nice, but I don't want Ginger to over-pluck herself. She can't fly very well, so she basically lives in the nesting box now, coming out only twice a day (ish). How can I help her? I could go to my other bird's cage and collect feathers from the bottom of it and offer those to Ginger, but I don't know if that would help her. I would really appreciate any tips! Thanks!
I know the situation is confusing so I will try to lay it out a little if you don't want to read that whole thing:
1. Ginger, my lovebird, adopted 2 babies. She can't fly very well, and I am 99% sure she's a girl based on her behaviour, but she was not DNA tested
2. She has been plucking all of the feathers out of her tummy to line the nest with (I think)
3. The real mother of the babies, Mango, is now Ginger's mate/bff and is acting like the dad, but still helping her raise the babies
4. Coldness is not an issue, but I want to help Ginger. How do I discourage her from plucking? And how do I help her in general?