My babies died

[bridget503]

One of my parakeets was sitting on some eggs, and they started hatching last week, so we had 3 babies. While I was at work our female lovebird, Lucky, attacked the babies mom, Misty. Not the first time, either. She killed one of the babies. Then, Misty abandoned the other 2. Wouldn't feed them or anything, so when the store opened today I bought some syringes and hand feeding formula, but another one was dead when I got back. SO I had one left, and he was hungry. I started feeding him, and he was eating, I tried to keep him as warm as possible, but about an hour after his last feeding, I heard some little peeps from him, but minutes later he was gone. I'm so sad, he seemed like he was going to make it, was a fighter. Just the other day I had 3 new babies, now nothing

 

[Mekaisto]

I'm sorry for your loss, it's never easy

Lovebirds are notoriously aggressive, I wouldn't house lovebirds with budgies, especially during the breeding season.
If you plan on breeding your budgies, it might be worth separating the two species, or investing in a proper brooding box.

 

[Chipper10]

I am very sorry for your loss. It sounds like you did all that you could

 

[Scott]

Sorry to hear this, Bridget. You performed a noble effort that is extremely difficult for such young babies.

 

[mh434]

It is so difficult to lose babies! I lost two Lovebird babies a few months ago. We suspected all was not right, as mom abandoned them as soon as their eyes opened. We tended them 24/7 for weeks (we've raised several clutches of baby Lovies before), had them to the avian specialist vet several times each, and thought we were making genuine progress. "Phoenix" (a beautiful Lutino, so-named because at one point he was so near death no one thought he could possibly survive, yet came back from the brink), finally passed away after about 6 weeks, despite everything we could do. BooBoo, on the other hand, was the picture of a hale-and-hearty peach-faced Lovie, flying all over, stealing everyone elses' food, becoming best friends with our Conure, when suddenly...he couldn't stand, perch, etc. He was limp from the shoulders down, couldn't poop and couldn't digest food. We took him to the vet, and X-rays showed a congenital gap in his spine. While jumping around, he severed his spinal cord. It was heartbraking.

The point of telling you all this is that it's possible that these babies simply weren't destined to survive. Sometimes, no matter how much we do, we can't save them. Knowing that nature has spoken, has decreed the outcome, and has told us to move on, lets us know that we should not blame ourselves, but go on to help those we can save. I like to think that, as true bird lovers, we have a higher calling to do this.

We will still grieve those we have lost, but we must not blame ourselves - we must direct our efforts, again, and continue to save & love those we can.

As far as Lovebirds are concerned, yes, they are like little heat-seeking, fearless, feathered chainsaws, with 100-lb. attitudes. Mine are all tame, but will still attack cockatoos, amazons, etc. when they have a chance.

 

[bridget503]

Our other lovebird was a little aggressive, but most of the time he ignored the keets, lol. He preferred to sit on either my boyfriend or myself. Lucky likes to fly around with them, though. We'll just have to keep close tabs on her.

 

[bridget503]

Mh434, sorry for your loss. Poor little babies.

 

[Scott]

Such a sad outcome, mh434, but I admire your philosophical outlook.