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Bird Breeding – Why Do Good Parents Sometimes Attack Their Chicks?

Posted by: Frank Indiviglio in Baby Birds, Bird Breeding October 27, 2009 4 Comments 25207 Views

Parrots that pair up well, mate, hatch eggs and feed their chicks are every bird-breeders dream.  However, some such birds present us with a frustrating situation – just as the chicks begin to grow feathers, one or both of the otherwise doting parents begin to pluck at their chicks’ feathers.  Bleeding and skin bruising follow, and, while the chicks usually recover, they are often left high-strung and nervous.  Chicks housed in outdoor aviaries may suffer from exposure and chilling as well.

The Scenario

Lovebird with newborn chicks
Chick-plucking is most commonly observed among peach-faced lovebirds, budgerigars and cockatiels (particularly lutino cockatiels).  Attacks on the plumage usually commence when the feathers first emerge from the skin, and may continue until the time they unfurl.  Oddly, the erring adults continue to feed their offspring throughout, and remain good parents once the plucking ceases.

Unfortunately, chick-plucking parents usually do not change, and subsequent offspring are usually attacked as well; there is also evidence that chicks born to “plucking parents” repeat the cycle when they mature and reproduce.

A Theory

The most likely explanation for this perplexing behavior is that it results from frustrated attempts by the parents to preen the emerging feathers.  Unable to perform this task properly on the thin, unfurled plumage, the anxious parents begin pulling at the feathers.  The fact that most attacks are confined to the chicks’ napes and upper wings – areas not reachable by the chicks and usually attended to by the parents, lends support to this theory.

Thwarting Attacks

Whiteface-lutino Cockatiel Chick Bitter Apple Spray is often successful in deterring plumage attacks, but is best applied before plucking begins.  If the chick’s skin is broken, consult your veterinarian before applying Bitter Apple or similar products.

Further Reading

Captive breeding, while immensely rewarding, is not without its problems.  To read about other potential concerns, please see my article Spring’s Affect on Cage Birds.

 

Lovebird with newborn chicks image referenced from wikipedia and originally posted by Snowmanradio
Whitefaced lutino Cockatiel Chick image referenced from wikipedia and originally posted by Magnus Manske

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4 comments

  1. avatar
    Janice Boone
    July 8, 2010 at 9:37 am

    Anyone have experience with father canary plucking feathers of babies? I removed the father but the mother doesn’t seem to be feeding the babies as much as she did when the male was in the cage. What do I do?

  2. avatar
    findiviglio
    July 8, 2010 at 12:20 pm

    Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.

    Thanks for your interest in our blog. Many of the same basic principles as mentioned in the article on parrots apply to canaries and other finches as well. A larger cage sometimes helps (I would try with next clutch, and not move this one).

    Single parents usually adjust and are often able to raise the young alone. Be sure the hen is given a highly nutritious diet, with plenty of protein – Egg Food is especially important at this time.

    Good luck and please keep me posted.

    Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

  3. avatar
    p.rloca903@yahoo.com
    February 18, 2011 at 1:46 pm

    i would love to adopt one of ur baby lovebirds

  4. avatar
    findiviglio
    February 18, 2011 at 1:54 pm

    Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.

    Thanks for your interest in our blog. Unfortunately I do not have any lovebirds available; if you would like help in locating a source, please let me know your location and I’ll see if I have any contacts for you,

    Good luck and please keep me posted.

    Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

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I believe that I was born with an intense interest in animals, as neither I nor any of my family can recall a time when I was not fascinated by creatures large and small. One might imagine this to be an unfortunate set of circumstances for a person born and raised in the Bronx, but, in actuality, quite the opposite was true. Most importantly, my family encouraged both my interest and the extensive menagerie that sprung from it. My mother and grandmother somehow found ways to cope with the skunks, flying squirrels, octopus, caimans and countless other odd creatures that routinely arrived un-announced at our front door. Assisting in hand-feeding hatchling praying mantises and in eradicating hoards of mosquitoes (I once thought I had discovered “fresh-water brine shrimp” and stocked my tanks with thousands of mosquito larvae!) became second nature to them. My mother went on to become a serious naturalist, and has helped thousands learn about wildlife in her 16 years as a volunteer at the Bronx Zoo. My grandfather actively conspired in my zoo-buildings efforts, regularly appearing with chipmunks, boa constrictors, turtles rescued from the Fulton Fish Market and, especially, unusual marine creatures. It was his passion for seahorses that led me to write a book about them years later. Thank you very much, for a complete biography of my experience click here.
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