need some guidance w/ handfeeding

[munchies folks]

We got 2 IRN on Thursday they are 5 weeks old. Now the past 2 days man they eat like the planet is running out of baby formula. Now lastnight feeding and just a few mins ago they didnt finish one seringe ( sry if its spelled wrong) between the both of them. Now there is some mullet in with them but not alot is missing off the twig. is it time already to ween? breeder told me a few more weeks for them with formula. Iam making sure the temp of the formula is between 101-104. Any ideas? Thought i would ask here before i go pestering the breeders.

Thanks all

Munchies folks and munchie n his sister

[Natacha]

Personally I would go back to the breeders and ask them all your questions and have them show you again how to do it if needed. It's the least they can do after selling you two unweaned birds.

Also, I wouldn't just stop offering them formula, I would stop giving it to them when they stop eating it.

[notscaredtodance]

every handfeeder has a slightly different technique, and somtimes it takes the baby birds a day to get used to the new handfeeder. it can be as subtle as hand placement, or as obvious as feeding too fast/slow.

the best thing is to go to the breeder, watch her do it with one bird, and you do the other bird. she would have plenty of experience, breeding them and working with them for 5 weeks, knowing why they probably aren't eating.

[kimbo]

breeders are there to help you, especially selling unweaned birds. get in touch with them, not worth putting babies lives at risk.

[pchela]

It is definitely not time to wean. They are far too young. The average weaning age for an IRN is between 10 and 12 weeks. How many feedings are you giving them and how much formula per feeding? Do you have a gram scale? Weighing them every morning is necessary so you know if they are keeping their weight on. Weight loss is the first indication that something is wrong. They should only lose weight when they fledge. Right now they should be gaining daily.

You also want to check the consistency of your formula. Different aged chicks want different consistencies. The older the chick, the thicker the formula should be.

You want to abundance wean them which means that they have a variety of foods available to them at all times and they continue to be hand fed until they are ready to stop.

Also, you are feeding the formula too cool. Up the temperature to between 107 and 110 (never over 110) and see if that helps. Sometimes birds won't accept formula that is too cool. They also may not accept a hand feeding based on technique. Make sure you calibrate your thermometer first just to be safe.

Did the breeder give you a demonstration or have you hand fed before?

Here is a really comprehensive article on hand feeding that should be helpful to you. It explains proper technique and temperature and weaning ages etc. http://www.theparrotuniversity.com/arthandfeeding2.php

[munchies folks]

first off thankyou all for the replys. Yes i have handfed babies b4. mcaws n a cockatoo but wasnt sure if somethig was diffrent with IRN. i will try raising the temp a little and go grab a gram scale. i will see if the temp raise works.