My 10 week old GCC won't eat solids or drink water. Normal?

Hi,

We have a 10 week old GCC who we have had since 4 weeks old. We've been handing feeding him and started the weaning process about 3 weeks ago. He tries pretty much anything that we throw his way but will only ingest mushy or wet foods (eg. mashed sweet potato, mashed carrots, corn). When it comes to harder and more solid foods such as pellets, seeds, nuts he would only get as far chewing it and breaking it apart into little pieces and then let it fall out of his mouth but will not swallow it. We are still handfeeding him 2 - 3 times daily depending on his appetite. And offer him food in a dish on the regular.

As for water we put a water dish in his cage but I have not witnessed him drink from it ever and highly doubt he has. He's not afraid of water and will even "taste" water occasionally when playing in a bath but it doesn't appear that he connects water as something that serves to quench his thirst. However, since we're still handfeeding him I assume his water needs are already being met.

I guess what I'm asking is if its normal for a baby to have difficulty with solid foods at this age and if there's anything we can do to help him during this transition from formula to solids / water?

Have you tried him him sprouted seeds?

Or what about a chop or mash type of recipe?


If he's having difficulty weaning, then a vet visit may be in order to make sure he isn't sick.

I noticed when I was hand feeding my bird he didn't want or have the need to drink water because in theory they get enough water from the hand feeding. As long as poops are normal and he knows where the water is and has tasted it as you say... it's totally fine.

at 10 weeks he may just not be ready to wean yet. Keep offering him soft foods and work towards harder pellets and such. As for the water I should think he is either getting all he needs from the water in his formula, he could also be drinking when you're not looking which isn't impossible.

Try chop and mash like others have said and also chop a little up onto your own plate and eat it yourself to show it's tasty and food

I agree with LordTriggs, "Abundance Weaning" is kinder to the bird and more likely to result in a happy, healthy, secure little fid. IMHO and according to many whose opinions I respect.

When Yoda was being weaned, he didn't drink water either, except he actually liked it when I would dip my finger in water and let him lick the droplet from my finger tip. I think this also helped our bonding, and even now that he is a year old I sometimes offer him a droplet of water that way and he loves it. Baby's on formula get more than enough water from the formula, or so our Vet told us when I asked the same question of her. Worry not, but keep providing pellets and tiny-diced and preferably soft veggies as well as fresh water.

I agree abundance weening is the way to go too. However watch out because my bird Finley was ready to have one hand feeding a day till eternity. So waut until he stopped begging for formula blike a baby around 4 months old. I know for a fact he'd vtake a feeding right now if I made it for him so sometimes abundance feeding needs a little adjustment also. Hopefully yours will eventually refuse the formula unlike my doofus.

I am by NO means as knowledgeable as many here but I'll post my experiences with Buddy.
He is 12 weeks old and at 8 weeks, I also didn't think he was getting water. I offered him a droplet from my finger (like others) and he took it easily.
But the real clincher was when I ran water from the faucet. He loved that sound and went to it. I perched him on my finger down to the running stream and he drank water then took a bath.
We now do this every morning.

Buddy, also like Sunnyclover, would still like to be hand fed with formula. Every night he treats my finger as if it was formula. He does eat solid food well but still would easily take formula if presented with it.