Foraging?

[Lisa26]

Hey guys!

I have an Eclectus baby who is just over 6 weeks old now, i've had him since 4 weeks. Everything is going swimmingly, he's eating well, gaining weight nicely, feathering beautifully and he's getting more and more active by the day.

I line his brooder with plain paper towels because it's easy to replace when it gets soiled and it doesn't get stuck to his feet or feathers. I've noticed over the past few days that he spends quite a good deal of time pulling at his bedding. For instance after his bed time feed tonight, I replaced his bedding so it's nice and clean for the night and now a couple of hours later I went to check on him and he has completely messed it all up lol. Would you say this is foraging behavior?

He's only 6 weeks old but should I start offering him some soft stuff to play around with?

 

[plumsmum2005]

I am wondering is he is just playing with it, have you given him any toys for stimulation? You sometimes see soft toys in with young ones as company. If you are feeding him sufficiently and he isn't hungry then he shouldn't be searching for food, should he?
Sure you will get experienced input shortly.

 

[Lisa26]

Thanks plumsmum! I didn't consider that he might be playing with it. My previous Eclectus chicks have just been inactive blobs up until around 8-9 weeks but this guy just wants to investigate all the things. At meal times I bring him out of his brooder, weigh him and then let him do his own thing on the feeding table (it has sides so he can't fall off) while I prepare his food, and he wanders around the table licking things and tugging at the butchers paper I feed him on.

He's on 3 feeds a day but he doesn't eat much during his middle feed, he spits most of it out so i've started feeding him less at the middle feed. I don't *think* he's hungry and looking for food, but I will try increasing his middle feed again and see what happens.

I will also give him some toys to play around with and see how that goes. I've recently put him in a bigger brooder so he's got more space to wander around in since he seems to enjoy doing that lol.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Update us on your baby won't you and pics are a must (please) as we all just adore babies.

I was wondering how about some baby toys, plastic things that you push over but they just wobble about and make a tinkle sound. Usually smooth plastic so easy clean and no bits to injure, WDYT?

 

[Lisa26]

I will! I'll get some photos of him tonight. He's a gorgeous baby!

As for toys, I was thinking the exact same thing; wobble toys that they usually make for babies. I have a friend that actually has a bunch of these kinds of toys and they are all relatively small, she said I could have them so i'm going to disinfect them all and give one or two to sam and see how he goes with them