my oldest irn chick is 2 weeks old today i planned to take them for hand raising when each one is 2 weeks. when i take them i was wondering how many times i feed them a day? is there a set # of times to feed per day or am i supposed to watch the crops and fill them up when the get close to empty? and the # varries from day to day? and do i reduce the amount of formula myself as they get closer to wean time or do they stop wanting formula and start eating solids on theyre own? or both?
i have weaned a macaw before but i got him when he was down to one feeding in the morning and one at night then i went down to one in the morning then i noticed him eating by himself in the mornig and whenever he was hungry so i stopped feeding him.
what would be best i planned on watching the crops and fill them up when the get close to empty?
At 2 weeks old you should be feeding every 4 hours.
This is my schedule: 6am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm, 10pm. Then you don't feed them until 6am the next morning, that way their crops will empty overnight.
I introduce fruit and veg, and millet sprays when they are around 4 weeks. I just leave it in with them or place my fingers on the fruit and they will usually come and try it.
You gradually take away certain feeding times when they are around 6 weeks old. Take away the 6pm feed and then 3 days laters, take away the 10pm feed.
So by about 6-7 weeks old, they should be getting fed at 6am, 2pm, 10pm. When they start eating less of the formula you take away the 2pm feed, and a few days later take away the 6am. Keep giving the 10pm feed until you are fully satisfied they are eating enough on their own. Check their crops before you feed them to see if they have been eating on their own. Once they have been for a week or so, you can take that away and they will be fully weaned.
