Weaning a baby IRN

[LADY_DEBRA]

I have a question since I'am new to IRN's my new baby is 10 weeks old he/she will be 3 months old June 17th, I'am currently not handfeeding as of monday this week, his weight was up to 152 , I weighed him or her tonite and his / her weight is 139 is that to much of a weight drop? all advice appreciated here thanks Deby

Deby that is a bit of a wieght drop but her body is telling her she has to go on a diet in order to learn to fly. I know you told me the breeder clipped it's wings already but she should of waited til she did fledge so she/he learns how to fly and land properly. I would still feed her a small amout right before you put her to bed at night. Just keep an eye on her wieght she shouldn't go below 135.


Donna

[imported_David]

Sunny,
nice to have you here in our aviary. Everyone here has the ability to squawk so THAT MEANS YOU TOO. It's a requirement ;)

Most baby parrots lose weight after they're weaned. Their metabolism is kicking in and internal and external activity starts. As they settle down, some of the weight comes back but never to the amount that they were before weaning stopped.

Just to make you feel better, the weight for most ringnecks is approx. 135 - 145 gms (or approx 5 ozs) when they're adults. Alexindrines weigh much more since they're bigger birds.

Ask Donna. She'll fill you in with whatever extra or more specific info that you'll desire. ----Dave

Oops-----She already did 8)

[LADY_DEBRA]

ok I will give her another hand feeding tonite around 9pm then put her to bed ty

[LADY_DEBRA]

ok he/she took half a syringe, the thing used to have meauremets on it geeeezzzzz its brand new but I dont see any now, so keep handfeeding for another week u think? like until next friday ? or go by her weight?

[imported_David]

Based on years of formula feeding----I strongly feel that formula feeding should not be stopped because of the age. All parrots, even if they're the same kind take different times to wean. That can happen in one clutch of chicks. I've had congos that will stop at 3 or 4 mts and even 6 mts. It should be the bird that tells you when the formula is totally unacceptable. That happens when they don't respond and refuse any type of formula feeding be it with a syringe or spoon. Then you know the weaning has truly arrived. I never set any time limits about when to stop feeding formula. Maybe others disagree but I've had great success and found that by doing that, it insures a nice chubby healthy chick who safely has weight to lose when weaning is completed and activity kicks in.-----Dave