Pets, Babies and Responsibilities

Written for NCS - 1988
by Pet Consultant, Mary Kaye Buchtel
Englewood, CO

Copyright Notice & Disclaimer Statement

This month I want to talk to pet owners about the responsibilities involved in letting your pets have babies. Since May, I've been called to assist in several tragic bird situations. Each of these situations were caused by people letting pets reproduce without proper preparation. Sick and/or starving babies take several days to die and the suffering I've witnessed was preventable. These owners are not cruel or unfeeling people but they were unaware of their bird's requirements during reproduction.

A frantic nurse called at 9:00 P.M. with one dead and one dying baby. She had purchased them from a friend when they were four weeks old and supposedly weaned. The veterinarian she consulted diagnosed severe malnutrition as the cause of death and held little hope for the survival of the second. The "breeder" had been handfeeding these babies twice a day and then decided that at four weeks of age they were old enough to eat on their own. The nurse had no reason to doubt what she was told until the first death after less than 24 hours. With instruction, she attempted to handfeed the second chick, but it was too late. People who want to raise chicks must take the time to find out from experienced handfeeders what formula to use, how often to feed and how to let the chicks wean safely.

A young man called me after being referred by an avian veterinarian's office. He'd call them for advice but was unwilling to take the time or spend the money for an office visit. His problem was that these two four week old chicks he had been handfeeding were vomiting after each feeding. Two other chicks in the clutch had died at two weeks. He had no idea about the cause of death, but they had also been vomiting. In response to my strong urging for a veterinarian exam, he declined saying: "We're just doing this for fun!" I haven't heard from him since but I wonder how much fun the experience turned out to be for them and for the chicks. If pet owners are unwilling or unable to provide medical care when needed, I question the ethics involved in allowing these little lives to even start. In my experience many illnesses in handfeeding chicks are fairly easy to treat when diagnosed early and treated appropriately.

The third story became "mine" when another clinic sent a woman to me with two severely stunted chicks to handfeed. Then hen had laid the eggs under her seed dish and both parents had faithfully tended to their cage floor clutch. One morning the owner found two very weak babies and one dead baby. Her emergency visit to the clinic gave her the information that, after three weeks, the parents were no longer feeding the babies and the youngest surviving chick was unlikely to make it. Two very cold and hungry chicks arrived at my house. My best efforts were not enough to save the youngest, but so far the oldest is rallying. During our discussion, the owner found out that a nestbox could have saved the chicks. We had had a cold spell and the chicks got chilled lying on the cage floor. Being cold, they were unable to beg enough to be adequately fed. This woman is committed to preventing any repeats of this needless loss. Her birds will not be offered fresh food and a nest box in a few months. With such valiant parents success is very likely.

Unfortunately, there are more stories along the same lines but I hope these examples have made the point. If you, or someone you know is looking forward to the chatter of little peeps, be sure everyone is ready. Just as pregnant humans take prenatal vitamins and deliver in hospitals, birds need additional nutrients and protected environment of a nest box. With this much extra assistance, most birds can raise babies with little outside interference. You can handle the babies for a few minutes daily after about ten days and will then have tame cockatiels by the time they leave the nest box. There are many articles and books available to read if you decide to handfeed. Get a successful, experienced handfeeder to give you a lesson before you start and your experience will be easier. In either case, if the babies or the parents seem to be failing, get immediate veterinarian care. Problems seldom go away and you won't have much time to solve them. If you decide to go ahead with a clutch or two and do so responsibly, you will undoubtedly learn a lot. You may enjoy it so much that you, like so many before you, will make the transition from pet owner to breeder.

It's possible you don't want to devote the time, energy and money required to properly support your bird's reproductive activities. Your birds won't suffer if not allowed to raise babies. Many pets live together and copulate regularly for years. Unwanted eggs can be disposed of but you will need to learn how to control the hen's egg laying to protect her health. Your avian vet can advise you.

I apologize for such a grim column, after all, pets are kept for pleasure. These casual breedings have caused so much grief to the pet owners and suffering to innocent baby birds that I must encourage people to either commit to doing it right or not doing it at all. Allowing your pets to have babies IS fun, it IS easy and it DOES take extra care, knowledge and money. Good luck to all of you.

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