Weaning/Feeding Problems

PunkyB

New member
Aug 15, 2016
21
0
Hi All,

I purchased a baby Alexandrine approximately 10 weeks ago.

We bought him home at just a few weeks old when he was bald and helpless. The breeder would not normally let them go at that age but as me and my partner have experience with hand weaning he allowed us.

Now he is 10 weeks and has grown into a wonderful bird.

Problem I'm now having is with feeding.

When he was up to 6 weeks old he had Kaytee exact every 4 hours and was so eager to feed he would have swallowed the whole syringe if he could have done!

We started to reduce his feedings at about 8 weeks to 3 times a day interspersed with fruit/veg/millet and all seemed to be going well

Now though he wont take any formula from a syringe and only seems interested in eating apples and nuts. He can't live on those forever being too sugary and fatty. I have tried my best to get him to eat his pellet formula (Kaytee) but he refuses.

Foods he ate when he was just discovering solids such as raspberries, corn on the cob, blueberries and spinach are now totally ignored as well

As you can see this is now causing weight loss for the first time and I am so worried

07.07 220g
15.07 220g
23.07 192g

Every time I go shopping I try bringing back different fruits and vegetables to see if I can interest him in something else but it's slow going

I was told a little weight loss around the point they fly the nest is normal and maybe I'm over reacting

Any advice on what might help from others who have raised this species and similar is really greatly appreciated. If any information is required from me please ask and I will post ASAP

Many Thanks!
 

Attachments

  • 20046399_10154448216556353_3839953416476422770_n.jpg
    20046399_10154448216556353_3839953416476422770_n.jpg
    46.2 KB · Views: 147

SilverSage

New member
Sep 14, 2013
5,937
94
Columbus, GA
Parrots
Eclectus, CAG, BH Pionus, Maximilian’s Pionus, Quakers, Indian Ringnecks, Green Cheeked Conures, Black Capped Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Canaries, Diamond Doves, Zebra Finches, Society F
Stop feeding the apples and nuts entirely until he learns to eat the other foods :).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
OP
P

PunkyB

New member
Aug 15, 2016
21
0
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #3
Stop feeding the apples and nuts entirely until he learns to eat the other foods :).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

TY very much for your quick reply

Sure iv'e taken them away with immediate effect . I have provided some melon, pomegranate and peas

So far seems to be enjoying the peas and pomegranate

Is it just a case of making sure his young brain accepts that he wont always be able to have the foods that are his personal preference?

I guess I was freaking out over the 8g weight loss but is it a case of he will start to eat when he gets hungry enough?
 

SilverSage

New member
Sep 14, 2013
5,937
94
Columbus, GA
Parrots
Eclectus, CAG, BH Pionus, Maximilian’s Pionus, Quakers, Indian Ringnecks, Green Cheeked Conures, Black Capped Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Canaries, Diamond Doves, Zebra Finches, Society F
To an extent. You still want to offer formula at least twice a day, but just think of him like a kid; if the kid's favorite food is Mac and cheese and they have access to that, they aren't going to eat the steak you offer :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
OP
P

PunkyB

New member
Aug 15, 2016
21
0
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #5
To an extent. You still want to offer formula at least twice a day, but just think of him like a kid; if the kid's favorite food is Mac and cheese and they have access to that, they aren't going to eat the steak you offer :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes it was my understanding he should still be having formula a few times a day but even though he gets excited when he sees me making it he just wont open his beak for it. I can try and squirt some in at the sides or open his beak slightly to get some in but it makes a lot of mess and I don't want to ruin my great relationship with him. Here and there iv'e been able to get him to accept some so I guess it's just trial and error

I have never had these difficulties when hand rearing other birds, but iv'e never hand reared this species or any parrot as large
 

SilverSage

New member
Sep 14, 2013
5,937
94
Columbus, GA
Parrots
Eclectus, CAG, BH Pionus, Maximilian’s Pionus, Quakers, Indian Ringnecks, Green Cheeked Conures, Black Capped Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Canaries, Diamond Doves, Zebra Finches, Society F
How hot is the formula?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
OP
P

PunkyB

New member
Aug 15, 2016
21
0
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #7
How hot is the formula?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

He likes it to the warmer end of the allowable spectrum if it's too cold he wont be as keen.

He has never had any crop issues
 

SilverSage

New member
Sep 14, 2013
5,937
94
Columbus, GA
Parrots
Eclectus, CAG, BH Pionus, Maximilian’s Pionus, Quakers, Indian Ringnecks, Green Cheeked Conures, Black Capped Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Canaries, Diamond Doves, Zebra Finches, Society F
Ok. I ask because for a lot of babies that age they just need it kicked up a couple of degrees, but of course not any hotter than 110F.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
OP
P

PunkyB

New member
Aug 15, 2016
21
0
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #9
Ok. I ask because for a lot of babies that age they just need it kicked up a couple of degrees, but of course not any hotter than 110F.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It may obviously loose a little temperature by the time it gets to him so I can try and do it a little quicker
 

SilverSage

New member
Sep 14, 2013
5,937
94
Columbus, GA
Parrots
Eclectus, CAG, BH Pionus, Maximilian’s Pionus, Quakers, Indian Ringnecks, Green Cheeked Conures, Black Capped Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Canaries, Diamond Doves, Zebra Finches, Society F
If you are already paying attention to the temp then that's probably not the problem. Usually that's the problem more for people who aren't measuring the temp to start with.

He is not too young to start self weaning so I wouldn't sweat it. If I were you I would continue offering nighttime formula for at least a week and just be sure and watch that he is learning to eat enough kinds of foods :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
OP
P

PunkyB

New member
Aug 15, 2016
21
0
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #11
Things seem to be picking up a bit, in terms of formula feeds and eating more varieties of fruit and veg. I think this is part of the normal weaning process and I am panicking too much. If he looses more weight though I will take him to the vet just for a check over

Thanks to all those who helped really really appreciated. Good luck to you and your birds
 

SilverSage

New member
Sep 14, 2013
5,937
94
Columbus, GA
Parrots
Eclectus, CAG, BH Pionus, Maximilian’s Pionus, Quakers, Indian Ringnecks, Green Cheeked Conures, Black Capped Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Canaries, Diamond Doves, Zebra Finches, Society F
It's always better to panic where none is needed than to stay calm where you should panic when it comes to birds, especially babies! You've got this :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Theone

Member
Mar 1, 2017
52
16
India
Parrots
Indian ring necks
@silversage I wanted to know when do the babies stop eating formula. My birdies are 5 months old they eat everything but I am still feeding them formula twice a day and they are eating that too. Shall I stop feeding them the formula or reduce to once a day? They eat all veggies nuts and seeds but still love to eat formula, it's like they wait in the afternoon and night for me to feed them the formula.
 

SilverSage

New member
Sep 14, 2013
5,937
94
Columbus, GA
Parrots
Eclectus, CAG, BH Pionus, Maximilian’s Pionus, Quakers, Indian Ringnecks, Green Cheeked Conures, Black Capped Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Canaries, Diamond Doves, Zebra Finches, Society F
@silversage I wanted to know when do the babies stop eating formula. My birdies are 5 months old they eat everything but I am still feeding them formula twice a day and they are eating that too. Shall I stop feeding them the formula or reduce to once a day? They eat all veggies nuts and seeds but still love to eat formula, it's like they wait in the afternoon and night for me to feed them the formula.



What species are your babies?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

SilverSage

New member
Sep 14, 2013
5,937
94
Columbus, GA
Parrots
Eclectus, CAG, BH Pionus, Maximilian’s Pionus, Quakers, Indian Ringnecks, Green Cheeked Conures, Black Capped Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Canaries, Diamond Doves, Zebra Finches, Society F
It's very odd for Ringnecks to still be accepting formula feedings at 5 months. I suggest you reduce and then eliminate the morning feeding and then the evening. I'm not sure what would make ringies take formula that long. Even as an abundance weaning breeder I've never approached that length. Be absolutely certain they are eating enough and not losing weight as you reduces.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
OP
P

PunkyB

New member
Aug 15, 2016
21
0
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #17
Just wanted to update everyone on this "problem" I was having. Dino was just going through a phase of exploring and playing with food and now is regularly eating many kinds of fruits and vegetables.

He is also eating his formula without fuss again, and the cause of it all it seems was the SYRINGE!! of all things :09:

He was having 5ml purple coloured syringes I got in a pack when he was young and of course was opening a sterile one for each feed. I decided to try a 10ml Syringe that was sterile that was given to me by the hospital. It has a much longer tip, no colouring and a different shape. I have managed to source a supply of sterile new ones!

Now he wants to practically rip it apart to get to the formula again! Weight has gone back up 7 grams and is perfectly back on track

Maybe it was boredom or just now he has a bigger beak he wanted a bigger syringe outlet!

Hope this post will help anyone with similar problems, i posted a picture in case it will help anyone
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20170804_003304.jpg
    IMG_20170804_003304.jpg
    96.4 KB · Views: 79

SilverSage

New member
Sep 14, 2013
5,937
94
Columbus, GA
Parrots
Eclectus, CAG, BH Pionus, Maximilian’s Pionus, Quakers, Indian Ringnecks, Green Cheeked Conures, Black Capped Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Canaries, Diamond Doves, Zebra Finches, Society F
Oh! Haha I have had that happen! I'm sorry I didn't think to ask. Thanks for the update!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Most Reactions

Latest posts

Top