Question about Hand Feeding GCC Babies

[Melanie.L]

I have a clutch of 5 babies and they are now about 4-5 weeks.

I take them out of the nest during the day for socialization and so they get used to be handled by them human hand and put them back in the nest with the parents at night so they are still being fed throughout the night.

I have not yet started to hand feed as they are still being fed by the parents. I tried to handfeed the other day but wasn't having any luck and just had a quick question regarding hand feeding the babies.

I have done research on handfeeding and have also watched plenty of videos in terms of how to prepare formula and proper way to handfeeding. I have been using the syringe method (Also tried spoon method but didnt work) and every time i try to hand feed the babies they instantly shake theirs heads back and forth, flicking the formula everywhere and refusing to eat... is there something I could be doing wrong? Any advice will help!! (I know its not cause their not hungry because Ive made sure their crops were empty, and formula is not to hot. Ive used a thermometer and its exactly the right temp)

 

[wrench13]

You should really visit an experienced breeder to learn this, as its not a easy thing to get by watching videos. Any in your area? Kinda shoulda done this before letting your GCCs breed. Now those babies may need to depend on your skills, if the parents reject any or all.

 

[SilverSage]

They are past the time for pulling; you have missed the window for instinctual feeding response and will need to continue co parenting instead of hand feeding.


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[SilverSage]

Ok sorry I was on the phone before and only had time for a quick response.

1) you aren't taking them away from the parents ALL DAY, are you? They need to eat multiple times during the day even at their age. Please be sure that the parents have access to them at least every 4 hours. Hopefully you have already been doing this because keeping them away all day would be cruel and do some pretty major psychological damage. If you have been keeping them away from the parents, expect them to take much longer to wean than they would have otherwise.

2) hand feeding should start at about 2 weeks old for GCCs. Some babies start weaning themselves around 5 weeks that is just WAY TOO LATE to pull them. You have to pull them while they are young enough to bob at anything without thinking about it.

PLEASE BE SURE NOT TO CLIP THEM! I'm not against clipping in general but just so you know if you clip them right now when they need to be learning to fly, you will be damaging them permanently. Clipping before full fledging is cruel and irresponsible. They need time to become expert fliers. Clipping them before that hardwires deep seated insecurities into them leading to all sorts of issues later.


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[Melanie.L]

thanks for the advice!

no i dont keep babies out all day, ive been taking them out of the nest for short periods of time just to handle/socialize them. other than that they are back in with mom and dad. if mom and dad are still to feed them then at what age can i pull them from the nestbox? when i do pull them for short periods at a time I put food in their contained area and ive noticed that 2 of the babies have started to eat the seed mix provided in the bowl. Ive read online that for gcc u should start to wean at 10-12 weeks? if their willing to eat small amount on their own now is that okay?

and absolutely not would i clip them . none of my birds have ever had their wings clipped. i prefer not to clip birds wings..

 

[SilverSage]

They should be provided with everything possible to munch on, pellets, fresh fruit and veggies, etc. they will hopefully be eating these really well for a long time before they wean. I honestly would provide seeds until they are eating the other stuff really well. Be sure you are providing the good stuff to them in the cage with mom and dad as well.

You can remove the box once all the babies are sleeping outside it at night. If the parents look like they are going to lay again, you can place a shoe box with the top and one side missing in the corner of the cage for them instead and take the box to prevent the parents.




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