Still begging at over four months

[Frumpydumple]

Merle is still begging and he is over four months old now. He isn't begging much, he actually went awhile without doing it, but today he started begging again so I gave him some warm egg food. It helped a bit. He is eating well, but he still begs sometimes. Should I give him formula? I know I asked this not long ago, but he is STILL begging. What should I do?

 

[labell]

If you are very experienced at hand feeding (lots can go wrong if you aren't) then I don't see the harm in it. I am guilty of giving into begging and typically any bird that I have hand fed gets it much longer than the average wean time for that species. Jolly one of my eclectus went to over 7 months which is 3 to 4 months past weaning age for his subspecies and Mystic YNA is 18 weeks and still on two feedings that's about 4 weeks over when she would wean with a breeder. I am a sucker and I know it but I have many, many years of hand feeding experience and have never had an issue. I was taught long ago by a wonderful woman who really knew her stuff.

Jolly is by far the SWEETEST of all my eclectus, is that because I let him wean at his own pace? I like to think so!

I should add that the last couple of months with Jolly he took VERY little and it was really more a comfort thing and special "mommy time". So as Wendy said below you could just offer soft warm foods and sit with him while he eats it on his own.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Emily, as long as his weight is steady, you don't have to worry one bit. Offering him warm, mooshy food is a great idea.

FWIW, my 15 year old YN starts making begging noises like crazy, depending on what we're eating.

 

[Frumpydumple]

Okay, I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and leave the formula. I just wanted other people's opinions. Thanks.

 

[lucy1]

Milo came to me fully weaned so I have never handfed him, but as said above sharing warm mushy food is always enjoyed by them. I give Milo a small amount of warm baby food 2 or 3 times a week, sometimes by spoon sometimes drizzled from a syringe. He loves it and it means if he ever needs to take meds it won't be an issue, he'll just think its a treat!

 

[lucy1]

Miles does occasionally still beg for food but can usually be placated with a spoon of something warm and mushy. Mashed potato is a favorite. Apparently the cats like it too...!