Hand feeding Derbyan Parakeets

[ginestra]

Hello,

I'm searching for someone who has experience with hand feeding of derbyan parakeets. I'm hand feeding (for the first time in my life) two babies, 5 weeks old. The younger one is fine, but the older one started to eat less four days ago. He never begs anymore, not even in the morning when his crop must be completely empty. His weight is 270 grams and is not growing up now. He eats 15 (sometimes only 10) ml of formula four times a day.

Is 270 grams fine for this age and should it grow more (I guess it should)? I would add that he's very lively and happy, not ill looking at all. I'm really worried.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Hi there and welcome to the forum.

I'm not familiar with the weight range of Derbyans, but here is what I can tell you about handfeeding:

A chick "should" take about 10-15% of his body weight at each feeding. If your baby weighs 270g, he should take around 27-30g or so. How much does the other chick weigh and take at each feeding?

Is the temperature and consistency right?

I hope someone with more experience with these pretty guys will chime in.

Best of luck, and if you worry about him, please take him to an avian vet and have him check out to prevent possible heartbreak.

 

[ginestra]

Thank you very much for your welcome and reply

The other one was smaller, but now he has the same weight as the older one and he takes 22-25 ml. It is less than what is recommended, I know, but he doesn't want more.

The temperature (39 degrees) and consistency should be right.

They are very pretty birds indeed, aren't they? Unfortunately the mother of the babies died two weeks ago, which is a terrible loss for us. She was so lovely and it's not fair that she had to die instead of raising these babies...

 

[MikeyTN]

Have you checked his crop??? They need to be completely emptied before you hand feed any new formula each time!!!! When you pack formula on top of formula you can cause sour crop and such. So figure out whats going on first before you try to hand feed more. At 5 weeks of age you can remove one feeding time off the list and do 3 per day. So by your next feeding schedule, check his crop to see if there's any formula left within. Also do a time check between your last feeding and the time you check him. Within the 8-10hr interval his crop sac should be emptied completely. IF there's anything left, you should visit a avian vet cause your baby will need a full crop wash and perhaps anti-fungal treatments and such.