Saash
New member
I see there's not a lot of info on weaning eclectus.
I've had such great input on my other posts and have been looking for a way to also contribute, so I'm thinking I will add this thread as a reference with my experiences on this journey.
Baby is 5 weeks old. She is too young to actually go onto solids, but I have found some suggestions which I am going to try.
"Stage 3---Partial Dependency. Immune system still not fully functional. About half way through to weaning. Maximum crop capacity and peak weight reached during this stage. Feathers coming in. Blood feathers are evident. More able to tolerate lower temperatures but still needs supplemental heat especially at night. Has ability to walk. Starting to try out wings. Is alert and aware of surroundings. Can be introduced to a weaning cage when fully feathered. Becoming more coordinated. Beginning to perch on things. A good time to begin offering a variety of warmed weaning and soft foods in small quantities. Feedings are usually three times a day.
" - [UNDERSTANDING THE WEANING PROCESS Psychological and Physical Aspects By Wanda Barras]
Pickles is at the stage where her pin feathers are starting to turn into feathers. She is aware of her surroundings, stretching out her wingless, and walking around to investigate. She is 345g.
She sleeps in a 'nest' box inside what will become her weaning cage and later her 'sleep' cage if she wants it.
The AV has warned that you don't put a fledgling in its flight cage as they tend to climb to the top, then not knowing how to get down, they let go and fall to the floor, injuring themselves.
"Weaning should be a gradual and well thought out process. Introducing a variety of weaning foods just when babies begin to feather, can encourage early weaning and prove less stressful to young birds as they approach weaning age. Young birds will pick at food items as soon as they have eye/beak coordination. Chicks play with their food long before they actually begin to eat it. This is normal."
So in the weeks to come, I am slowly taking foods that will be in her future diet, and at feeding time I am biting off small bits and putting them in front of her to explore.
So far she investigated some soggy banana with her tongue, and held a corn kernel between her beak while I ate some off the cob.
In her article, Wanda Barrasso suggests the mom will usually teach them what they can eat. It is suggested that babies who are introduced to their foods to investigate, are usually easier to wean when they start showing an interest in eating these morsels.
Wish me luck and feel free to add any other useful insights (especially those with experience).
The AV gave me a stern warning to avoid seeds. There are hand rearers in our area who raise eclectus the same as all other parots and put them onto seeds. From the AV's experiences, the adult birds have severe diet deficiencies with terrible plumes, and it is almost impossible to get the birds off the seeds and onto raw food diets.
"It is very important not to miss the critical period when a bird becomes interested in eating. If that instinct is unsatisfied and the opportune moment is missed, weaning may take for ever! Each hand-fed baby is an individual and will wean in his own time if proper nutrition and an environment indusive to weaning is provided before that propitious weaning moment. "
Point taken, duly noted, and let's begin exploring
I've had such great input on my other posts and have been looking for a way to also contribute, so I'm thinking I will add this thread as a reference with my experiences on this journey.
Baby is 5 weeks old. She is too young to actually go onto solids, but I have found some suggestions which I am going to try.
"Stage 3---Partial Dependency. Immune system still not fully functional. About half way through to weaning. Maximum crop capacity and peak weight reached during this stage. Feathers coming in. Blood feathers are evident. More able to tolerate lower temperatures but still needs supplemental heat especially at night. Has ability to walk. Starting to try out wings. Is alert and aware of surroundings. Can be introduced to a weaning cage when fully feathered. Becoming more coordinated. Beginning to perch on things. A good time to begin offering a variety of warmed weaning and soft foods in small quantities. Feedings are usually three times a day.
" - [UNDERSTANDING THE WEANING PROCESS Psychological and Physical Aspects By Wanda Barras]
Pickles is at the stage where her pin feathers are starting to turn into feathers. She is aware of her surroundings, stretching out her wingless, and walking around to investigate. She is 345g.
She sleeps in a 'nest' box inside what will become her weaning cage and later her 'sleep' cage if she wants it.
The AV has warned that you don't put a fledgling in its flight cage as they tend to climb to the top, then not knowing how to get down, they let go and fall to the floor, injuring themselves.
"Weaning should be a gradual and well thought out process. Introducing a variety of weaning foods just when babies begin to feather, can encourage early weaning and prove less stressful to young birds as they approach weaning age. Young birds will pick at food items as soon as they have eye/beak coordination. Chicks play with their food long before they actually begin to eat it. This is normal."
So in the weeks to come, I am slowly taking foods that will be in her future diet, and at feeding time I am biting off small bits and putting them in front of her to explore.
So far she investigated some soggy banana with her tongue, and held a corn kernel between her beak while I ate some off the cob.
In her article, Wanda Barrasso suggests the mom will usually teach them what they can eat. It is suggested that babies who are introduced to their foods to investigate, are usually easier to wean when they start showing an interest in eating these morsels.
Wish me luck and feel free to add any other useful insights (especially those with experience).
The AV gave me a stern warning to avoid seeds. There are hand rearers in our area who raise eclectus the same as all other parots and put them onto seeds. From the AV's experiences, the adult birds have severe diet deficiencies with terrible plumes, and it is almost impossible to get the birds off the seeds and onto raw food diets.
"It is very important not to miss the critical period when a bird becomes interested in eating. If that instinct is unsatisfied and the opportune moment is missed, weaning may take for ever! Each hand-fed baby is an individual and will wean in his own time if proper nutrition and an environment indusive to weaning is provided before that propitious weaning moment. "
Point taken, duly noted, and let's begin exploring