Ask Lafeber

Conure babies raised by parents/ removing nest box

4th baby ,last egg, still being fed by parents other 3 eating on their own when to remove nest box as they all 4 sleep in it . Large aviary cage and parents in upper corner. We plan to keep two babies and rehome two babies. Gradually holding each baby to get ready for separation. Plan to put each baby in a separate cage gradually before rehoming and will start 2 off together in the same cage. Will be gradual and within sight of other birds in aviary cage.

Hi,

The nest box should actually be removed as soon as the chicks can leave it. Yes, they will sleep in it if you let them. But the problem is that in many cases, the parents will mate and lay eggs again and stop caring for the chicks. A nest is only used for breeding season in the wild, so when you give a pet bird anything they can get inside of, it can trigger hormones and unwanted egg laying, or of course breeding. Since they don’t get the signals from nature to stop breeding, we have to intervene by taking the nest away. Rest your pair for at least 6 months before letting them try again.

As for your baby plan, this sounds good. If you keep two, they can’t be housed with the parents unless you don’t plan to breed again. Even if you stop breeding, the parents may not tolerate the grown offspring. It’s their instinct to drive the chicks away to be independent, and it also reduces the chances of inbreeding.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda