Green wing macaw weaning

[arjanbunt]

Hi,

My green wing is now i think 18/19 weeks and still won't wean and takes no interest in other food then the syringe. ( 2x day )

He is also on the small side.. 850 grams. ( if i feed him once a day he will lose weight to 790 )
He does do flying and climbing and is talkative..

I have tried seeds/pellets. Yesterday he takes some nuts and plays with it.

Is this normal at this age ?

 

[Birdman666]

I'd say yes it is within normal parameters.

The big 'uns can take a long time to abundance wean. Just keep syringe feedings, and keep introducing him to new foods until he starts eating on his own.

Warm oatmeal on a bent spoon on your lap is a good one. Pasta with some mixed veggies mixed in, again, hand fed on your lap, is another good one.

 

[MosaicMadness]

From everything I know/experience, greenwings can stay on 1-2 feedings a day for 6 months +. I'd say definitely don't stop the hand feedings, 18 weeks is still really young.

 

[Birdman666]

24 weeks is about average for a greenwing...

But it can take as long as 30-35 to abundance wean, if they are slow to wean.

So, 18-19 weeks is WAY TOO SOON to cut him off or worry about it. You've still got about a month or so to go.

And ideally, you want to abundance wean. Psychological problems can develop if you don't abundance wean. It's just SOOOO important!

Introduce a variety of foods, and then slowly cut back on the formula in about a month. (At that point it's more an emotional comfort thing...)

 

[StephenAndKyleigh]

I'm weaning a blue and gold. We are nearly 6 months into it...It is definitely a marathon, but completely worth it. It is one of the most rewarding things I've done in my life.

 

[arjanbunt]

he is still not weaned at all.. 120 cc 2x a day.. het is taking some nuts and pellets but prefers formula...

is this still ok ? he has gained some weight.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Yes, it is perfectly fine. Some big macs don't wean completely until they are 9 months old. Some Hyacinths may take a year or more.

No worries, he WILL wean eventually.

 

[Birdman666]

Yeah. Just keep offering the formula.

Abundance weaning means until he no longer begs to be fed, and is eating comfortably on his own.

If he's starting to take nuts, and starting to transition, just keep introducing him to all sorts of new foods, a little at a time.

Jars of baby food, especially things like sweet potato, banana, etc... are a good way to introduce them to things. Again, I put a towel on my lap, then set them down on the towel, and sit there and spoon feed them with a bent spoon.

This is an in between syringe feeding sort of thing.