my birds have hatched their eggs and i want to know if i have to hand feed them and what i have to do...
2006-10-19 21:47:48 · 10 answers · asked by Wise Architect 2 in Pets ➔ Birds
You don't HAVE to handfeed them . Mom and dad should do that with no problems.
If you CHOOSE to handfeed them the babies will be very tame and will be more sellable and for a higher price. But it is a lot of work, so don't begin unless you can get up early, stay up late and hit them with the formula several times during the day.
I used to make my own formula and start handfeedin when the babies were two weeks old. This gives them time for mom and dad to start them off pretty well. And they are much less likely to have problems if they are started a little older.
I don't have my formula on me, but i got is from a woman who raised show cocktiels. She had wonderful success with it, and so did I. I used it on 'tiels, lovebirds and an indian ringnecxk parakeet. It involved ground sunflower seed, wheatena, and various kinds of baby food. mix it all up and freeze it in ice cube trays so I could get a fresh cube each feeding. (Save the baby formula bottles because after enough recipes, you can spoon the formula into the bottles for easier freezing and storage.) Melt them in the microwave and make sure your get the hotspots well mixed in. I would stir it with my finger to make sure there were no hot spots. It needs to be warm for them i=to digest but not warm enough t burn them: test it like you would a baby bottle, on the wrist. The formula is pretty gross looking and smelling, but man, those chicks just ate it up! To actually handfeed them, I used a syringe with the nozzle cut at a slant to let more formula through at a time. Boil them after each use to sterilze.
I could get you the formula if you really want to try this. Just make sure you have a working email address I can find. I don't want to post mine because I already get a TON of mail.
2006-10-20 03:20:41 · answer #1 · answered by Robin D 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hand Feeding Lovebirds
2016-10-31 23:07:50 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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No vets??? That's a bit odd. In any case, trying to get a chick to eat something that's sub-par compared to what it was raised on can be very difficult. There are two things you can do. First you can try the passive approach: Dribble the formula drop by drop onto the tip of the baby's beak. She should swallow some of it (you will see her clacking her beak a little bit). If not, try the aggressive approach. Hold the chick gently and carefully press the sides of the beak so it opens. Insert the tip of the syringe past the airpipe on the bottom of the mouth into the back of the throat. Carefully and SLOWLY press down on the lever. Make sure the chick does not choke or aspirate. After a few feedings, the baby should come to see you as a source of food and will willingly open her beak.
2016-04-06 06:26:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Belive it or not, Pronutro is an excellent food for baby birds, I've fed it to my african grey, my Lorikeet, my baby geese... I agree that it is always best to let the parents feed if they are able and willing to do so, the birds will be healthier and fed when hungry because their parents understand their calls and needs etc. But if you want them to bond to you, I would suggest going to a pharmacy and getting a syringe. You mix the pronutro with warm water, to a texture that is easily squeezed through the syringe and easily swallowed by the little ones. Cup the darling in your hand and put the syringe into his beak, not too deep. give him one mouthfull at a time, allowing him to breathe and swallow inbetween. you'll have to do this a few times a day though, which could interfere with working hours etc, so rather provide a little bowl of mixed pronutro for the parents to eat, and they'll make sure that the kids are taken care of.
2006-10-19 23:20:33 · answer #4 · answered by waggz86 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
They will be healthiest if you let the parents feed them. If you want them to be more tame you can hand feed. You can make the food out of Monkey Chow. Make sure it's warm, but not hot when you feed them. It would really be best to have someone show you how to feed them if you've never done it before. Feed often, but don't over feed.
2006-10-19 22:29:05 · answer #5 · answered by Wingaddict 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that you should let the parents feed them. But i don't think that they'll let you , they might try to protect them and start poking you. So just let the parents feed them and if they don't want to feed them then just hand feed them.
2006-10-20 02:59:35 · answer #6 · answered by eguy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
u should buy another female lovebird as mom too feed him
2016-03-12 21:12:24 · answer #7 · answered by Barbara 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are commercial products for sale at many pet stores
2006-10-20 06:22:36 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lot of insightful answers here
2016-08-08 17:35:38 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good discussion, just what I was looking for.
2016-08-23 09:07:43 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋