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Today was the first day that all three babies got up on a perch together!
They don't look exactly like their father (a peach-face lovebird), and I'm wondering whether this is because they're hybrids? They seem to have some of the grayish markings on their heads that their mother has. Can anyone take a close look and give me your opinion?
Also, does anyone know whether the black on their beaks will disappear as they mature?
The black "flecking" on the feathers might disappear, hard to say with any certainty. Cute babies. They look happy and healthy from that picture. Are they starting to eat on their own yet? I wouldn't stop hand-feeding them quite yet. Judging by their size, they might be down to 2 feedings, unless they have already started eating enough.
Today was the first day that all three babies got up on a perch together!
They don't look exactly like their father (a peach-face lovebird), and I'm wondering whether this is because they're hybrids? They seem to have some of the grayish markings on their heads that their mother has. Can anyone take a close look and give me your opinion?
Also, does anyone know whether the black on their beaks will disappear as they mature?
I don't think they're hybrids, they're simply in juvenile plumage. The dusky markings on their head feathers, along with the black markings on their beaks, will fade as they mature.
The black "flecking" on the feathers might disappear, hard to say with any certainty. Cute babies. They look happy and healthy from that picture. Are they starting to eat on their own yet? I wouldn't stop hand-feeding them quite yet. Judging by their size, they might be down to 2 feedings, unless they have already started eating enough.
I tried leaving some millet in a dish in their cage, but they ignored it. I did notice one of them appearing to take a drink of water from another dish. I'm pretty much still hand-feeding them on demand – and they demand feeding about three times a day.
Two of them seem to be pretty much fully-feathered now. The smallest one (the runt? last egg hatched?) still has bare patches between her shoulders and neck.
I don't think they're hybrids, they're simply in juvenile plumage. The dusky markings on their head feathers, along with the black markings on their beaks, will fade as they mature.
While I'm sure that their father is a peach-face, I'm not sure exactly what their mother is. Could she be a very light variety of masked lovebird? She seems to have the eye-rings of the masked birds. I posted a pic of the parents on page one of this topic. Here's the link to the posting:
What a wonderful job you've done with your first run at raising baby birds Ms. Rachel.
They look so healthy and well loved. Your setup photo is also very nice. It looks as
though all of your birds are happy.
Last edited by TerraDown; 06-10-2019 at 02:58 PM..
Keep in mind that the coloration can change as the babies mature. Even the eye color in some species can change. My Senegal parrot, about 2 1/2 years old currently has grey eyes that will change to orange in a few years.
What a wonderful job you've done with your first run at raising baby birds Ms. Rachel.
They look so healthy and well loved. Your setup photo is also very nice. It looks as
though all of your birds are happy.
Thanks! I consider it a privilege to have had this experience!
And, thank you, to everyone else, for all your advice and encouragement!
I had a weird experience with the babies this morning. I let their parents out of their cage while I was feeding the babies (the babies are eating mashed-up birdfeed pellets now, instead of formula). Their poppa landed on the table where I was feeding the babies, and started to approach them. Two of the babies stopped eating and squeezed up against me, while the third aggressively tried to chase away poppa bird! Then all three cuddled up against me. Is this normal behavior?
Two of the babies stopped eating and squeezed up against me, while the third aggressively tried to chase away poppa bird! Then all three cuddled up against me. Is this normal behavior?
Not at all unusual, the babies are clearly bonding to you and their parent is now considered by them as a possible predator. They are being defensive and instinctively looking to you for protection.
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