Mother &(or) Father plucking out baby feathers

[mamasangel]

Please someone help I have never done this befor I have 2 Indian ring necks and they just had a baby for the first time everything was going good the baby is about 4 to 4 1/2 weeks old and now the mother or the father is plucking the feathers out of the baby i'm not sure what to do and if i remove the baby form the cage how offten does it eat now and what is the best food for it!!!! Thanks

[Jade]

HI!! We have a television show hear in Australia called "Harry's Practice" with a travelling vet called, surprisingly, Dr Harry. They had a segment the other day where lorikeet parents were plucking their baby's feathers. He suggested putting a vaseline or something thick and greasy like that on the feathers because the parents won't like the goop and so won't pluck. If they continue to harass junior and he has the beginnings of feathers and feels a bit spiky, then you can hand raise him. I have done this a few times and just buy jars of fruit baby food. You know when they are full because their crops get huge and you feed them when they start cheeping and their crops have shrunk. I took my baby birds to work with me in a plastic shopping basket with a couple of fluffy towels for them to bury themselves underneath. If their poo looks okay (like babies eating baby food, it will be green and not completely solid) then all is well. If they are puttling on weight and producing more feathers and their eyes are bright and they are more and more active - EXCELLENT! Don't be frightened of the baby bird - easier than having kids!!

Good Luck.