[Frankie'sFriend]

So my birdsitting starts this coming Friday for 10 days! I met april the lovebird last night and she is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO cute. She is very very tame and sat on my shoulder and finger for ages.

However, I am worried about her. The people who own her have a 4 year old and a 6 year old. April has a short tail and I asked about it and the owner said it's normal or else the boy has ripped it off.

I asked about some of her flight feathers being uneven and she said she thinks her son tore them off. I cannot believe this. How can people think it's okay to let a small child play with a bird like it's a wooden toy or something???

She is a happy happy girl despite all this and is spoilt by her owner (if it wasn't for the 4 year old). She spends most of her time out of the cage and her cage is in the 6 year old girl's bedroom and she is much gentler with her.

Her wings are clipped and although she is 6 months old she cannot fly even a tiny bit. Is this normal or were the wings clipped way too much? The owner said the breeder clipped them for her.

Just a few questions about her. I will post photos of her when I get her. I just feel sorry for her already. Makes me so angry to let a child treat any animal like this and think it's okay.

 

[ParrotletsRock]

A short tail is normal, love birds do not have long tails like budgies... don't know why her wings would be uneven tho unless shes moulting, uneven wings in a clipped bird can be because she is growing them in tho.

 

[aluz]

Any small child who is not yet very conscious of his/her strength when handling a delicate pet bird should always be supervised by the parents. At least that's what any responsible pet owner should do in my honest opinion. It's also vital to teach a young child the proper way of handling a bird and to have respect for it.

It also makes me sad that her wings are clipped, lovebirds are excellent flyers and unlike budgies they have a better sense of space and their surroundings, I never had any of my 6 lovebirds to ever even bumped slightly on a wall or piece or furniture. They are what I call, intelligent flyers and they really think before making a perfect landing.

Pictures of the lovebird would certainly help, to really see the condition of her feathers.

Here's a pic of my Sindel, you can have a better idea of the normal length of a lovebird's tail feathers.


My Fénix's beautifully fanned tail feathers here

 

[Frankie'sFriend]

A short tail is normal, love birds do not have long tails like budgies... don't know why her wings would be uneven tho unless shes moulting, uneven wings in a clipped bird can be because she is growing them in tho.

Thanks for that. I am glad to know the tail at least has not been ripped off! I also hope the uneven wings are because they are growing in, not because the boy has ripped them out.

Any small child who is not yet very conscious of his/her strength when handling a delicate pet bird should always be supervised by the parents. At least that's what any responsible pet owner should do in my honest opinion. It's also vital to teach a young child the proper way of handling a bird and to have respect for it.

It also makes me sad that her wings are clipped, lovebirds are excellent flyers and unlike budgies they have a better sense of space and their surroundings, I never had any of my 6 lovebirds to ever even bumped slightly on a wall or piece or furniture. They are what I call, intelligent flyers and they really think before making a perfect landing.

Pictures of the lovebird would certainly help, to really see the condition of her feathers.

Here's a pic of my Sindel, you can have a better idea of the normal length of a lovebird's tail feathers.


My Fénix's beautifully fanned tail feathers here

Thanks Aluz I will post photos but won't have her till next weekend. Like I said I am so glad to know a short tail is normal.

I could not agree more about the clipping. It made me so sad and I had no idea they were such great flyers. I will not have my 4 budgies wings clipped for this reason. I love to watch them fly in their safe room and in their big indoor aviary. It makes me so happy to see them happy and doing what they were created to do naturally.

Thanks for the photos. Again, your birds are so beautiful. I don't know what's up with April's feathers but I'll post a photo. Not that I Can do anything about it really, just wondering.

I also agree the little boy needs to be taught as he's just being a kid and won't know what's right unless he's taught. He just GRABS her like she's a toy from above. She just sits on his shoulder - hasn't much choice really since she can't fly away. I am glad the mum and sister and dad look after him but yes, I agree the little boy needs to be taught how to care for a bird or any animal.

 

[BumbleBee]

Yes short tails are normal. But you are very right that children should not be around the birds when no one is supervising. My 2 year old can only hold our friendlier ones around me and is very gentle since she has practice on both the dog and rabbit for soft gentle touches.

For her wings, I'm not sure if it's just their daughter clipping them or something? I would think that if the boy is ripping them out she would bleed. If she bleeds too much she wouldn't survive. So can't tell until there are pictures but I would say that the woman is dishonest and telling you the breeder clips them just to seem a little more knowledgeable. But I was a very novice lovebird breeder and even I could clip wings decently. I would say the daughter is clipping them and the parents probably don't care about the bird since it's the kids bird? I hate to think that of people but some people are cruel or uncaring.

 

[budgiebabie]

Sindel is a beautiful lovebird. I have not seen that color before. And I agree kids do need supervision for the protection of the kids and the birds.

 

[aluz]

Sindel is a beautiful lovebird. I have not seen that color before. And I agree kids do need supervision for the protection of the kids and the birds.

Thank you, April!
Sindel is a violet fischer's lovebird, it's not very common to find that colour.