Normal weaning age for hand fed macaws?

[LiL_Caity413]

 

[Johnny]

Hello there!

I dont have much experience yet, but there are few things I thought I would share. I took my macaw (B&G) when she was 3 months old - I really wanted unweaned baby (I would take even 2 months old if that was possible at that time). Why? Well I just believe that you make a special bond between you and you macaw, not that "normal" like everybody else, but like a TRUE parront and child. Also they are too cute at that age Well the problem comes with hand feeding and safety in general. You must be PERFECT at everything you do at that time. I think they usually wean between 4-12 months, mostly at about 5-6 months old what I read. It is just just better to let them wean when they want to, do not push them ! Some may take a long time to wean. There are 2 groups of ppl - 1 that does not approve selling unweaned chicks (because of the hazard of poor handling, safety etc.) and 2 that do this. I am glad that we got our girl unweaned, it was like the best time of my life, but I can imagine the horror if someone incopetent gets this little baby, and screws up. That ends up mostly in death of the parrot. It is very sad.

I saw several behaviour problems when handled poorly at small age - like fear of hand, water and this things. It just takes SMALL thing to scare them at this age, and it takes AGES for them to start liking it again. When a macaw is weaned too early and sold, it is possible that the macaw would start to want being hand fed again (what I know) and that is problem, big one.

At age 2 they really shouldn't be in cage yet, what I know mostly they but them in safe boxes with some towel papers or pellets under them. They eat like 3-4 times a day. They should get 10% of their weight in formula. At age of 3 months they usually start climbing around, so it is ok to be for then in cage. At that time, we fed our Ciry about 2-3 times a day, but mostly only 2. At that time, you can handle them as you want. It is just up to you what to do, the important thing is proper hand feeding.

I am very saddened when I see photos on Facebook of macaws that came from the same breeder as mine. Some of them have really poor conditions - I am talking about not a lot o toys, things to chew on and this things. Just a cage and a macaw alone in there. Well that was kind of off-topic

I know that I did not answer all of you questions, but I hope this helps you a little bit, if you have any more questions, just ask.

 

[Birdman666]

It's different for different species, with Hys being the longest and most difficult to wean.

I am not a fan of force weaning. There have been a number of studies that have shown abundance weaning and allowing the baby to fledge are the number one and number two factors in raising a confident, psychologically healthy parrot. These are critical factors in a bird's development.

I am in the "clip them" camp (and yes, I freeflighted for several years) after several accidents and near misses. But let them be confident, coordinated fliers first. Then gradually trim them back until they are semi-flighted.

And individual birds wean faster than others. Some (My red front) almost immediately take to regular food, and will eat anything put in front of them.

Others, like the comfort (a blue throat I helped raise awhile back) of sitting on your lap and being spoon fed, and can go on several months longer than anticipated... I personally believe it's up to the bird on this one.

Anyway, just my opinion.

 

[LiL_Caity413]

 

[kaybear]

Have a look on FB for macaws and more, she's an australian breeder, and she's AMAZING, one of the best bird breeders i have EVER seen. and she's not at all secretive about her methods, aviaries, birds, brooders or anything else.

xx