Hand-Rearing Birds

Whatever the reason you may be called upon to take up the task of hand-rearing a baby bird, you must remember that it is very time consuming, especially with chicks that are very young.

The following rules will help you to be successful.

1. The need for heat and humidity of the brooder.
2. The need for the correct recipe, consistency and temperature of the diet.
3. The need for the correct feeding technique, frequency and hygiene.
4. The need to monitor the babies progress and to be able to detect signs of problems.

The Need for Heat

A new born chick requires a temperature between 33-37 degrees C. As the chick grows and produces feathers its need for heat diminishes.

The best brooder can easily be made from a glass or plastic fish tank or a laminated wooden box. Untreated wood or cardboard is ill advised as it harbours germs and prevents adequate cleaning. The heat source can be a heat pad or even a 15 watt light globe housed inside a tin can that is about 12cm across. It should not get hot enough to burn the chick. A hot water bottle changed frequently is another alternative as a heat source. Whatever method is used to warm the brooder the heat can be kept in by a simple lid of a sheet of polystyrene with air holes punched in.

It is important to closely monitor your charges. Chicks which are too cold become lifeless and are cold to touch. Chicks that are too hot at first will show a red wrinkled skin then become restless, pant, gasp and hurl themselves around the brooder in a frenzy. Overheating is often fatal.

The floor of the brooder should be lined with fine wood shavings with a layer of paper towelling on top. The purpose of the towelling is to monitor the bowel movements of the young bird.

Humidify the air via an open dish of water covered with wire to prevent an accidental drowning. Humid air will prevent dehydration of the baby bird.Top

Feeding Formulas

The most convenient formula is a commercial mix called "Roudybush". This is a powdered product that needs only warm water added to it. This is a completely balanced formula to which no additives are necessary.

How much, how often?

The consistency of the food will depend greatly upon the age of the bird. A youngster that is only a day or two old will be able to handle extremely thin watery food every 2 hours, if the crop has completely emptied.

Newborn chicks have only small crops and will not hold much food at all. Don't force the chick to take more than it can handle. Remember they are very weak at this tender age and will eat very slowly and tire quickly.

The food should become thicker as the chick grows to a melted ice cream consistency. Feeding intervals will be determined by the speed of the crop emptying. Only very young birds need feeding at night, and then only once at about 3am, otherwise four times daily feeding until 5 weeks of age is adequate for most parrots. The food should be given at 42 degrees C. Tis is the temperature we can just tolerate on the lip without burning.

Utensils for feeding

The most practical utensil is a teaspoon, with its sides bent upwards. In between feeds boil the utensils etc. so as to prevent any food spoilage and subsequent infections. Syringes can also be used.

Feeding Instructions

Weaning

Most parrots wean about ten weeks of age, but there is marked individual variation. The first indications that the time for weaning is correct is the growing lack of interest in their food. When this behaviour begins a variety of soft foods (peas, spinach, pear, carrot sliced into small pieces) can be placed in a shallow dish on the floor of the brooder or cage. Stop the morning feeds and leave these foods in a parrot mix containing sunflower. Canary Oats and Millets are left as well. remove these foods after 6 hours and replace fresh each morning.

Feed the birds only in the evening until they lose interest and then weaning should be completed.

Weaning - The Critical Period

To develop the best pet your bird will require daily supplemental handfeeding for a short time. This weaning period can be a difficult time for your pet bird.

The weaning period is the best time for taming, imprinting discipline and developing good eating habits, all vital ingredients for the perfect pet bird.

Weaning is encourage by offering a variety of soft foods such as fresh corn, steamed peas, broccoli, pumpkin, carrots, apple, fruits, soaked lentils, beans, sunflower seed. Seed should be given in as small quantities as possible. Millet sprays and sunflower heads are given on a daily basis to stimulate the weaning process. Soaked clean seed mixes for 24 to 48 hours helps your bird develop a taste for a variety of seed types.

The newly weaned bird will try new foods more readily than at any other period in its life, so offer your bird a variety of foods during this time.

Birds start flying at the same time as weaning and we recommend wing clipping for both taming and safety. The birds should be provided with a low perch during the weaning process and offered water twice a day in a low dish.

Spilled food around the face should be cleaned with a warmed clean cloth before it dries. A "bib" may help to keep the feathers clean as well as a fine warm water mist spray over the body when the weather is hot, but prevent chilling. To develop the best pet bird it is necessary to be a loving but stern parent. Discipline at the weaning period will control the troublesome, noisy bird. For the next three months you bird must get into a routine of feeding, exercise, play, talking lessons and discipline. This short period in your bird's life is critical to its future as a healthy, happy and well behaved pet.

Copyright © 2002 Rob Marshall, All Rights Reserved.