Parrot Forums - TalkParrots banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Parakeet weaning problems

2K views 2 replies 1 participant last post by  Anton_27 
#1 ·
First up I have read as much as I can including the old post here on the subject of weaning Lorikeets. I see there are one or two quite experienced lorikeet owners here which Im hoping to badger. :x If they're still around of course.

I have a BB Red Collared Lorikeet and I'm finding weaning him properly quite difficult. He's (DNA sexed) nine and a half weeks old so in the weaning range. I've had him for two and a half weeks in which time he has thrived, grown and blossomed.

A very precocious baby. He took his first swim when he got his first water bowl in his first cage, similarly he flew onto his first perch in his first cage from the floor. The perch was high, its one of those apple branch ones well forked. he looked up at it from the ground decided that's where he needed to be and flew up. He sits on his perch every day in between naps and eating. He eats veg, fruit and greens chopped with gusto and had adult poo while still barely feathered in his plastic container. All of this I think was achieved as they are extremely intelligent, fast learners as babies. I also let him practice everyday things like walking on different surfaces, flapping his wings, eating fruit and veg, going outside for walks nestled in my shirt etc etc. So when the time came to move up and on he seemed absolutely already there and went for it without blinking. If he has any real doubts about something he hops into his little dark box to think about it then hops out and tries again. I believe the species is also quite exceptional in their general learning abilities and intelligence, all the Trichoglossus and other Lorikeets seem to be.

The only problem I have is that he wont eat his special Belgium formula out his little porcelain dish, only fruit greens and veg.

The formula is the same I feed him by syringe with, he expects to be hand fed that stuff in a syringe not a bowl. For most parrots species they go from liquid to dry but with a parakeet it's from liquid to liquid. Could this be a problem do I need to change the formula from the one I'm hand feeding to get him to eat it out a bowl? I've tried most things including dipping my fingers in it trying to get him to lick them (runs away shaking his head making naughty sounds), leaving the bowl there (ignores), feeding it warm, cold. Not interested, only interested in the veg and fruit and greens mix which he happily nibbles for ages.

He even eats things I wouldn't expect like pomegranate. Loves them. Anything but his formula in his dish.

I've heard of "syringe dependancy", now im wondering if this is it? How would I know and how would I stop it? He likes to be fed four times a day with it, 8 - 9.5ml a time. His weight appears normal at 135g. His poo is mostly formula or green alternatively.

He looks gorgeous all fully decked out in his brand new livery. When he arrived at six weeks he was just almost feathered but looking like a bald necked turkey. He makes a load of healthy noise, chats away in his sleep and answers me when I call. In fact he comes running if I call, hoping along in joy, fluffs up and rolls onto his back for a tickle and tumble. Also loves sliding along on his tummy across the carpet tongue out. In short he appears to be generally quite a well balanced parakeet otherwise.

I would appreciate any tips in solving this. Or am I so used to instant results I'm being pushy!?
 
See less See more
#3 ·
I have learnt some invaluable lessons in getting my bird weaned and thought I should share.

He is weaned. If he sees a syringe he walks away shaking his head. He eats everything with gusto out of his little dishes.

Lesson number one. They will let you know when they are ready to be weaned. You must wait for that point. It may come suddenly or not but don't dispair it will happen but only on their time frame not yourse. If that means changing your holiday plans then so be it. No forcing involved.

Lesson number two. This one is quite crittical so I cant emphasise it enough. Dehydration is a danger and can be very serious for a weaning bird. When I bought mine it was being hand reared on general baby parrot formula, not Lorikeet formula. The breeder insisted it would be good even excellent to start him on lorikeet formula straight away. This made sense and still does. I think they should be reared on it myself. Howeer you have to remeber they don't yet know how to drink water for themselves and they need to on lorikeet formula. Unfortuntely mine became slightly dehydrated, luckily I recognised this and was able to immiediately rehydrated him with a hydration solution. But it could've gone so wrong those first weeks.

Best leave it to the experts and get a fully weaned parrot, lesson number three and the best lesson of all.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top