Questions about pheonix

[Pheonix Rising]

Hi all I have some questions concerning pheonix

he is 6 weeks today and is currently on
4x 30cc feeds a day
unfortunatly he has to be tube/ crop feed ( bad breeder bulk feeding )
I have this sorted but I have red it's alot harder to wean them when they are crop fed as they have no natural reflexs there and are not used to taste or feel of food within the mouth

He is starting to pick at things on cage floor and at any and all toys I just brought some kaytees rainbow pellets today ( the cockatiel ones so nice and small )
he really loves to chew things so should I try offering them to him hard ( standard ) or should I make a warm mix from them for him to pick at ?

I have tried giving small amounts of formula simply via syringe and he spits the majority of it out

Any ideas on helping introduce him to food ???

Also what age can I give him a misting or bath ???

And how can I teach him to step up or is he to young yet given he is only just starting to show intrest in perching ???

Thankyou all
xx Jess

 

[greycloud]

With Alex's 4 feedings at 6 weeks is normal. 3 feedings at about 7-8 weeks. Why are you tube feeding again? You will have to introduce the syringe slowly as he does not know how to swallow since the food goes right to his crop via tube. He also does not get to taste it this way either. I encourage you to introduce the syringe slowly to get him use to swallowing and tasting. You can also use a dixie cup folded in 1/2 at the mouth. Many birds do well feeding this way.

 

[Pheonix Rising]

A Dixie cup ?

I do give him small amounts via the syringe and he seems to take more every day which is great

I have been sitting with him in my lap thus arvo putting a pellet or two into his beak and he has a chew on the
swallowed a couple but I think that was more accident than eating
still it's a start and he's definatly interested