Conure Chick Conundrum

[SnowPhoenix]

Hi everyone - my little sun conure chick, Phoenix, is finally turning seven-weeks-old this weekend! I'm so excited by the progress he's making - his feathers are coming in really well, he's been practicing 'lift-offs' in his little cage and even has taken to climbing a set of wooden steps that I bought for him just to train him how to climb/perch independently. Now I have one concern though - am I feeding him enough?

So far I've been feeding him Kaytee's exact formula twice a day (adjusted according to his weight) followed by a mixture of spray millet, fruits and veggies. He's tasted corn (soaked), croquants (soaked), rolled oats (soaked), chopped almonds (soaked), watermelon, cherry tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, cabbage, boiled carrot, boiled potato, grape and apple. He has accepted and eaten all these foods without any issues whatsoever. My concern is, am I feeding him enough? Is he ready to be weaned? Sometimes he rejects the formula partially during mid-feeding, and then begs for solids. Strange, but that's what he asks.

All online sources cite that sunnies are only ready to be weaned around 8 to 12 weeks of age. Mine seems to be a bit quicker than usual and I'm worried. But his poop is normal and his behavior is normal as well (active, screechy when I'm nearby, climbing all over the place etc.). I allow him to slowly climb up my shirt and sit on it, spend time talking/singing to him, but I'm not sure what else I should do from here on out diet-wise.

I was also thinking of harness-training him, but is this too quick as well? Any feedback would be helpful!

 

[Dinosrawr]

I think the earlier you can start with harness training the better! It sounds like your little sun conure is progressing wonderfully. I'm no breeder though, and have zero experience with hand feeding. So hopefully someone more experienced can answer your question soon [emoji5]

 

[MonicaMc]

Parrots rarely "instantly" wean, so it actually sounds like your conure has *started* the weaning process, but is not currently weaned. This is normal. Young chicks can also get distracted by other things going on around them, so it's ok if they don't take a full feeding! Get a gram scale and keep an eye on weight! During the weaning and fledgling process, birds *DO* lose weight, so that's normal, too! Although I'm not sure how much weight loss is normal for a bird going through this process.


Although I am no breeder or hand raiser either, it sounds like you are doing fine! And yes, start with the harness training now!

 

[SnowPhoenix]

I think the earlier you can start with harness training the better! It sounds like your little sun conure is progressing wonderfully. I'm no breeder though, and have zero experience with hand feeding. So hopefully someone more experienced can answer your question soon [emoji5]

Parrots rarely "instantly" wean, so it actually sounds like your conure has *started* the weaning process, but is not currently weaned. This is normal. Young chicks can also get distracted by other things going on around them, so it's ok if they don't take a full feeding! Get a gram scale and keep an eye on weight! During the weaning and fledgling process, birds *DO* lose weight, so that's normal, too! Although I'm not sure how much weight loss is normal for a bird going through this process.


Although I am no breeder or hand raiser either, it sounds like you are doing fine! And yes, start with the harness training now!

Thank you so much. I'm not a breeder either - rather a hobbyist that made some questionable choices, but I do not regret getting my sun conure. He's a little goofball. I never knew parrots were such social and amazing creatures until I got my cockatiel, Julian, and my sunny, Phoenix. I'll still be weighing him daily and feeding him the formula according to his body weight. I know he's lost some weight but gained a lot of plumage instead.

Tomorrow he officially turns 7-weeks-old. And I'll begin harness training either today evening or tomorrow.