Can a parrot be "hand fed tame" if I start hand feeding formula at weaning stage?

Can a parrot be "hand fed tame" if I start hand feeding formula at weaning stage?

I've read that there are two stages to hand feeding parrots:

1) newborn hand feeding - which is separating them after certain number of days and feeding them formula.
2) weaning hand feeding - After they start growing feathers and are able to eat on their own, they are continued to be hand fed (at much longer intervals) until they are able to fly.

I'm curious what will happen if I remove the clutch as soon as they enter the "weaning stage", place each chick in separate containers, and I start hand feeding them formula while, at the same time, they're learning to eat on their own.

Will there be any consequences to the parents' or the chicks' psyche? (Like certain rule of chicks being always attached to their clutch or parents if they were parent fed until weaning stage.) Will their cognitive abilities be advanced to a point that they will recognize the difference between their own kind and humans, and refuse to eat hand feeding formula?

Re: Can a parrot be "hand fed tame" if I start hand feeding formula at weaning stage?

Will there be any consequences to the parents' or the chicks' psyche? (Like certain rule of chicks being always attached to their clutch or parents if they were parent fed until weaning stage.) Let's compare your proposition to a family of four children who are removed from their family and placed in a orphanage facility for four years...do you think those children would be end up with a damaged psyche?"

Will their cognitive abilities be advanced to a point that they will recognize the difference between their own kind and humans, and refuse to eat hand feeding formula? I would think that a bird's cognitive abilities would be advanced much like a human child's, by the associations, experiences and interactions they receive, rather than being caged individually and no, I doubt anything would be advanced by your proposition.....

Re: Can a parrot be "hand fed tame" if I start hand feeding formula at weaning stage?

I must be missing something.... is there really a big difference between hand feeding a baby that's a few days old and a baby that's a few weeks old? As long as you're not force feeding them formula after they decide to wean?

Re: Can a parrot be "hand fed tame" if I start hand feeding formula at weaning stage?

weco said:

Let's compare your proposition to a family of four children who are removed from their family and placed in a orphanage facility for four years...do you think those children would be end up with a damaged psyche?"
I would think that a bird's cognitive abilities would be advanced much like a human child's, by the associations, experiences and interactions they receive, rather than being caged individually and no, I doubt anything would be advanced by your proposition.....

Click to expand...

Yea, if you don't have anything enlightening to say, just don't say anything.

Re: Can a parrot be "hand fed tame" if I start hand feeding formula at weaning stage?

Ann333 said:

I must be missing something.... is there really a big difference between hand feeding a baby that's a few days old and a baby that's a few weeks old? As long as you're not force feeding them formula after they decide to wean?

Click to expand...

But I've read they're fed combination of formula and weaning foods even after they've past the stages of being completely hand fed. Didn't I adequately establish in the thread?

Re: Can a parrot be "hand fed tame" if I start hand feeding formula at weaning stage?

Uhhhh... sorry I'll let someone with more experience answer... I don't fully understand the process so I'm not sure I understand the question. In my mind it doesn't seem like a bad thing, but I have a feeling I don't know enough about what you're asking. Sorry. Hope you get an answer to this question.

Re: Can a parrot be "hand fed tame" if I start hand feeding formula at weaning stage?

Your continued questions have me pondering bridges and what maybe living under them.

Re: Can a parrot be "hand fed tame" if I start hand feeding formula at weaning stage?

There is a difference between hand fed and hand tame. A chick can be perfectly hand tame without being hand fed. It is not the formula that makes them tame it is the attention and love it gets during its formative weeks.
Some chicks may refuse to eat if you wait too long to pull them. There is a stigma that says that handfed means that these birds will be completely tame, but this is not true.... handfed birds can still be wild.
Basically, if you pull chicks at 3 weeks old, put them in brooders, only take them out to feed them and put them right back, these chicks will still be fairly wild.
If you pull the chicks feed them, play with them, talk to them, cuddle them, and love them, these chicks will be hand tame and hand fed.....

If you leave the chicks with the parents to feed them, and take them out every few hours, play with them cuddle them love them, these chicks will be co-parented- but still hand tame....

I believe that there is an adverse affect to pulling babies at a young age and handfeeding them. Sometimes it is necessity, but Sometimes birds who are handfed don't know they are birds. This is NOT a good thing. They are more susceptible to behavior problems, plucking, and screaming. If you pull the chicks and place them in separate containers, they don't have company and will only know you. They will be less socialized and may not understand what they are supposed to be. If you insist on handfeeding it is a better idea (again IMO) to keep the clutch together this way they can learn to interact with other birds.... (I believe letting the parents raise them and just coparenting them is the best way because then the parents will teach them how they should act.... )

IN MY OPINION- Co parenting is a better and easier option than having to be available every 3-4 hours to make sure you can feed the babies. Remember if you miss a feeding the baby can die. (this may not be feasible with breeders of large species but is definitely do-able for smaller birds tiels, conures, lovebirds etc.)
There may be times when you have to pull a couple for handfeeding due to extenuating circumstances.
PLEASE REMEMBER: if you force feed a bird it can aspirate and DROWN in its own food!!!!! NEVER force feed a bird...

Just my two cents.... I hope that all made sense....

Re: Can a parrot be "hand fed tame" if I start hand feeding formula at weaning stage?

labell said:

Your continued questions have me pondering bridges and what maybe living under them.

Click to expand...

Your lingering membership on a parrot forum site makes me wonder the same thing. I'm just looking for a few answers to make a decision, then I'm gonel you on the other hand... venerable "supporting member".

Re: Can a parrot be "hand fed tame" if I start hand feeding formula at weaning stage?

While my first thought was also that you may be trolling, my second is that you might actually be serious, and I can't let the thread go unanswered with that possibility.

By the time weaning is happening the birds have already fledged. They look like adult birds, they can fly, they are exploring and yes they VERY MUCH know the difference between people and birds. Your idea is one that shows you have not researched proper hand feeding, weaning, fledging, or any of the VITAL steps of raising birds. It also demonstrates that you believe the myth that somehow the act of feeding the formula is what leads to tame babies which is not even close to true. I am tempted to go in depth here and explain the whole thing but honestly your harsh answers to other members lead me to believe you have no interest in learning and will go ahead with this very foolish plan no matter what we say. For that reason I will not expend the effort to explain all the ways in which this idea is backward since you don't care. no one with any experience or knowledge of raising birds is going to tell you that this is a good ideal. If you try it you will end up with badly damaged birds who are terrified of you and show the telltale things of abuse and neglect.

Re: Can a parrot be "hand fed tame" if I start hand feeding formula at weaning stage?

Yikes.....the hostility.

Thanks Amjokai. I thought that was informative

Re: Can a parrot be "hand fed tame" if I start hand feeding formula at weaning stage?

Before this thread is closed... Silversage, do you perhaps already have a thread on this? I'd like to read it. Not interested in breeding AT ALL, just would like to know the process...

Re: Can a parrot be "hand fed tame" if I start hand feeding formula at weaning stage?

Ann333, please don't let him get to you, and yes, Ariel put so,e great and often overlooked info out there. It sounds like this guy wants what he thinks the results of hand feeding are (tame babies) without all the work of feeding them while they need it, and has put no effort into learning about the developmental stages of birds. How is your pumpkin? He looks like my Cache

Re: Can a parrot be "hand fed tame" if I start hand feeding formula at weaning stage?

Oh okay thanks, I'll go looking for it. I truly would like to understand the proper process. Pumpkin is wonderful! He's starting to beg for cuddles. I'll have to go looking for pictures of cache too!!

Re: Can a parrot be "hand fed tame" if I start hand feeding formula at weaning stage?

CharliePickles said:

weco said:

Let's compare your proposition to a family of four children who are removed from their family and placed in a orphanage facility for four years...do you think those children would be end up with a damaged psyche?"
I would think that a bird's cognitive abilities would be advanced much like a human child's, by the associations, experiences and interactions they receive, rather than being caged individually and no, I doubt anything would be advanced by your proposition.....

Click to expand...

Yea, if you don't have anything enlightening to say, just don't say anything.

Click to expand...

CharliePickles,
If you wish to remain a member of this forum, I highly suggest you find the time to read the forum rules and guidelines and absorb every word. Many of our knowledgable members have taken the time to patiently answer your questions. Many of the answers you have received are highly enlightening, wether or not you are enlightened is not the fault of those who responded.

Because you are a new member, I'll let the above remark go this time. Consider this a fair warning. I'm also pondering what lurks beneath the bridge.

Re: Can a parrot be "hand fed tame" if I start hand feeding formula at weaning stage?

OMG! It took me way to long to understand the "under the bridge" comment.

I need a nap!!!!

Re: Can a parrot be "hand fed tame" if I start hand feeding formula at weaning stage?

SS, I just noticed that hubby has you well indoctrinated...a good Army wife: Cache, Buddy, Delta, Chantilly, Shiloh, Kiowa, Apache, Lakota, Chinook, Battle, Sniper, Thunder, Lightning, Benning, Stryker, Trooper, Napoleon and Scout.....you definitely talk the talk.....

Interesting terminology...just noticed in passing.....

Re: Can a parrot be "hand fed tame" if I start hand feeding formula at weaning stage?

hahah Weco, she also has Flick who is actually (FLC), asu like their uniforms, buddy is actually BDU but they call him buddy and the dog is ranger lol... were probably still missing some.... hahaha.....

I love my bestie!

Re: Can a parrot be "hand fed tame" if I start hand feeding formula at weaning stage?

CharliePickles said:

But I've read they're fed combination of formula and weaning foods even after they've past the stages of being completely hand fed. Didn't I adequately establish in the thread?

Click to expand...

Possibly you're misreading this information? Birds that regress to eating formula after weaning are usually birds that were force weaned (not really ready) or birds that have encountered some type of stress and/or trauma soon after weaning!

With the exception of forced weaning, the individual bird determines when it weans itself to whole foods.....

It might help if you were to cite the publications and pages you have been reading from ! ! !

Re: Can a parrot be "hand fed tame" if I start hand feeding formula at weaning stage?

Lol Weco...

Mel = Maximum Engagement Line
Sam and Lady = Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty
Blue = Infantry Blue (lol)
Flick = FLC(Flighting Load Carrier
Cache = Weapons Cache
Tex = USS Texas
Buddy = BDU
Acu = ACU (Army Combat Uniform)
Sully = ASU (Army Service Uniform)
Chantilly, and Shiloh = Named after the battles
Delta = Delta Force (I had a Green Beret as well, but he went to live with Amjokai and got named Arrow)
Kiowa, Apache, Lakota, Chinook = Aircraft
Battle = "Infantry Queen of Battle"
Lacey = Non military lol we decided to hold her back for breeding
Sniper = obviously a sniper
Thunder = Non military but he is Lightning's mate
Lightning = Tropic Lightning (25th Infantry Division)
Benning = Fort Benning
Stryker = My husband was on his way to a Stryker unit but it got cancelled
Trooper = trooper
Marie = MRE (meal Ready to Eat)
Angel = Non military, again we hadnt planned on keeping her
and Napoleon = famous general!

Lol, so yes, Josh gets a say in the names! And the dog is name Ranger and the cat is named Whiskey Lima
Fly free Scout, IRN