I need some help right away...

[Monsy]

Hello

I was so excited to finally get my TAG on the weekend, however I took her to the vet today and they said she is underweight. I got her at exactly 12 weeks. She feels possibly too young to have stopped handfeeding. She feels I should still be handfeeding her and I don't have a problem with this I just don't know what to get. I called the breeder asking what he fed her but I just keep getting vm. I don't want to wait too long. She is eating pellets right now. Can anyone recommend what I should get for her (& where can I get this) or should I wait for the breeder and make sure I get exactly what he was feeding her. Also the receptionist at the vet said you have to make sure the food is a certain temperature. If anyone can help me out here I would really appreciate it.

Monica

[Cindy215]

Originally Posted by Monsy

Hello

I was so excited to finally get my TAG on the weekend, however I took her to the vet today and they said she is underweight. I got her at exactly 12 weeks. She feels possibly too young to have stopped handfeeding. She feels I should still be handfeeding her and I don't have a problem with this I just don't know what to get. I called the breeder asking what he fed her but I just keep getting vm. I don't want to wait too long. She is eating pellets right now. Can anyone recommend what I should get for her (& where can I get this) or should I wait for the breeder and make sure I get exactly what he was feeding her. Also the receptionist at the vet said you have to make sure the food is a certain temperature. If anyone can help me out here I would really appreciate it.

Monica

Yes it's very complicated and tricky to handfeed correctly. I hope the breeder calls back but you may have some problem with him if he released her at 12 weeks and underweight to begin with.

The vet should have shown you IMO if they wanted you to do it. It's possible they don't know how and that's understandable I guess. So now you have a dilemma.

I would try and find someone like a breeder locally to help you. Even if you find one who can recommend a "hand feeder". Or ask your vet if he knows someone. I really dont know offhand how many feedings a 12 week old should be on...hopefully only one and that would be the bed time feeding. The last to be cut. But it could be two...I havent fed in about 8 years so I dont remember.

Hopefully Joel will be along with some better info and alternatives, such as not handfeeding with syringe and perfectly temp food ...perhaps spoon feeding or feeding out of a dixie cup.

The formula is Kay -tee Exact. But again, DOING it is something not to be entered into lightly. You can aspirate them, (get it into the lungs) or get infections or crop problems if the temp is off. Or burn a hole right in the crop if it's too hot. Never use a microwave and always check by stirring with a thermometer to make sure there are no hot spots. When I used to hand feed I'd actually stir with a finger (meticulously clean) although it's not a great idea. But I was too paranoid of hot spots and my last macaw insisted on her food being super hot at just below 105 degrees or she wouldnt bob for it.

You also have to be shown WHERE to put the food (the correct side of the mouth) and what a feeding response looks like. (bobbing the head).

Meanwhile, try and see if she'll eat human food like cooked grains like oats, barley, bulghar, cooked millet, or polenta type corn mush, or even soaked whole grain bread, some veggies, dark greens, some sweet potato for now...in addition to the pellets - she probabaly cant eat enough pellets correctly. What kind? I'd suggest Harrison's ....ask about the High Potency too. They make a mash. It's a pulverized powdery type, or even the hard pellets in fine, or coarse ...they have different textures. She may not go for the human food if she wasnt weaned correctly she may not even know what it is. That's why I'd go for the cooked grains or polenta it's mushy like formula. Even take the pellets if they will pulverize add some warm water under 105 degrees...and see if she'll eat them better off a spoon....IF she's not really eating them. Some of the brands wont mush up if they have alot of preservatives in them.

Also get a scale ASAP. This kind is what I have:

Bird Paradise: Products & Services

And if money is no object you can get the kind with the weights and balance they are slightly more accurate. Weigh her the same time every day and allow for stool which can add or substract quite a few grams.

[bb100]

Ditto what Cindy said above..

You can also try Scenic HandWeaning Pellets made by Marion Zoological. The number to contact them is 1-800-327-7974. Link to see their site is attached below. I used these for Max when he came home at 16 weeks since my breeder recommended them as a comfort food. I purchased the large size & found them extremely easy to handfeed. You basically warm up a mug of water drop them in & wait a minute till their mushy.

Hand Weaning Scenic Birdfood

[Monsy]

Hello Cindy & BB

Thank you both for your quick responses and all the information. Fortunately the breeder called me and he is picking her up tomorrow and taking her back for a bit to beef her up. I am so happy about this.

He had her on the pellets but I was adding warm water to it as well. They are Hagen pellets. Also the vet suggested I buy a scale so I did this today already. Thanks Cindy for that as well.

I was just very concerned when the vet told me they can go downhill very qucikly and may not even show it. That really scared me.

Thanks again and I will let you know when I have an update on her. I knew I'd love this Bird Board when I first found it.

Monica

[sammythegreyt]

I handfed my CAG Exact was the brand I used. Make sure you do not feed your bird fromula that is too cold or too hot. My pet stores Feeder showed me how she did it and I was well studied on Greys before I bought one.
The way she did it was to put some on the inside of her wrist~like you would test baby formula out before feeding a baby. Also, you will need to form the spoon you use to fit your greys beak. I hammered mine on the side to a beak shape and that worked well for Sammy. I also started to feed my bird organic baby foods like yams and carrots. That kind of got the bird used to different tastes and may peak curiosity to try new things like pellets. I was also told to try putting something he liked like apples or grapes on top of the pellets to get him intersted in eating them. Note you will have to remove the pellets after if they get soggy from fruit. Generally you are supposed to keep wet and dry food separate. you can mix a bit of baby food with the formula that is what the Bird shops feeder did.

It is really a shame that you got a bird that was probably forced to wean before it's time. Since, the new law came out I can of feared that happening. If you are still really shaky about this I reccomend going to a local bird store and asking when the babies are fed and watching and asking questions from the feeder there.

Hope this helps. Be the Mommy and hopefully it will all work out.

If you have anymore questions I will try to help you as best I can

take care Sammy

[Machelle]

I'm glad the breeder is picking your baby up. I handfed my sun conure and it scared the bejesus out of me. I was taught how and I couldn't take her home without knowing how, which was fine, but I wouldn't do it again. Its really not hard to do once you are shown, but I worried all of the time. I'm also glad you got the scale. Its wonderful not only for the birds as babies but its very important to weigh your birds on a regular basis as weight loss is one of the first signs of illness. I weigh my babies once a month. I made a spreadsheet to keep track.

[Joel]

Glad to hear the breeder is taking back your bird to finish weaning it out as sometimes it can be somewhat difficult - depending on the bird and the food choices you give it IME. I myself rarily have problems with weaning because I have/use "Teacher Birds" to show the newbies that they should eat and how to eat and try new things.

I personally would NOT be feeding it pellets only (JMO) - they are not natural as anyone knows and therefore not best IMO. I would only give pellets as a choice food. I would be supplying your bird with fresh and sometimes frozen (thawed and lightly warmed) veggies, crackers without salt, fresh fruits (seeds and skins removed), a good quality seed mix (not too much sunflower of course - make sure peanuts have clean shells if feeding them, no blackish spots), eggs (occassionally - JMO Cindy ), cuttlebone, daily direct natural sunshine or proper F.S. Lighting (very important IMO). I also recommend and believe in full flight (in a safe environment) to keep a bird more happier & healthier than he/she would be clipped.

Hope your baby gets weaned and comes home quickly (it should wean fast at the breeder's place as a breeder should have numerous "Teacher Birds" on the premises).

Btw, where might ya be located if ya don't mind saying?

[Monsy]

Thanks Sammythegrey (mine too) and Joel. I love the idea of weighing once a month & keeping a spreadsheet. I will do that as well.

Wonderful food tips too. Great and thanks!

I live near Toronto in Canada.

I was so happy when the breeder called and immediately offered to take her back for a bit. I miss her already but know she is in the right hands. He quickly showed me how he handfed her incase she ever gets sick down the road and is not eating. At least I have the knowledge although can see why people get squemish about it because you don't want to make a mistake.

Thanks again everyone!

[Cindy215]

[quote=Joel;358821]eggs (occassionally - JMO Cindy ), cuttlebone, daily direct natural sunshine or proper F.S. Lighting (very important IMO). I also recommend and believe in full flight (in a safe environment) to keep a bird more happier & healthier than he/she would be clipped.
QUOTE]

I'm TOTALLY in agreement with occasional egg. Especially for a baby growing feathers!

It's the 5 days a week KFC that I have a BIG problem with

And I'm embarrassed to tell you (of all people) that my two dopey Parrotlets are TOTALLY INFACTUATED with PELLETS! OMG I'm freaking out! I got a sample of Foundation Formula organic stuff and they wont leave it alone. Like 28 gram crack heads!

[Valo's Moirana]

i'm glad the breeder took the baby back to finish the weaning... it's stressful if you don't know what exactly to do.... otherwise, joel summed it up pretty well :)

Originally Posted by Cindy215

It's the 5 days a week KFC that I have a BIG problem with

i agree completely.... also for people

Originally Posted by Cindy215

And I'm embarrassed to tell you (of all people) that my two dopey Parrotlets are TOTALLY INFACTUATED with PELLETS! OMG I'm freaking out! I got a sample of Foundation Formula organic stuff and they wont leave it alone. Like 28 gram crack heads!

LOL..... sounds like valo with his harrison's pellets.....