Ask Lafeber

First time breeding

We have a bonded pair of green cheeks, and recently had an egg hatch from a clutch. The second egg is getting ready to hatch, and we have been observing the mother on a camera. She has fed the first baby at least once as we could observe the full crop. We are just wondering how rough normal interactions with the parents and chick would be? She didn’t appear to be rough so much, but we are just new and cautious. She was nibbling on the baby’s head and neck. We are pretty sure we are just being paranoid, but see no harm in asking the question of when is a mom being too rough

Hi,

Everything sounds normal so far. They can get very vigorous when feeding a chick. As long as they are not drawing blood when preening a chick, then everything is fine. Conures aren’t as likely to pluck a chick like cockatiels and parakeets do sometimes. I don’t think you need to be worried based on what you have described.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda