New owner of an 8 week old Greenwing. Looking for all advice :-)

[ticklemebink]

Hi there, I am thrilled to join this site as it was getting tiring searching out all different websites all the time

So we brought home baby 2 weeks ago. His (or her) name is Jerzey!

Were hand feeding 80-90 ccs of kaytee formula 3 times per day. hes getting bigger so fast, the feedings are getting a little messier at times. I keep in touch with the breeder we got the bird form but I wanted to get some second opinions of the feeding schedule he has me on.
I just want to confirm this as I am seeing many people introducing other foods way earlier than I was suggested.

right now 3 feedings at 80cc of formula

when hes 3 1/2 months cut down to 2 feedings @ 90cc of formula along with introducing fruit, seed, pellet and water

@ 5 months 1 feeding and food

My lil guys seems happy and is very affectionate. he wakes up with more and more feathers everyday.
hes starting to tap at his toys in his nest. and actually tried to climb out of it a couple times. he can only reach one toe to the top of it so we are thinking of babyproofing the bottom of the cage and letting him have more space to roam. Hes still wobbly and bobbing head.
we heard him whistle maybe 2-3 times the other night for the 1st time and havent heard it again since. it was a happy milestone for us

He is very vocal but not in an annoying way. he squacks every now and then when startled by me changing his bedding or when he hears up wake up in the morning upstairs. its just one loud squack. nothing that bothers us. we look at it as hi saying "good morning" to us.

I have notices that he does make a lot of honking noises. especially after he eats and usually goes for a nap after eating and kinda honks in his sleep.
is this normal? is this their way of snoring?

Now for food, I see a lot of people feeding other foods and cheerios to their 8 week old. Should I be introducing soft chopped veggies and fruit now?

I am a paranoid worried mommy here so I dont want him to choke or anything. I know there is a lot of contraversy about buying unweened babies but we fell into the opportunity with no other options. the guy was selling it no matter what. I wont lie, I have always been a bit intimidated by the large beak and assumed that I would be more at ease if I grow along with the bird. Its working out so far. He has nipped me a couple times during a feeding im sure not on purpose and the lil guy can have some power but nothing that is scaring me at the moment.

I have been trying to work on beak playing and pressure training. not sure if he is comprehending anything at this age but he is learning to stretch his wings when I give them a little rub underneath and say " angel". just a cute trick were working on.

Oh and yesterday, I heard some ruckus going on in his cage yesterday. When i went over to see what was going on, he was flappin away like crazy. he wasnt falling over or anything and was pretty stable on his feet but flappin away like he wanted to try and fly. I know this is way early as he barely has his feathers in yet. but is this a sign of anything? I was happy to see hi exercising like that.

I guess my biggest concern is the food introduction and the honking.
He was fed at 8:30 this morning and have been playing with his toys and honking for the past 40 minutes very low and is now quiet and sleeping.
Is this normal behavior?

Looking forward to hearing everyones input! Thanks and so glad to join the forum!








so some

 

[mellykyitus]

i dont know much about hand rearing but if the breeder has advised you i would stick to it. i got my macaw at 12 weeks old and she was weaned and eating solids, but i used to give her warm porridge and mashed food too.

my one doesn't "honk" but she does snore and grinds her beak when sleeping. as long as he's happy and healthy i wouldn't worry, babies make different noises all the time.

post some pics of jerzey, would love to see him! welcome to the forum xxx

 

[Boo]

I think the flapping could just be him exercising, if there was nothing spooking him. Some birds just sit and flap to exercise .

Other than that, I can't really explain anything else because I've never had a macaw . Sounds like you're off to a great start!

 

[ticklemebink]

heres a video of the honking. sounds like s NJ fog horn hehehe
JERZEY :: MVI_8357.mp4 video by ticklemebink2 - Photobucket

 

[greycloud]

I have so much to say and don't know where to start. First if baby does not have feathers on his body he belongs in an incubator. He is unable to maintain body temp on his own and this is what helps him to digest his food. At 8 weeks he should be on 4 feeds a day, not 3. Flapping and honking is normal. The flapping will get stronger as you handfeed too. Macaws have a strong feeding response. What temp is the formula you are feeding? Are you feeding Kaytee Macaw Handfeeding formula?
I think if you add another feeding he will not honk as much and be happier. You can start to add some minced veggies, fruit and rice but at this stage it is just his curiosity to try new tastes which is important. It should not take the place of his formula in any way.
He may not wean till between 5-9 months. Don't rush him. Don't worry about dropping feeds yet, you have a long way to go.

 

[patterson]

Welcome. I also have a Greenwing coming looking forward to it. I would stuck to what ur breeder told u. Wing flapping mine used to do it. He's only 8 half months

 

[ticklemebink]

I have so much to say and don't know where to start. First if baby does not have feathers on his body he belongs in an incubator. He is unable to maintain body temp on his own and this is what helps him to digest his food. At 8 weeks he should be on 4 feeds a day, not 3. Flapping and honking is normal. The flapping will get stronger as you handfeed too. Macaws have a strong feeding response. What temp is the formula you are feeding? Are you feeding Kaytee Macaw Handfeeding formula?
I think if you add another feeding he will not honk as much and be happier. You can start to add some minced veggies, fruit and rice but at this stage it is just his curiosity to try new tastes which is important. It should not take the place of his formula in any way.
He may not wean till between 5-9 months. Don't rush him. Don't worry about dropping feeds yet, you have a long way to go.

Thank you for the help!
Yes we are using the Kaytee baby formula. I was told it was the best and another possible brand but we are sticking with the kaytee. the temp is around 105-108 depending on how excited he is for his feeding. somtimes he is smooth and calm, and sometimes hes taking the bowl away from me while Im filing the syringe. hehehehe

how do you feed the minced fruit and veggies? thru the syringe also or can I let him try to take it from my finger? I read it has to be pea size but I am scared of him choking I was the same way with my son when he 1st started on solids hehehehe

I am italian so I know if anything, he will always have plenty of food in the end. I just want to make sure I introduce new foods at the right time.
When should he be able to go after a dry cheerio on his own?

 

[greycloud]

You can use a food chopper or a knife. Cut into tiny pieces. If you think of a carrot coin, cut the coin into 8 pieces to start. So all foods should be cut that size. Introduce soft foods first. Broccoli would be to hard unless you cut the tops of and just use them. You can also use frozen mixed veggies and microwave them and add some fruit. Offer the mix in a low dish or bowl, not by syringe. He needs to learn to pick things up and test and taste.
Cheerios can be offered 2-3 a day to play with. Human cereal is not good for birds because it has large amounts of iron in it. But a few pieces is OK.

 

[ticklemebink]

I have so much to say and don't know where to start. First if baby does not have feathers on his body he belongs in an incubator. He is unable to maintain body temp on his own and this is what helps him to digest his food. At 8 weeks he should be on 4 feeds a day, not 3. Flapping and honking is normal. The flapping will get stronger as you handfeed too. Macaws have a strong feeding response. What temp is the formula you are feeding? Are you feeding Kaytee Macaw Handfeeding formula?
I think if you add another feeding he will not honk as much and be happier. You can start to add some minced veggies, fruit and rice but at this stage it is just his curiosity to try new tastes which is important. It should not take the place of his formula in any way.
He may not wean till between 5-9 months. Don't rush him. Don't worry about dropping feeds yet, you have a long way to go.

I forgot to add, He has a heating pad and a space heater to keep drafts out. I have been keepng track of the temp, it ranges around 84ish

 

[ticklemebink]

You can use a food chopper or a knife. Cut into tiny pieces. If you think of a carrot coin, cut the coin into 8 pieces to start. So all foods should be cut that size. Introduce soft foods first. Broccoli would be to hard unless you cut the tops of and just use them. You can also use frozen mixed veggies and microwave them and add some fruit. Offer the mix in a low dish or bowl, not by syringe. He needs to learn to pick things up and test and taste.
Cheerios can be offered 2-3 a day to play with. Human cereal is not good for birds because it has large amounts of iron in it. But a few pieces is OK.

so it is ok to let him start playing with tiny pieces of soft food. im so scare he is going to choke Im not the type to shovel the syringe down his throat like I have seen in some videos. its just not natural. so I think he would be good with some stuff. but the cheerios I may hold off on till I see he can pick up and swallow with no problem.
as for frozen foods. i hear not to feed them frozen only fresh.!?

 

[greycloud]

Frozen is fine. Severe it warm.