weaning macaw 5 months old

[chunchunn]

Hi everyone , My bird is Blue and Gold macaw and he is 5 months old right now. My bird knows how to fly since he just 3 months old . But he doesn't have any signal to be wean. I still feeding him with hand-feeding to keep him stay alive . When i hand-feeding him , he seems like very like it and refused to eat another kind of food . I gave him carrot , corn ... he just chew it but he doesn't swallow it . What should i do :d ?
Help me
Thanks !

 

[Sherry]

Hi, my B&G is the same age. Nema doesn't fly yet as she was clipped (makes me mad) when I bought her. She is still on two feedings a day but also eats other food. I have been putting baby food in with her formula to introduce her to different flavors and using the left over formula mixed in with other foods. She is eating other things but he's still not interested n giving up her feedings. From what I have learned we just have to be patient and wait until they decide they are done with hand feeding. Good luck to you and yours.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Yes, what Sherry said.

Some big Macs take quite some time to wean. BE PATIENT. Let them go at their own pace. They WILL wean sooner or later.

I found that they are more inclined to try new foods right after handfeeding them. You could try to cut back 10cc or so, and then offer some warm, mooshy food in a dish.

Also, you can try and put as many dishes as you have with different foods in your bird's cage.

 

[MikeyTN]

Don't think about weaning right now at 5 months old. It can take up to 9 months or more to wean an Macaw. If your trying to rush it, should of done your home work prior

 

[chunchunn]

Hi, my B&G is the same age. Nema doesn't fly yet as she was clipped (makes me mad) when I bought her. She is still on two feedings a day but also eats other food. I have been putting baby food in with her formula to introduce her to different flavors and using the left over formula mixed in with other foods. She is eating other things but he's still not interested n giving up her feedings. From what I have learned we just have to be patient and wait until they decide they are done with hand feeding. Good luck to you and yours.

Thank you for your reply !
What do you mixed with the formula to introduce her ? i tried corn , peas coconut milk, potatos . But it seems like he doesn't want to eat that. Pantient and wait - that's mean i still have to feed him with the formula ?

 

[chunchunn]

Yes, what Sherry said.

Some big Macs take quite some time to wean. BE PATIENT. Let them go at their own pace. They WILL wean sooner or later.

I found that they are more inclined to try new foods right after handfeeding them. You could try to cut back 10cc or so, and then offer some warm, mooshy food in a dish.

Also, you can try and put as many dishes as you have with different foods in your bird's cage.

Thank you ! i will wait and try :d

 

[chunchunn]

Don't think about weaning right now at 5 months old. It can take up to 9 months or more to wean an Macaw. If your trying to rush it, should of done your home work prior

My bird was refused formula when he studied to fly. But after that time, he still want more formula . He begs me to give him , i have to give him for keeping him alive. That's right ?

 

[chunchunn]

Btw , how can i know when he is ready to wean ? :d

 

[JerseyWendy]

Do you have a scale? You have to weigh your bird so that you can monitor the weight as he/she is weaning.

Your bird will refuse formula when he/she is ready to wean, but that doesn't mean you stop feeding all together. Weaning is s SLOW process. Your bird may do well a day or two eating on his own, and then decide he wants to be handfed again. That's why it's VERY important to have a scale on hand.

And please don't assume that a hungry baby will eat on its own. On the contrary. A hungry baby WILL starve itself, getting weaker very quickly.

 

[chunchunn]

Do you have a scale? You have to weigh your bird so that you can monitor the weight as he/she is weaning.

Your bird will refuse formula when he/she is ready to wean, but that doesn't mean you stop feeding all together. Weaning is s SLOW process. Your bird may do well a day or two eating on his own, and then decide he wants to be handfed again. That's why it's VERY important to have a scale on hand.

And please don't assume that a hungry baby will eat on its own. On the contrary. A hungry baby WILL starve itself, getting weaker very quickly.

Thank you
How mant times he refues formula in his life time ? What happen if i miss the time he refuse formula and ready to wean ?

 

[chunchunn]

i'm scared that i pasted a weaning age . That's will be terrible for my bird i'm so worry about that. If it's true , what should i do for my bird, foor him..

 

[JerseyWendy]

What??? Your bird is NOT past the weaning time. Your bird is a BABY!!!

Feed him when he is hungry. WEIGH HIM! Keep a record of his weight. Offer him LOTS of different foods in MANY different dishes....again: FEED him when he is hungry.

He WILL wean. BE PATIENT

 

[chunchunn]

What??? Your bird is NOT past the weaning time. Your bird is a BABY!!!

Feed him when he is hungry. WEIGH HIM! Keep a record of his weight. Offer him LOTS of different foods in MANY different dishes....again: FEED him when he is hungry.

He WILL wean. BE PATIENT

if i pasted the wean time how can i know ? Can you show me
Thank you thank you vert much
My bird knows how to fly X_X . It's that a baby ?

 

[plax]

chunchunn, if your baby Macaw wants to eat formula for 10 months, allow him to eat formula for 10 months! And make sure that you are feeding him enough formula to nourish him fully and not inhibit his growth. DO NOT FORCE WEAN HIM! If you do, you will stand the risk of creating serious health problems for him. He may even die!

 

[JerseyWendy]

if i pasted the wean time how can i know ? Can you show me
Thank you thank you vert much
My bird knows how to fly X_X . It's that a baby ?

You are NOT past the weaning time. Stop worrying about that. Look at the birds outside. The babies will learn to fly, but the parents STILL feed them a while after that.

Of course your bird can fly. Flying has NOTHING to do with weaning. Many Macaws learn how to fly at around 12-16 weeks, but they still need to be fed. And yes, that IS a baby.

Again, do not rush this. Your bird WILL wean. Do you understand all this???

 

[Mayden]

I can't understand people getting birds to hand feed, yet not knowing enough about hand feeding...

Your macaw is a LARGE bird, large birds take MONTHS (more than 5!) to wean. Your baby may need you to wean him for up to 12 months.

Macaws are still 'babys' up to around 5 YEARS old. Just because he can fly does not mean he is old enough to look after himself.

Keep feeding him what he is on for now, but blend up some fruit and veggies and try hand feeding him them after he has had his formula. Don't stop formula, just keep trying. He will take to the food eventually (might be MONTHS before he does).

Do not rush your bird, be patient. It takes a LONG time.

 

[chunchunn]

chunchunn, if your baby Macaw wants to eat formula for 10 months, allow him to eat formula for 10 months! And make sure that you are feeding him enough formula to nourish him fully and not inhibit his growth. DO NOT FORCE WEAN HIM! If you do, you will stand the risk of creating serious health problems for him. He may even die!

Maybe i worried to much . Ok i will wait. But how can i know , if i pasted wean time :-ss . Do you know ?

 

[chunchunn]

if i pasted the wean time how can i know ? Can you show me
Thank you thank you vert much
My bird knows how to fly X_X . It's that a baby ?

You are NOT past the weaning time. Stop worrying about that. Look at the birds outside. The babies will learn to fly, but the parents STILL feed them a while after that.

Of course your bird can fly. Flying has NOTHING to do with weaning. Many Macaws learn how to fly at around 12-16 weeks, but they still need to be fed. And yes, that IS a baby.

Again, do not rush this. Your bird WILL wean. Do you understand all this???

I unterstood :d yes thank you for your advice

 

[chunchunn]

I can't understand people getting birds to hand feed, yet not knowing enough about hand feeding...

Your macaw is a LARGE bird, large birds take MONTHS (more than 5!) to wean. Your baby may need you to wean him for up to 12 months.

Macaws are still 'babys' up to around 5 YEARS old. Just because he can fly does not mean he is old enough to look after himself.

Keep feeding him what he is on for now, but blend up some fruit and veggies and try hand feeding him them after he has had his formula. Don't stop formula, just keep trying. He will take to the food eventually (might be MONTHS before he does).

Do not rush your bird, be patient. It takes a LONG time.

I have a question. After all ? The bird finally can eat by itself ? It's that right ? :-/ just a question :d

 

[WharfRat]

Ok, time for a firm hand here........From what I've read here your bird is NOT done weaning, even if it can eat on it's own! Do not stop hand feeding til they refuse it, this does NOT mean if they turned it down just once. Our Green Wing's took 10 months+ to wean and they can actually take longer than that. I used a mix of formula combined with various flavors of baby food (both dry and ready to eat) on a rotating basis. I could probably go in there right now if I had baby food and they would eat it even though they are over a year old now. This is a VERY crucial stage of their development and you need to follow thru with it. If you are not sure and have not been weighing the bird DAILY to know the amount of food to give them, then you need to consult/see a Vet ASAP. The amount you daily hand feed a bird is directly proportional to the bird's daily weight. This is not a guessing game and from the sound of it you need professional advice/assistance asap.

My apologies if this came across rough but it needs to be resolved immediately!