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I've got this nagging question and I've not been able to find any reasonable answers, so I call on the wisdom of the net for suggestions.

After Missy and Smokey had their first clutch, and while the chicks were still small, as lots of you know, I weighed them every day about the same time. While they are all a year old now, there is only one bird from that clutch who will not get on me in any shape form or fashion, and that's Patches. He was the first hatched.

Come along clutch number 2. I did not weigh them daily as with the first clutch, but only a few times before they fledged. J.J. was the first hatched with that clutch, and he is completely terrified of me for some reason. I hand fed Daisy, Cuddles, and Bandit after I had to ban Missy from the nestbox because of her plucking. Those 3 won't come to me or light on me unless I have some kind of snack food or a cracker. J.J. is just like Patches, and they hang around together, and have been for quite some time.

What is it that the first hatched has nothing to do with me or Emi? Is it perhaps they think they are the "leaders of the flock" and are being protective of the others, or some other malformed reason? I'd appreciate some feedback, and if you have any ideas or have experienced it yourself, I'd like to hear about it. It's just a worrisome type thing that drives me nuts wondering why.

Thanks...

Sam

were any handfed?

every once in a while, i get a baby that just doesn't seem to like people very much. I tend to give that bird MORE attention than the others, and it sometimes helps, sometimes does not.

It probably happens more often to the older bird because they get pulled from the nest at an older age.

Hi Susan,

No, none were pulled for hand feeding. All of the first clutch were parent fed, then socialized, and they are all as tame and people friendly as any hand fed bird I've been around -- except for Patches. I tried the extra attention bit, but since he seems to hate my guts, I just let him be and do as he pleases. I've tried the small room / bathroom treatment, tried a dark closet, all in trying to show him I'd not hurt him, and would like to be a friend.

The 2nd clutch is a little different as I supplimented Smokey (daddy) feeding after I had to keep Missy from them due to plucking. I supplimental fed them for about 3 weeks, and 2 of the chicks was a several times a day thing. I do know that since they still have parents and siblings, chances are they won't bond with us, but to me, they could at least be friendly. The first clutch of birds are very easy going around us, and all will come to us most of the time. It's just a very perplexing "perceived problem" on my part.....

Sam

My thoughts.... a first born child has the ability to decide on how they want to be and may often times tend to have a more dominant type of personality. Second born child (or any others) may choose to either take on the same personality as the first born, or choose an alternative. Heard this about humans.

For example... my sister is about 2 1/2 years old (we usually say 3). She is more outgoing and interested in being around people. I on the other hand, although yes I'm outgoing, I'm more outgoing towards the hills or valleys instead of a mall or a group of people. Although I enjoy being around people I also very much enjoy my alone time with my animals or being out in the open away from civilisation.

I wouldn't be surprised if you are seeing something quite similar with your own birds!

I'd like to know what you find of this, I wonder if Curi was a first hatched, he is a meany

Sam, sorry to say, but I don't think it is first hatched syndrome... Bubba is a first cluch first hatched birdie, and as sweet and as bonded to me as possible. I think it might have more to do with the hand feeding than first hatched. I hand fed Bubba even after getting him--his mom plucked, so my aunt an uncle hand fed, and then he came to me. It allowed us to bond, which makes him so cuddly to me.

Actually, my true belief is he acts that way because he still has his parents around him, and bonded with them over me or Emi. Ditto for J.J., but the 2nd clutch chicks avoid any contact from us if we initiate it. It's OK for them to light on us, and we both permit them to ride around the house on our shoulder if they want to. Had Patches been given away at a young age, he'd probably turn out to be a people friendly bird as well. I am continuously amazed at the large variations in their personalities, and if they were people, I'd probably have a hard time dealing with a few of them Maybe someday I'll discover what really is the cause is.

Sam