Weaning my Eclectus

[krista64]

Hi I have a 12 week old female eclectus. I've started weaning her but she seems to show little interest in the fresh fruit and vegetables that I'm offering her. She has lost weight, she was 364 grams and is now 304 grams over 15 days. I'm still feeding her formula once a day. Is this typical behaviour? Any tips or stories would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[LaManuka]

Hi I have a 12 week old female eclectus. I've started weaning her but she seems to show little interest in the fresh fruit and vegetables that I'm offering her. She has lost weight, she was 364 grams and is now 304 grams over 15 days. I'm still feeding her formula once a day. Is this typical behaviour? Any tips or stories would be appreciated. Thanks

Hello kristy64, and welcome to the Forums!

Unfortunately I am not experienced with eclectus parrots, nor with weaning or hand-rearing, but I am quite concerned about the weight loss you have reported with your baby. I'm not sure where you are in the world, but I strongly recommend you contact a certified avian vet if you can, and as soon as possible for assistance as a matter of urgency. The link below may help you to find one if you don't already have one...

https://www.aav.org/default.aspx

The following links may be helpful for you in the meantime.....

weaning.

http://www.parrotforums.com/breeding-raising-parrots/74363-so-you-bought-unweaned-baby.html

I'm not sure how much experience you have had with parrots, but weaning can be a very precarious time in a young bird's life, and highly experienced people and even breeders can sometimes get it wrong. Above all else, the weight loss is most concerning to me, so please do try to contact an avian vet as soon as you possibly can.

I wish you and your baby all the very best!

 

[chris-md]

Hello and welcome!

I share lamanukas concern for the weight loss.

That said, your bird is at the fledging age, if not a bit past it (70-80 days). At this age, they do in fact start losing approximately 10% of their body weight. 20% drop is a bit much, I think.

You said she’s on once a day feeding. Has she rejected other feedings, or have you withheld them to try to get her on more solid foods?

 

[Laurasea]

Weaning by abundance, read up on it. The nsby will drop a feeding on its own, but you still offer it fir a few days to be sure that one feeding is really dropped, usually the morning and last feeding ate the last to be dropped. Burds actually feel more confident and willing to try foods with a full belly from hand feeding. Weaning is a very critical time that sets up the bird for life, and helps prevent behavior issues and plucking later in life. It's a time for added contact, guidance, and support feedings. Eclectus can take longer to wean, and for all parrots there is some thst jeep a small warm feeding before bedtime fir life.
Weaning is aldo a time that illness can spring up that were hidden due to the stress. So i agree with above 20% weigh loss us a trip to the avain vet specialist.

I've stashed a few Weaning articles in my ornithology thread, if you can't find good articles when you search let me know and I will link them . Thus us a very critical time in a birds life, you want to get it right. And tgey need a lot of extra attention, so tgey feel supported and confident. Parrots like primates have prolonged parental care.