Need help to raise a baby approx 5 weeks old.

Theone · Mar 1, 2017

It's been 3 days that I took this baby from a breeder but after the first day it has started eating less now. Whenever I try to feed it usually won't open it's beak even though I feed her at 6-8 hours interval. Please I need some help about what to do and please suggest me what kind of cereal mixture should I give her to eat.

PS: She makes some moaning noise which I don't know all baby parrots make or not. Personally I think she is crying or I don't know if that is normal for all baby parrots.

itzjbean · Mar 1, 2017

Hello, you have come to the right place for help!! There are many here experienced with raising baby birds.

My first suggestion to you would be to take the baby back to the breeder. If you do not know how to properly care for an unweaned bird, as it is still very young and needs to be handfed, then its better to be safe than sorry for this baby. If not fed properly, it can and will die. This baby should be handfed several times a day at this age, though I'm not an expert on Alexandrines.

Are you feeding the baby with a syringe? How warm are you heating up the formula? Did this breeder show you how to handfeed, or did you have any prior experience with handfeeding? Keep us updated!

Theone · Mar 1, 2017

I have seen many YouTube videos about how to feed a baby parrot. I am feeding her Rice cereal with a syringe. On the first day I fed her every 4 hours and she ate properly but since 2 days she is refusing to eat more than a 3ml syringe. The formula I am making is at room temperature can say around 30-35°C. I am not forcing her to eat and when feeding I give her food carefully and slowly.

itzjbean · Mar 1, 2017

Do NOT feed her rice cereal. This is NOT meant for baby birds and she will die if you do not switch her to baby bird fomular, like Kaytee's Exact Handfeeding Formula.

Baby birds need their fomula at at least 100 degrees F, or 37 degrees C. Room temperature is WAY to cold for the baby to injest.

PLEASE give the baby back to the breeder.

Theone · Mar 1, 2017

Thank you very much for the answer, I will consult with the breeder first thing tomorrow.

Kentuckienne · Mar 2, 2017

There is so much to know about hand feeding, but temperature is very important. If the food is too hot, it can burn the delicate tissues inside the crop which is painful and dangerous. If it is too cold, it can congeal in the crop and make a mass that doesn't move through the system. That's called crop stasis and it's also deadly because the bird will quickly starve. Other things can cause that as well including the wrong food. If that's happened already, which it sounds possible to me, the bird must be seen by an avian vet at once or it might die. A breeder that gave you a bird this young without proper training should not be allowed to have birds.

Theone · Mar 2, 2017

I took her to 2 different vets today and they said she is perfectly fine. I bought special baby food which she is eating now. I am giving her food every 4-5 hours and she has started to eat food willingly.
I will keep updating about her health, thank you everyone for your tips.

itzjbean · Mar 2, 2017

That's good about the baby eating again, hopefully she sticks it out!! Also, do you have any pics? I'd love to see her!!

I love baby pics!

Kentuckienne · Mar 2, 2017

Oh, that's a relief. I hope you will come back and give us updates ( and pictures ) as she grows up!

Theone · Mar 3, 2017

I would be happy to share some pics here, she is doing great and growing up fast. Btw I am feeding her Versele-Laga Nutribird A19 and she seems to be eager to eat it fast on every feeding as she opens her wings and tries to stretch up and grab the food as soon as she sees it.
https://ibb.co/b2Ywov
https://ibb.co/eurhTv
https://ibb.co/eQnBMF
https://ibb.co/nGEEaa

Another thing I wanted to ask was if baby parrots growl or something. I am hearing growling voice after eating maybe its a burp or is the food settling. She is eating 9-10ml every 4 hours so I am not worried about her not eating.

itzjbean · Mar 3, 2017

That sounds like normal chick behavior before and after feeding. Do you keep her in a brooder, or what do you do to keep her warm? Adorable pictures!! What ages are the two?

Theone · Mar 3, 2017

I don't know the exact ages of these 2 but the smaller should be around 6 weeks and the bigger should be around 8 weeks. I have a big box and a lot of sawdust in it in which I keep them. To keep them warm I keep a bag of warm water not so hot at night cause the normal temperature where I live is always above 30C. They doesn't shiver at all and I cover the box with cloth on above at night so it keeps them warm too. Air can pass freely in it. Well I can't explain much but its a home made brooder I made it myself

.
Also I wanted to ask again if the burp noise is normal or not after feeding. She makes it from her stomach though I know its not a bad thing but I am curious to know about it.

Need help to raise a baby approx 5 weeks old.

Theone

Member

itzjbean

Well-known member

Theone

Member

itzjbean

Well-known member

Theone

Member

Kentuckienne

Supporting Vendor

Theone

Member

itzjbean

Well-known member

Kentuckienne

Supporting Vendor

Theone

Member

itzjbean

Well-known member

Theone

Member

Buttons, buttons everywhere.

How old is too old to tame?

Most Reactions

Similar threads

Latest posts