CAGE'N BIRD

HAND-REARING FROM DAY ONE

by Wanda Barras

The hand-rearing of baby psittacines from day-one through weaning can be a very rewarding experience, however it requires an enormous amount of dedication and hard work. Hand-feeding is time consuming, labor intensive and not an exact science. Hand-feeding is a commitment that should be taken very seriously. You are taking on the responsibility for the complete care and well being of a totally helpless creature.

Baby birds are individuals that don't always respond to favorite feeding methods or preferred formulas. Some of the anxieties and misgivings encountered when hand-feeding can be alleviated by following some simple guidelines---- Being aware of what to expect gives you the ability to handle problems as they arise. Knowledge and experience can minimize and prevent problems.

Successful hand-rearing requires a good deal of research, planning and forethought. Read books and articles written by experienced aviculturists about their hand-feeding experiences. There are several excellent books on hand-feeding. Rick Jordan and Howard Voren's Parrots: Hand-feeding and Nursery Management and Rosemary Low's Hand-rearing Parrots and Hand-Feeding and Raising Baby Birds by Matthew M Vriends, come to mind. I also recommend you have a good avian veterinarian who has experience with avian pediatrics and a seasoned breeder/hand-feeder in reserve for consultations and demonstrations.

SAME CARE FOR MOST PSITTACINES

The technique for hand-rearing psittacine babies is basically the same for most species. Simply, the baby is kept warm, and measured amounts of warmed formula are administered at frequent intervals. It makes no difference, whether Lovebird or Macaw, the feeding technique and pediatric care is similar. Only size, quantity fed and expected weaning time change. Become familiar with the particular species you intend to hand-feed—some species are more difficult to hand-feed than others and may require specialized care, diet, feeding technique or brooding temperature. Lories and Lorikeets come to mind because of their specialized diet. Eclectus, Pionus and Cockatiels are notorious for their tendency towards slow crop (crop stasis) and Candida (a yeast infection of the crop or digestive system). Remember there are exceptions to the rules and variables do apply.

There are many incentives for hand-raising baby psittacines. Abandonment, inexperience or abuse by parent birds are common reasons for hand-feeding. Babies are sometimes pulled early to increase production and to supply tame babies for the pet trade. Many times babies are hand-reared simply for hand-feeding experience or to make a tame pet. Whatever the reason you decide to hand-feed you are sure to find it to be a rewarding experience.

PREPARATION—THE KEY TO SUCCESS

Before attempting any type of hand-feeding, whether day-one feeding or pulling older chicks, be prepared. As with any job the proper equipment is essential. Some 'basic' tools required to successfully hand-feed are:

1. A familiarity with good management and husbandry techniques, with emphases placed on fundamental hygiene practices, 

2. a good commercial hand-feeding formula & formula thermometer.

3. an assortment of feeding instruments, in various sizes.

4. a reliable brooder with a thermometer and safe, absorbent    bedding.

5. an accurate gram scale and a record keeping system.

6. a avian strain probiotic

7. Do not forget to keep on hand an assortment of emergency supplies, such as: An electrolyte product (such as Ornalyte powder, Pedialyte or better yet ‘Lactated Ringers Solution,’ which is similar to Pedialyte but better. It is sold through veterinarians and some hand-feeding supply companies.); appropriately sized feeding needles; papaya tablets; silver nitrate sticks; Betadine, medications, etc. Test and become familiar with all equipment and emergency supplies.

Make Routine Examinations….Before electing to hand-feed a chick of any age, an evaluation of its overall health and condition should be made. The chick’s skin should be a healthy pink or yellowish pink. Skin should be soft, glistening, and warm to the touch. If under one week he should wiggle when touched and exhibit a natural feeding response (pumping action)when the corners of his beak are stroked. Chicks should be alert, plump and clear-eyed. After pulling, nestlings should be monitored and examined at least once a day or better yet at each feeding, to check for potential problems. Monitoring weight gain and loss is the best way to identify a problem before it becomes visibly obvious. Unhealthy chicks will require special care and technique.

All parrot chicks require supplemental heat and nourishment to survive. A stable environment of the correct temperature and humidity is important for growing chicks. Humidity should be provided for all young chicks and for older chicks in dry climates. A range of 55-70% humidity will produce quieter, fatter babies with a greater growth rate than those kept at levels of 15-35% (Clipsham, 1989b). Extreme temperature variations in brooder environment may cause serious health problems, even death. Inconsistent temperatures result in weak chicks, slow growth rates, and/or poor digestion which can lead to serious health problems!

I suggest you do not attempt to make your own brooder for psittacine babies unless you have expertise and several years experience brooding and hand-feeding babies. It is best to purchase a proven brooder from a reliable company. Of course, in emergency situations, a heating pad on low, placed partially under and up the side of a ventilated, covered container temporarily. The thick bedding insulates baby from harsh dry heat radiating from the heat pad. A wet sponge in a baby food jar placed inside the make-shift brooder will help, to some degree, with humidity. A brooder should meet certain criteria---A brooder should be safe, easy to clean and disinfect. It should be easy to handle, easy to control temperature, easily serviced and if possible a definite plus would be portability.

For information on "Artificial Brooding Day One" click here: Artificial Brooding...

For more  information on "Feeding and Treating Day One" click here: 

Treating and Feeding the New Baby

Copyright © 2001 Wanda Barras. All Rights reserved. WWW users are granted the right to download a single copy of this catalog and Mrs. Barras articles for archival on electronic media and/or conversion into a single printed copy for personal use. All commercial or educational use or reproduction of this material is strictly prohibited. It may not otherwise be reprinted or recopied, in whole or in part, in any form or medium, without express written permission of Wanda Barras.

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