Incessantly Chirping Baby Green Cheek

[eggy]

Hello, just made an account to ask this question.
So a few days ago I got a 6 week old hand fed green cheeked conure from a couple that couldn't keep them anymore. They told me that the bird was just about weaned, and that they only fed them a spoonful of formula three times a day(by spoon). Other than this they fed them fruits and eggshells. I'm pretty experienced with raising baby birds, and since this bird was past syringe feeding, I decided to take them. I wouldn't have otherwise.

They were fine the first day, I left them be unless I had to feed them by spoon. They ate quietly then fell asleep.

The next morning though, I woke up to them chriping, but in an alarmed way, like that baby conure begging sound. When it's quiet, they stop and when I take them out they snuggle up next to me and fall asleep. This is the only time that they stop making the alarmed chirping sound.

The thing is if me or anyone makes any noise, or if I move around in my room, they start with the same chriping. More recently, although they love sitting and sleeping on me, they have been aggressive towards my hands, like for example when they go near them even slightly. They are fine with sitting in my hands for hours though...

Some other behaviors are wing flapping violently and almost trying to "slap" me with their wings and lunging at me, ready to bite.

I'm positive that this poor baby was "weaned" too early, is there any way I can fix this? They are already rejecting the formula and eating adult food...

I'm sure that they are just scared/stressed due to the new surroundings, but I want to make sure that they feel safe and happy.

My biggest question is why do they start making the alarmed chirping sound constantly when someone talks or moves?

I scheduled an avian vet visit for Thursday to get a full check up along with determining the sex, so I will talk to the vet for more guidance.

Thank you!

 

[SilverSage]

Go back to syringe feeding 3x per day even if it's rejected. Be sure the formula is what they were eating before and is exactly between 104 and 108 degrees F, likely on the high end of that. You are right; these guys sound like they were being force weaned.


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[eggy]

I'm still confused on why it starts chirping as soon as theres any sound or movement...

 

[AppaloosaNiffler2297]

baby birds do that in general. Even wild birds as common as robins. As soon as a noise is made or there is movement near the nest, the babies pop their little heads up and chirp- making it known to mom or dad (in this situation, YOU) that they are hungry and ready for food/ or attention!
This may just be a phase of the baby bird.
It is pretty young afterall...

 

[SilverSage]

That is the behavior of an UNWEANED BABY. That's why I gave the advice I did.

-parrot breeder INCLUDING GCCs


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[eggy]

The thing is that they absolutely refuse to open their beak for me to even feed them the formula. Just starts yelling even louder. I don't want to shove the food down it's throat or anything. They are eating things like seeds and fruits and even corn. Which is a problem cause they were never weaned off the formula properly in the first place..

 

[SilverSage]

That's common if the formula is not the right temperature or if you have strayed too far from their routine, such as if they are used to perching but you have them on a flat surface, if it's a different formula, of the light is too bright, etc. I once had a clutch of babies refuse to eat because the breeder I got them from used an Amber syringe and mine was clear. I've also had them refuse if the tip is different or if they are used to a different approach such as if they are used the having their beaks held from behind.


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[LordTriggs]

Why is it they can't look after them anymore? Awfully vague about that

where in the world are you? Some places what that breeder has done is actually illegal

Also you say your experienced but are asking very basic questions. That noise sounds like begging for food and wanting to be with you exactly how all babies are in the world. They want to be with parents (you in this situation) and want to eat.

Do you have a temperature controlled brooder? scales for the babies? thermometer for the food mix?

They most likely have regressed to wanting full feedings each day which often happens when a baby bird is moved whilst weaning

Lastly they're probably scared, they just got ripped from their home by a big pair of hands and are now somewhere new, without their old comforts so to them everything they see may eat them

 

[clark_conure]

This may or may not help because of how young the conure is, but the first thing you need to know is conures are master manipulators...any book you find any forum you read, everyone will espouse how the beautiful birds will basically lie to your face to get attention. Sometimes I get up to get something and you'd think he was seeing a puma cross across the hall doorways like an old Benny Hill skit.

If they are eating seeds and fruits and corn then they are at least near the end of the weening. I would begin introducing pellets, not seeds. But use the fruits and corn as treats. Also I'd take him/her to an avian vet, get a first checkup and a weighing, make sure everything is on schedule.

 

[SilverSage]

Babies eat "real food" for several weeks before they are ready to wean. Those last few weeks are about mental and emotional stability, not nutrition. Any baby bird begging for food needs to be fed. Denying a baby who wants to be fed because he "knows how to eat real food" is called FORCE WEANING and is incredibly cruel and damaging and creates an insecure, broken baby bird who bites, screams, and plucks first and asks questions later.


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