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Handfeeding Question

Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:44 pm
by Peachykeen
All the babies are doing really awesome and weighing great.

My question is that they should be on 3 feedings a day- but they just act like they are starving to death and I have them on 4 feedings a day. I started this over the weekend. They have not lost weight- so I feel ok.

Honestly- when do you know when it is time to drop a feeding. I really thought they would refuse to eat or that the crop movement would slow down some to adjust to their metabolism as they matured and were not growing so fast anymore.

They are eating millet and playing with pellets- I doubt they are eating very much.. so I feel like as long as they are begging - they must be still needing the extra feeding at this time. I could be totally wrong.

Am I suppose to just take the feeding away??

I know I sound like I have no idea what I am doing- but IRN are different than any other bird I have hand fed. They would eat all day if I would feed them... so that is where the question is born from.

Any insight would be great!

Suzanne

Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:48 pm
by pinkdevil
I had mixed response with my IRN babies. Some wanted food others just weaned themselves. I let mine go for another week or so and if they had not wanted to wean, then I slightly increased the amount per feed while dropping one feed.

When weaning time came around I introduced foods into formular so they got the taste of different foods. Sometimes I would mush up a bit of corn, apple or other fruit and veg and mix it with formular, I also wet pellets and mixed that with their food. Just to give them a variety and see what they preferred. Also I found sprouted seeds were good at this time. You may find that once one or two start to wean and pick at solid foods that the others will follow. Or you could try and "pick" at the seed yourself with your fingers to show them what to do :) In the wild parents would eat seed etc and babies would copy. :) I found my bubs were huge stickybeaks and just HAD to know what I was doing with their food lol

If they are old enough to be in a weaning cage, you could try putting them next to a older bird so that the bubs will see how to eat seed etc.

I kinda don't really follow "how to" books to a "T". I use bits of info and try to adapt that to each birds individual needs. I compare it to raising a child (not that I have any kids lol) but I mean just coz the book says your baby must wake every 4 hours for a feed or should be walking by 10 months doesn't mean YOUR baby will :D. I try the infomation I read and if that doesn't work I look for alternative ways. :)

I have heard some peoples birds were weaned by 6 weeks other say it took nearly 10 weeks.

I think as long as they are healthy, happy and not loosing weight or condition then not to be too concerned. :) JMO :)

Hope I have been of some help for you.


8)

Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 10:09 pm
by julie
also try thickening up the formula a bit.

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:13 am
by Peachykeen
I didn't think about thickening the formula. I thought about adding some food stuff to it- but it said not too. I have done it for other birds but I wasn't sure about doing it with the ringnecks.

They love playing with the food- really getting the hand of it

Image


Image

Thank you so much.. Will let you know how it turns out.

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:54 am
by julie
They sure are cuties 8) 8)

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:29 pm
by Peachykeen
THE THICKER FORMULA WAS THE TRICK!!!!

They did not beg as much. They were hungry when it was time to eat but they didn't beg so early before the feeding. I feel like this weekend I could drop a feeding if they do well with this thicker formula.

I am going to have to cut the opening to the syringe more. It is wanting to suck air with this thicker formula.

Thank you so much both of you for the advise!!!!!!!! It worked!!!!


:)

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:38 pm
by bec
aaawwwwwwww those pictures should come with a sign saying
"warning cuteness overload imminent!!!!!"
that green baby is so georgeous!!!!
he looks like hes going to be a total imp too

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:45 pm
by pinkdevil
Glad to hear problem solved.

They do look like real cuties. Can't wait till breeding season comes around again here.



8)

Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:54 pm
by Peachykeen
Bec.. I gotta tell that baby right there is a DOLL. Loves to be held and just makes the cutest noises. I can't even tell you.

Kay was going to be our baby and she still is but is not near as cuddly as Andy. She has to be "talked" into being held. After about 5 minutes she will settle down and say to herself "self.... this ain't so bad" but she is not feeling it at first.

Andy is a snuggle bug from the word go. LOVE LOVE LOVE. He would sleep with you in the bed at night if you would let him. He would stay on my chest all day if I could type with him there..lol But my shelf is not that large and secure. So when I have to work.. he has to go back in the box. I get paid back by him flinging bedding all over the place. :wink:

They are too cute and I can't wait till next season either. I would like to see what other colors I am going to get.

Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 7:43 am
by julie
You will probably find that with the food being thicker and being able to cut back a feed, they will get a little more time to work out that they can actually bite/break the food that you have there for them. They should eventually start to get it in their mouths and start eating it. Also try them with some apple, mine started out licking it, its pretty funny watching the little tongues come out of their mouths.

Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 7:57 am
by Peachykeen
Thanks! I will try that!