Help with weaning

Leena · Apr 10, 2015

Hi I got my baby alexandrine Rio two weeks ago from a local breeder. He was not able to tell me how old is Rio but said that he would be self feeding in a weeks time. My problem is Rio just doesn't want to eat on his own.He screehes blue murder but will eat only if I feed him. I read a lot on the net about weaning but no advice on how to encourage a baby parrot to start eating on his own. Rio has adjusted well and is very playful. I feed him mashed psplit yellow chickpeas twice a day. Can I start him on fresh fruits?

Kyoto · Apr 10, 2015

Leena, I am so sorry that a breeder sold you an unweaned chick. This is not an acceptable practice. I would ask the breeder to take on that responsibility and take her back when she is completely eating on her own.

I'm so sorry I don't have better advice to give

labell · Apr 10, 2015

This baby is not getting enough to eat, chickpeas mashed are not a complete diet. Start offering LOTS of different fresh foods, fruits and veggies chopped up.

Birdman666 · Apr 10, 2015

And, if you wouldn't mind, slap that breeder for me!!! :20:

Grraarrgghh · Apr 10, 2015

Hello Leena,

Rather than type it all out again, I chronicled a fair bit of my weaning process for my red-belly earlier this year. He weaned at 15 weeks which is quite old for a Poi, but he's happy and healthy now.

However, I made the choice to take an unweaned bird for my own reasons, and not only researched it like crazy, but did much training with an avian vet prior.

Read up here:

http://www.parrotforums.com/new-members-welcome/50658-finishing-weaning-red-belly-yeesh.html

Grraarrgghh · Apr 10, 2015

I also wanted to add, that your Alex looks very young, and larger breeds tend to wean later. It looks like he doesn't even have his full plumage in yet, which in an Alex should be ~10 weeks old. You may have another month or two of handfeeding left, though it can be hugely variative.

Leena · Apr 11, 2015

Thank you all. It was really helpful. I have kept rio on 3 feeds. Mashed chickpeas in the morning Fruits in the afternoon and chickpeas again for dinner. Is this enough? Also do I have to steam the veggies? where I live its difficult to get packaged bird feed so I have to feed rio a lot of home cooked food. But if you guys could recommend which brand of pellets is good I could order it online. Also the fruits rio ate it on his own in fact he didn't allow me to feed him

Grraarrgghh · Apr 11, 2015

I would question whether or not the veg and fruit will contain enough nutrients that a very young bird would require to grow up without any health issues.

You may want to order some high-potency pellets online, or speak to your breeder and see if they have any food they could re-sell you. Recommendable brands are Harrison's, Top's, or cheaper brands like Roudybush or Zupreem are acceptable if you are unable to find others. If the bird is still not in full plumage, it might be a good idea to try and get some formula like Kaytee Exact to ensure it's getting the correct level of nutrition. If you do decide to use formula please read this article like crazy: https://theparrotuniversity.com/arthandfeeding1

Steamed veggies are fine, but raw or only slightly cooked are better. Steaming takes out a lot of the nutrients.

corntoe · Apr 11, 2015

I had the same issue. They sold me an unweaned cockatoo. After I could get him off the actual feeding I got him to eat a warm mix of harrison high protein mash, oatmeal and organic baby food "all veggies green and orange puree. I used 1/3 of each. He gets everything he need there. I also keep pellet of different kinds in the cage at all time and a mix of seeds. He will eat banana as well but he really prefers his oatmeal mash warm. At this point it doesn't both me so much because he eats it all and there is no waste of him throwing all the pellets and seeds around. The vet said this was a great diet, if he likes it go with it.

Ann333 · Apr 11, 2015

A local pet store just sold my mom a cockateil yesterday that I don't believe is fully weaned. I have NO experience and she has even less... the pet store is closed until tuesday. I really don't want to watch this bird die. Won't eat pellets solid or mushy won't eat seed and is not drinking water. He chews the solid pellets, but isn't swallowing. We called the pets tore right before they closed and they said you can get parrot formula online... so great if I order it RIGHT NOW it will be here a week and a half after this baby starves to death... helpful... thanks...

thekarens · Apr 11, 2015

Is there a Petsmart or Petco where you live? Ours carries hand feeding formula

Ann333 · Apr 11, 2015

Yes there is!! I'll look. I still have never done this before, but it's better than doing nothing.

thekarens · Apr 11, 2015

The only other thing I can think of is making a warm mash.

Grraarrgghh · Apr 11, 2015

Ann333, again this article is a lifesaver. Make sure you get a digital thermometer and a kitchen scale as well. Supermarkets and Walmarts and such should have them.

https://theparrotuniversity.com/arthandfeeding1

Ann333 · Apr 11, 2015

Thanks everyone. I just HATE that I'm in this situation... but I am in a better position to deal with it than my mom would be...

Ann333 · Apr 12, 2015

We have tried pellets and seed and mushy pellets and apple sauce and formula. This baby is NOT eating. Not trying to eat... showing no interest in food.

Davidcsky · Apr 13, 2015

I don't want to create a controversy here, but it is not the hardest thing in the world to wean a parrot. all you need is a lot of patience and paying attention to the details. do not discourage yourself, get some good hand feeding formula and prepare a warm mixture. if the mixture is hot (or on the hot side) for you, then it will be hot for the baby bird. i weaned both my birds (as the pet store owners in my country are no experts neither) and both are perfectly fine. just get a syringe from a pharmacy, throw the needle away and feed (if i am not mistaken) 10% of the birds weight (dont take my word on this as its been close to a year since Ive done this).

Dont discourage yourself, its better trying and feeding something then seeing your bird starve to death.

Delfin · Apr 13, 2015

Delfin is over a 18 months old and Mulawa is around 8 months old and they are still eating weaning formula via a syringe plus fruit and veggies diced up into 15mm cubes. also mashed sweet potato around 2 to 3 times a week.

Davidcsky is correct in his post It's not that hard to wean a bird. I would try a foodstuff that is a bit bland has strong flavours could be a causing the bird to reject the food.

look on the web to find a alterative weaning formula that can be made up with items out of the pantry. Until you can get a weaning formula from a pet shop.

Grraarrgghh · Apr 13, 2015

Are you syringe/dropper feeding formula? Some babies refuse formula presented in other manners until they are ready to fully wean. If he keeps refusing formula from a syringe, it may be a medical issue and you may want to seek the attention of an avian vet.

Also jeez, 18 months and still on formula? I think by that point it's just a spoiled fid!

Ann333 · Apr 13, 2015

We got the baby cockateil to eat millet and im torn, im glad hes eating something and he really really went after it, but at the same time... its millet... thats like eating frosting for breakfast lunch and diner. But we could feel his breast bone sticking out through his skin very easily poor thing. We are offering budgie sized pellets and seed and chop and formula in a bowel all day everyday, but so far hes just eating millet. Im apprehensive about the syringe because hes not showing a feeding response and i dont want to just pour formula into his mouth if he isnt ready... its just available in a bowl.

Help with weaning

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