Baby Ekkie feeding update

Even though he was fully weaned for a month when he came home, he started losing weight after a few days. He lost 8 grams two days in a row on Tuesday and Wednesday.

I had been offering 3 hand feedings a day, which he was refusing. By Thursday, I was only offering an evening feeding and he began to seem interested and took 20cc on his own. When I would drop feedings, I would offer him a mixture of puréed fruit and formula and he was eating quite a bit of it. He also gets my Ekkie vegetable mash for one meal, and fresh fruit for the other meal. I make sure he always has a ton of food to choose from.

Then, Friday morning, he started vocalizing what seemed like a hunger cry. He would walk towards me in his cage and make this heartbreaking sound. I decided to offer a Handfeeding and he took in over 40cc on his own.

My suspicion is that first week he was really adjusting to the new environment and new mama. He only vocalizes for me and not my husband. He is now taking two hand feedings a day plus quite a bit of all the other food we are offering.

The good news? He has gained those 16 grams back since Friday.

The breeder warned me that Eclectus sometimes take a long time to wean and sometimes regress and continue wanting hand feedings even for comfort until 7 months. That's fine with me, I just don't want him to have to go back to her and risk upsetting the close bond we are already developing.

Has anyone else experienced this with a baby Ekkie? They seem a lot more sensitive to changing homes but it could just be because he is a baby. I've spoken with a few Ekkie breeders who have many babies who don't wean until the 7+ month mark and some are just slow to wean and fast to lose weight. Everyone I've spoken to recommends weighing daily because of this.




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Brittany, I think you're doing a really fine job with Scooter!

I've raised only 2 ekkis, but must say they were SUCH delicate eaters compared to Amazons, for example.

Both of mine were completely weaned by the time they were 5 months, however, the begging noise didn't stop for many months after that. I did monitor their weight, and offered formula when the begging was excessive, but they were clearly not interested any longer, and they maintained their weight. I wouldn't have had a problem feeding them longer if I had to, because I'm a strong believer in abundance weaning.

JerseyWendy said:

Brittany, I think you're doing a really fine job with Scooter!

I've raised only 2 ekkis, but must say they were SUCH delicate eaters compared to Amazons, for example.

Both of mine were completely weaned by the time they were 5 months, however, the begging noise didn't stop for many months after that. I did monitor their weight, and offered formula when the begging was excessive, but they were clearly not interested any longer, and they maintained their weight. I wouldn't have had a problem feeding them longer if I had to, because I'm a strong believer in abundance weaning.

Click to expand...

What is abundance weaning? This thread goes to the top of my list---getting my baby in 6 weeks (CANT WAIT!!) She will be about 3.5 months then.

I had a similar experience with my Ekkie. I brought him home at 3 months and almost immediately there was some regression regarding handfeeding. I gave him two hand feedings a day, morning and night and kept his fresh food available as well. By the time he was 5 months old I started him on the warm soak and feed mixes which I put in his feeding bowl. By 8 months he was just on fresh foods. When the breeder sold him to me she said he hadn't been eating the handfeeding formula much....but my research after indicated he was probably getting ready to fledge and was in the process of losing his baby weight to assist with flight. I would agree that Ekkies are a little trickier to wean and I cringe when I see ads that say weaned Ekkies for sale and they are barely 3 months old. IMO, these are birds that cannot be rushed into being weaned.

coopedup said:

What is abundance weaning? This thread goes to the top of my list---getting my baby in 6 weeks (CANT WAIT!!) She will be about 3.5 months then.

Click to expand...

Abundance weaning means the bird won't be rushed to completely eat on his/her own. Yes, there are guidelines by what age certain species 'should be' weaned, however, each bird is an individual, and not all wean at the same time.

Allowing the baby to wean on his/her own terms makes for a happier, healthier, and more well rounded individual IME.

There may be times during which a baby parrot refuses formula for a few days, only to be wanting to be fed again on day #3 (for example). Then there are times baby refuses morning feeding, but is eagerly slurping up dinner. The next day this may be reversed.

It's no cause for concern as long as there isn't too much weight loss. EVERY bird will eventually wean.

coopedup said:

JerseyWendy said:

Brittany, I think you're doing a really fine job with Scooter!



I've raised only 2 ekkis, but must say they were SUCH delicate eaters compared to Amazons, for example.



Both of mine were completely weaned by the time they were 5 months, however, the begging noise didn't stop for many months after that. I did monitor their weight, and offered formula when the begging was excessive, but they were clearly not interested any longer, and they maintained their weight. I wouldn't have had a problem feeding them longer if I had to, because I'm a strong believer in abundance weaning.

Click to expand...

What is abundance weaning? This thread goes to the top of my list---getting my baby in 6 weeks (CANT WAIT!!) She will be about 3.5 months then.

Click to expand...

I opted to wait until at least four months to bring him home and I'm glad I did. One local breeder doesn't send their Eclectus home until after 5-7 months because weaning is so complicated with these guys.

Wendy,

YES!!! To abundance weaning. Just like with nursing my daughter when she was a wee one, this baby bird gets an abundance of food, variety, and of course formula on demand. The last thing I want is him going back to the breeder because of weight loss. This transition from breeder to mama is the most significant life change he should have endured thus far, and going back is simply a last resort. That's why I am truly losing sleep over it. It matters that much to me.

He is now also crying for me so I am ignoring that behavior as I have many birds and simply not willing to train bad behaviors, no matter how bad it makes my heart hurt to do it. This is only when I know he's fed, watered, clean, not injured, etc.

Screaming protocols are already posted. Follow them. They work.

Congratulations on your new baby! It sounds like you are doing an amazing job. I brought Oliver home at 5 months after bonding with him weekly from about 5 weeks of age. I'm trying to remember if he cried for food but I honestly don't think he did. He was a good eater almost from the start. I remember giving mushy warm foods and feeding him by spoon for bonding...which he loved. To date, mushy warm food is his favorite!! I look forward to learning more about your new little one....

Birdman666 said:

Screaming protocols are already posted. Follow them. They work.

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He's not screaming, just low-level vocalizing like the rest of the flock. He is just trying out his new skill. It's not constant or annoying or loud, but I am definitely not encouraging him to do it incessantly.

You're doing a great job with him, Brittany.

How much does he weigh, now?