New baby and feeding/crying

cannsyl · Jul 20, 2017

Hi I just got a 3 month old congo from a lovely breeder.
He is a sweet well adjusted baby and was weaned.

I have set up his cage as instructed with his pellets, water and fresh veggie chop all on one side with a solid perch in front of the 3 bowls so he doesn't have to go searching for his food and water.

I am still giving him about 20ml of formula at night before bed just to keep him ok with a syringe incase of later medications etc and because he likes it and its nurturing for him.

the question is he doesn't seem to eat much on his own. He cries for me to feed him. I know hes a baby and sometimes he just wants nurturing so I pet him and love on him and tell him hes a good boy and play with him and give him toys, but sometimes I think he also cries for food.

I give him the exact same things he was on when he left the breeder but he doesn't seem too interested in them. He will eat a few pellets and he will take a bite or two of the chop but I don't think hes eating well.

Should I feed him more or will he figure it out to eat what hes given? Will he starve himself if I don't feed him? He has food and water available 24/7. I change his chop 2x a day so it stays fresh.

TIA for any help

SailBoat · Jul 20, 2017

cannsyl said:
Hi I just got a 3 month old congo from a lovely breeder.
He is a sweet well adjusted baby and was weaned.

I have set up his cage as instructed with his pellets, water and fresh veggie chop all on one side with a solid perch in front of the 3 bowls so he doesn't have to go searching for his food and water.

I am still giving him about 20ml of formula at night before bed just to keep him ok with a syringe incase of later medications etc and because he likes it and its nurturing for him.

the question is he doesn't seem to eat much on his own. He cries for me to feed him. I know hes a baby and sometimes he just wants nurturing so I pet him and love on him and tell him hes a good boy and play with him and give him toys, but sometimes I think he also cries for food.

I give him the exact same things he was on when he left the breeder but he doesn't seem too interested in them. He will eat a few pellets and he will take a bite or two of the chop but I don't think hes eating well.

Should I feed him more or will he figure it out to eat what hes given? Will he starve himself if I don't feed him? He has food and water available 24/7. I change his chop 2x a day so it stays fresh.

TIA for any help

Why is it that an ever greater number of very young Parrots are showing up at Avian Vet Clinics staving? Answer: Far too many Baby Parrots are being released to owners that are not fully Weened!

Back to your Breeder 'Today,' now would be nice, and have them feed the Parrot for you and as part of it, show you how to feed your young Parrot if you need too! They also need to provide you with formula and a feeder!

At the same time that Breeder are releasing overly young Parrots to uninformed 'new' Owners the death rate of baby Parrots are on a sharp increase! Is there a connection here? I think so!

So, are you on your way to your Breeder's?

Allee · Jul 20, 2017

Congratulations on your new little love! I can imagine how scary it must be now that the little guy is home and depending on you for everything. As Sailboat mentioned there are hazards involved when you attempt to handfeed a chick, these dangers are real and many resent the breeders who encourage people to take on the challenge.

Here is a link you may find helpful, hopefully it will answer some of your questions.

https://theparrotuniversity.com/arthandfeeding1#basics

We have some experienced breeders who are skilled at handfeeding, they are likely to respond with good advice.

Best of luck, looking forward to hearing more about your new addition.

adz1984 · Jul 20, 2017

I don't know how long you have had him for but parrots generally take a week or two to settle in to new homes and that could possibly be why he's eating less but I feel your guy just isn't fully weaned (refusing hand feedings completely and filling crop on his own) also sometimes fully weaned parrot relapse, If that's the case you have two options:
a) take back to breeder for a couple of weeks
b) if you know to 'properly' offer upto 3 feeds a day yourself and reduce as he refuses keep in mind if you don't feed the right way (temp/amount/thickness etc etc etc) you will have bigger problems
goodluck

LordTriggs · Jul 21, 2017

back to the breeder. He's either regressed or just wasn't fully weaned in the first place. When you get them back don't bother with hand-feeding at night. They don't need it to take medicine when older, many parent fed birds take medicine without issue so that shows they don't need a night feed. It also doesn't give a stronger bond. If anything it's an unnecessary risk that they can get hurt or even die from a tiny mistake.

cannsyl · Jul 21, 2017

Wow. Some harshness on here. I did hand feed my first AG from 8 weeks old. She weaned no problem and would take a feeding from me even at 22 years old. I had fed her for probably 6 months.
Maybe I asked the question wrong.
The breeder is very good and very respected.
The bird was weaned before he came home.
I think that maybe no having his siblings with him and the environment change may have affected his eating. I have read you can get formula dependent birds if you just feed them formula all the time, but it pulls at your heart strings to hear him cry.

I am not letting him starve he is not losing weight. I do know how to hand feed if necessary I'm just wondering if it is necessary. If he has regressed some being in a new place without his feathered friends and he needs a little more.

Should I go ahead and go back to 1-2 feedings or just keep an eye on his weight and let him sort it out?

thanks

AmyMyBlueFront · Jul 21, 2017

"It also doesn't give a stronger bond."

I am going to disagree 100% with that statement!

When Amy came home to live with me,Smokey,and my Mom,some 28+ years ago..she was four months old...the breeder instructed to give her a "bottle feeding" just before her bed time,for two weeks.
He said it would help with bonding and I will defend that statement to the fullest.

Amy adored my Mom ( she would do the night feedings,if I was out that night in my Big Rig) And I honestly believe it helped Amy to except being held,being able to hold her on her back,in my hand without fussing

But hey! that's just one parronts view

Jim

plumsmum2005 · Jul 21, 2017

Hi a link FYI Winged Wisdom Magazine - Weigh Your Bird Regularly!! Pet Bird Care

"Young parrots should be weighed daily until they are 1 year old. Ask the breeder for your baby's weight record too. This will make your record more complete and could help the vet in case of illness. After the bird reaches one year old, weigh every other day until the bird reaches sexual maturity. Adult birds added to your flock should also be weighed daily for one year. This daily weight record serves to establish a baseline of what is "normal" for your bird."

Just to say that we are hearing of many baby parrots turning up at AV's that are close to dying or don't make it.

Have you tried to sit with his dish of chop/veggies and see if you can get him interested that way? Do the weighings and react to that but ultimately he must not starve.
Some guidance http://theworldofafricangreys.weebly.com/feeding-your-new-baby.html

New baby and feeding/crying

cannsyl

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SailBoat

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Allee

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adz1984

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LordTriggs

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cannsyl

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AmyMyBlueFront

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plumsmum2005

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