8Week old YCA

[Fil]

Hi,

I am currently hand raising a 7-8 week old yellow crown amazon. It's my first baby from this pair, and so far he seems to be doing ok. I just have a couple of questions id like to ask.

He weighs around 310 grams. Is this ok for his age ?

Secondly, he's on 4 feeds a day of 30ml. Should I start to reduce the feeds but increase the amount ?

Also, he is gaining most of his feathers, but he still has trouble with his balance and shows no interest in walking or perching. Should he be able to walk properly by now instead of falling?

Lastly, is it ok to move him into a small cage and introduce soft foods or is he too young still?

Sorry for all the questions but it's my first time with a Zon. Give me a conure or an Aussie parrot and I'm fine! Haha.

Thanks in advance.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Hi Fil,

Are you absolutely certain that your YC is 7-8 weeks old? At this age he should be pretty much fully feathered.

310g is a bit low IMO for a YC that age. And yes, he should start perching, too.

Have you been monitoring his weight gain? Is he still gaining a good amount, or has it slowed down somewhat?

You can start offering him soft foods and millet to see if he is interested. And yes, if he's truly between 7-8 weeks, he should be fine on 3 feedings/day.

Best of luck to you, and please, if you have some pictures, we'd love to see them.

 

[Fil]

Thanks for the reply Wendy.

I believe he is around that age; but the parents were so territorial it was very hard for me to go next to their aviary let alone check the box. I could be wrong.

Yes, I've been monitoring his weight and he seems to always stay around the 310-325 range.

I'll take some photos in the next hour or so and upload them to see what you think of his age and development.

 

[Fil]

Ok, I quickly snapped some photos whilst I was about to give him his feed. It was a nightmare because he has such as strong feeding response so he was being very restless and constantly attacks my fingers thinking that food is going to come out haha.

(Sorry - it took me a while to work out how to put photos on here haha)

 

[henpecked]

That looks pretty normal for a 6 wk old zon. (7 wks would be about to fledge). yes he should be taking more interest in perching and flapping about. However that depends on where he's brooding? Is he parent raised, have you pulled him yet, are you "coparenting"? At this point i would have him in a shallow"rabbit,ferret" type cage with perches and wire floor, free of nesting type materials. No siblings?? Feeding sometimes gets crazy, especially if no siblings to compete with. I might be wrong about age, could me 35 days old, but regardless, monitor the weight. Weight will "taper" off as they fledge at about 7-8 wks. And again as they wean at about 12 wks. I'm sure will have some old threads about some of this stuff, you shold use the forum search. Of course ask away if you need help. Good luck, take lots of pictures for us.
PS where in the world are you?

 

[Fil]

He's currently in a brooder but I'm going to move him into a small weaning cage soon. He does seen to be trying to perch now. I am more just worried about the weight.

I will take heaps more photos! Don't worry!

I'm in Australia. So the price of these guys is through the roof !

 

[GaryBV]

omg - those pictures of that baby have to be the cutest pictures I've ever seen of a baby parrot !

 

[JerseyWendy]

I agree with our Capt (henpecked) on the age. Keep feeding him as you have, he's SUCH a cutie!!!

Once you place him in a little cage, you could give him a stuffed animal to snuggle up against. And place a natural perch low in that cage to see if he tries to climb onto it.

 

[Fil]

Ok I'll keep the four feeds a day. Can I go to three but increase the feeds to about 35 mls or would that be too much work for his crop ?

Also, is he fine for me to place into a small weaning cage tomorrow ? And of a night ill place him back in the brooder?

 

[JerseyWendy]

You can try 3 feedings a day, and see how he does.

And yes, try the weaning cage tomorrow.

 

[Fil]

I've put him in a weaning cage and he is trying to perch. He puts one foot up and flaps his wings but freaks out with the second foot haha!

I've put pellets, corn and peas, fresh fruit and some greens in his cage as well so hopefully he starts to nibble on some food. I'll take some pics when he perches!

I've also sent off "his" DNA today, so I should get the results by this time next week!

 

[BirdyMomma]

Good luck with your beautiful new baby!

 

[henpecked]

Are you raising a breeder or pet?

 

[Fil]

His a pet. I'm actually keeping him myself !

 

[Fil]

He/she has started to perch now

Not picking on any food yet; but i've cut his feedings down to 40mls 3 X per day.

The weight is still around the 310 mark? Is this ok? What does a normal weaned/full grown yellow crown normally weigh?

 

[JerseyWendy]

Great progress!!

Here is some info about this species:
ADW: Amazona ochrocephala: INFORMATION

Yellow-crowned Amazon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yellow-crowned or Yellow-fronted Amazon Parrot (Amazona ocrocephala)

 

[Fil]

Got the DNA results back today ! I've got a little girl

She's started picking on some apple, but no corn or peas or pellets. Any suggestions?

 

[henpecked]

have you tried spoon feeding her formula? you can also mix in different baby foods with her formula. carrot,peas, banana, etc.

 

[Fil]

I might mix some of her pellets with warm water and spoon feed them to her. See how she goes.