Help with hand feeding techniques

I'm putting this here because I figure people who breed and raise parrots would have the most knowledge on the topic.

I'm supposed to be feeding Leo baby bird formula until he's eating enough on his own to meet his own caloric needs. I've bottle/syringe fed a lot of different types of babies, but they've all been mammals, so I'm quite certain I'm not doing this entirely right. My vet gave me a crash course, but I think he thinks I know more than I actually do! *eek*. I'm supposed to be giving him 5mL, and I'm fairly certain that of that 5mL, only 2 made it into his crop. I could really use some tips and tricks for making this a less messy, more successful affair.

I have some experience but not as much as some members who have bred birds for years or even decades so I will wait for them to chime in and give you specifics on the right techniques. I feel fortunate to be a member of this forum with so many experienced individuals willing to give advice.

As for what has worked for me -- With the baby facing me, I angle the syringe into the right side of their mouth (with the tip resting on the inside of the mouth opening to get deposited into the crop) and at a slight angle, not straight down, I insert some formula. Babies usually flap and move all over when this happens so it can be difficult and so I usually try to keep one hand wrapped loosely around the baby with its head and neck free to keep it as still as I can. I feed a couple ml's, let the baby swallow and breathe and then continue to feed the rest until it is gone. They'll bob and beg and it's just so cute. Anyway, just what has worked for me

It's always much harder (and messier!) with a bird that doesn't want the food. I happen to be feeding one of those at the moment and tomorrow I will try to make a video for you to show how I minimize the mess and maximize the actual intake for a bird that doesn't want to eat.


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There are a lot of videos on the youtube showing how others hold their bird and such. I seriously can't get enough of those videos. baby parrots are the most adorable creatures lol their cute begging just melts my heart

That's the frustrating thing though; she isn't feeding a willing baby parrot, she is feeding a sick adult parrot. Most adults resist the hand feeding.


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oh my bad, I missed that part. I didn't realize it was a sick adult. I hope he pulls through!

That's ok, a lot of us have been following the story.


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SilverSage said:

That's the frustrating thing though; she isn't feeding a willing baby parrot, she is feeding a sick adult parrot. Most adults resist the hand feeding.
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Same goes for trying to syringe medicate an unwilling parrot, the videos show a totally chilled out and agreeable parrot that accepts readily not a devil with a beak using every limb to fight being medicated

Hoping Leo is better very soon.

I got a little bit more into him with a little less trauma this morning. And I wasn't entirely clear on amounts. I'm supposed to give him 5mL at a time but a whole feed is 10-15mL. Breaking it up is just to give him a chance to eat on his own. I've given him 10mL this morning, and probably 8mL actually made it into his crop, so we're improving.

Oliver used to eat liquids from a spoon, then take the spoon in his fist and lick it clean. I've heard of larger parrots being fed from hair-dye type, condiment dispenser bottles. I read somewhere to get them used to the syringe before they get sick, and forgot about it. I have a medicine syringe I got for free at the pharmacy, so I'll see about giving Gus-ster something sweet to get him used to the idea. Oh, I hope your baby keeps eating.