Some more eckie baby questions!

[Soyajam]

Hey guys!

So my 3 month old girl Remi has been home for a couple of days now. I'm sure she is still settling, but she's so very flexible with us which I'm grateful for.

So some questions!
(For context she had her first CAV visit yesterday and everything's perfect except for a bit of mouth bacteria. We're working on that one. I just gotta put some weight on her!)

1. While she's very picky with fresh fruit and veg, she scoffs down her cooked vegie mash (which I've packed with orange veg and a few grains). She seems to get through 1/4 (metric) cup per sitting, so that's half a cup a day. For a 14 week old, is this enough? (at least until she gets comfortable)?
1a. I have a tonne of wastage at the moment - I make her a half a cup of food and find I have to throw out after leaving it for an hour. I feel guilty about not leaving enough but I don't want to waste so much, any ideas?

2. I gave her a spray bath this morning, and cleaned very little 25 I noticed she didn't really preen her feathers, just sat on me very wet, and shook her feathers maybe once. I had to leave her to go to work but I gather babies preen after a wash too? Is it likely she will preen after a little while or do you guys watch them.

3. How do you guys feel about routines? I've read to try and avoid them so we don't get a bird expecting things at exact times - but since she's so little would a routine be better for the moment? We're generally feeding/ having cuddle time about the same time every day.

4. I'm not really touching her cage right now since I know she's a bit clumsy and getting used to it. I was thinking of changing her toys around once a week when I clean out her cage properly? Will she become more interested in foraging and toys in general in a few months?

Thanks for your patience with another new mum - I'm still a bit brain-fried with all the baby squawking and still mourning my old life I guess (and so is she, I bet!)

As a reward for your questions, he's a picture of her snoozing. She's really quite beautiful.

 

[SailBoat]

Way sorry that your Thread and its questions has gotten missed over the past hours! With Good Luck, this will get you back on the board and other Eckie Owned individuals will chime in also.

As to you questions, See below:

Hey guys!

So my 3 month old girl Remi has been home for a couple of days now. I'm sure she is still settling, but she's so very flexible with us which I'm grateful for.

So some questions!
(For context she had her first CAV visit yesterday and everything's perfect except for a bit of mouth bacteria. We're working on that one. I just gotta put some weight on her!)

1. While she's very picky with fresh fruit and veg, she scoffs down her cooked vegie mash (which I've packed with orange veg and a few grains). She seems to get through 1/4 (metric) cup per sitting, so that's half a cup a day. For a 14 week old, is this enough? (at least until she gets comfortable)?

In near all Ranges that Parrots populate, they are messy eaters as the surroundings provide more then enough to feed them. Not eating everything in a given feeding is common. Remember that in their Natural range, they will eat on and off during the day. So, one of the realities of Parrots is that you need to provide more then they will eat at that moment. This is very important with young Parrots as not having enough available can result in behavior problems!


1a. I have a tonne of wastage at the moment - I make her a half a cup of food and find I have to throw out after leaving it for an hour. I feel guilty about not leaving enough but I don't want to waste so much, any ideas?

See above. Its part of having a Parrot! Look for other's that you can share what she doesn't eat. We happily provide for not only our Amazon, but for several families of 'outside' birds that happily enjoy his left-overs! Some items will just have to be trashed. Welcome to life with Parrots!

2. I gave her a spray bath this morning, and cleaned very little 25 I noticed she didn't really preen her feathers, just sat on me very wet, and shook her feathers maybe once. I had to leave her to go to work but I gather babies preen after a wash too? Is it likely she will preen after a little while or do you guys watch them.

Preening is not as Hard Wired as other activities and just takes time for them to get the idea of how to and when to. As your baby becomes a bit older you will see an increase in preening activities.

3. How do you guys feel about routines? I've read to try and avoid them so we don't get a bird expecting things at exact times - but since she's so little would a routine be better for the moment? We're generally feeding/ having cuddle time about the same time every day.

Routines are important! The goal is to not become so rigid in them. Lets face reality, you 'work' that sets routines. Then you have time (a day or two off), that you are around more. The goal is providing them structure, but that variations do occur. Look at it more as, when you are not around, she needs to self-entertain, When you are around, there are times that it's family time and times when other 'things' get more attention. You are building routines, but they are not rigid. That said, specific foods occur during specific periods: Foods that spoil current early morning and dry foods are around all day, with more Foods that spoil in the late afternoon /evening.

4. I'm not really touching her cage right now since I know she's a bit clumsy and getting used to it. I was thinking of changing her toys around once a week when I clean out her cage properly? Will she become more interested in foraging and toys in general in a few months?

Some Parrots love variation, most do not! Changes should always involve them, with introduction periods (the items is seem around the general room and then near the cage and then the finial location occurs. Things just showing up can freak-out some Parrots and not others. You need to determine where your baby is in this regard. Consider, involving your baby with near everything regarding her and her cage, perches, etc... This helps to develop an interest and eases any fear she may have.

Thanks for your patience with another new mum - I'm still a bit brain-fried with all the baby squawking and still mourning my old life I guess (and so is she, I bet!)

Transition is demanding for everyone! Be open and mindful of her wants and needs and you will become comfortable with each other before you know it. Enjoy the moment, they will not last for long! Babies grow-up fast!

As a reward for your questions, he's a picture of her snoozing. She's really quite beautiful.

Great Photo! Thanks!

 

[tashawithanekkie]

I can't answer any better than Sailboat did, just bumping the thread and saying thank you for the pic, she's gorgeous.

 

[Soyajam]

Thanks guys. I know lots of newbies ask the same questions but I reckon the reassurance is just as helpful. Baby screams can really set you on edge (and I haven't yet found earplugs that reduce the volume enough lol)

I've had a fair bit of back and forth on the spoiling food bit. My breeder stresses leaving fruit + veg during the day is crucial to graze on, but my vet is concerned about contamination.
She barely touches the dry food so am seriously considering leaving the fresh stuff until I know she's 100% on fresh food. I've got water with a bit of the apple cider vinegar and I'm hoping if she takes a few gulps it should lessen the risk a little.

I am well aware of how easily screaming as a baby can morph into screaming for attention so I want to make sure I move her on from squawking to contact calling in people voice as soon as I can. I suspect that (and training) won't really progress until she's eating properly.

Hnnngh first time parent stress oh my gosh. Legitimately like having a newborn kid. (only we get to sleep through the night?)

Maybe once I have recovered from the baby stage I'll contribute to the "So you want an Eclectus" sticky

 

[Terry57]

I also can't add any more to Sailboat's wonderful answers, but had to say how gorgeous Remi is!