Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Newest addition to the clutch

I was waiting for this baby for two days already. I would take the egg, put it close to my ear and listen the baby scratch the egg shell. Yesterday morning it started making sounds too, but it hatched only late this morning. What a precious little thing!!


Monday, March 30, 2015

Gender and genetics of yellow lovebirds

In general, you can not tell with certainty what gender is your lovebird without a DNA test, or a confirmation through breeding (you have a couple, they get eggs and they hatch. Only when all these three conditions are fullfilled, you know the gender for sure). Except for some cases in yellow lovebirds.

Three types of yellow lovebirds are: Ino (also known as lutino), pallid and cinnamon. All of the three are sex-linked genes. In order to know the gender of the yellow lovebird, you need to know the colours of the parents, otherwise you can not tell the gender of you birds. And, unfortunately, it works only in some cases.


Surprise eggs!

From January Didi was hormonal like crazy - she was shredding everything around like a mad lovebird. She was feisty and increasingly territorial. We did not want them to have a nest while it was really really cold outside, just in case we have an emergency and need to go to see the vet with them, or even worse, with the babies.


Sunday, March 29, 2015

About handfeeding

Handfeeding in the parrot owner community is quite a sensitive topic and everybody seems to have their own opinions and arguments. When I first got birds, I did quite a research on pro's and con's and finally settled with the decision to let the parents raise their babies and I would act more like a co-parent, if necessary. Here is why.

For future parents

I take adoption really seriously. I genuinely care for my birds and treat them as family members. I want their babies find good, loving homes, where they will be treated as they deserve it. I have some expectations and requirements for future families as I believe these are the key ingredients for a happy bird life.