Should I bring him home?

[Beastiephile]

My baby TAG Martin is 2 1/2 months old now, which I just found out. When I bought him they said he was already 4 months and I could take him home in about another month. That was a month ago. Which would mean he should be nearly ready to come home. But then a couple days ago they checked his file and said they were wrong, he is not 5 months old, but is in fact only 2 1/2 months or so, hatch date June 10th.

I live 2 hours away from the shop, and I drive there almost every day to see him. It's really rough on me because of the long drive. When I bought him I expected to make this trip only for about a month or so, because that's when they said he should be ready and fully-weaned. But he's not.

They said if I want they will teach me to hand-feed him and I can bring him home next week if I'd like. I do want to, but on the other hand I don't want to effect his development. I just want what is best for him in the long run, but also I am not looking forward to making a 2 hour trip several times a week for the next few months! Being a new bird owner and not knowing how to hand feed at all yet, I am wondering if this would be a poor decision and put him in a stressful situation. I just want to know if I'd be doing the right thing or not. I could learn to do it, but is this something that could affect him negatively as he grows up? Am I rushing things?

[jellybeanz]

Honestly it depends on the pet shop...some places have students that hand feed babies. Although I am sure some of them are more than capable of doing it, I would not feel safe with them hand feeding a baby of mine.

If the shop has someone who has had a lot of hand feeding experience and is taking care of your baby I would leave him there...I know it will be hard but in the long run it will be for the best. Besides whats a few more months wait when you have the rest of your life to spend with your little grey.

Also, since you sound uncomfortable with hand feeding, maybe you should try and learn the method anyways, and do a bit of feeding in the store. If you are not comfortable at all, I'd say just keep trying a bit every time you are at the store visiting. Who knows, maybe you'll be comfy enough by then and you can bring him home with confidence!

:)
Good luck!!! I know how hard waiting is...My mum's catalina took a year to ween!!

P.S - people say it can be a delicate process in weening them off baby food to pellets. Personally I have hand raises two GCC and a mitred..and I don't even remember how it happened, but eventually they weened...It sounds weird but the bird will let you know when it's ready.

[xafsmom]

Greys are a bit particular when it comes to weaning. A lot is tied up emotionally in the weaning process for them compared to other birds. Though, weaning for any bird is a very stressful time for them. Some breeze through it, some don't. At 8 weeks, it's still a bit early, and you don't want to rush your Grey into the process. Most Greys wean at 12 weeks without much fuss, though some do take longer. A rushed Grey will have a high probability of being a very anxious bird as it matures.

It couldn't hurt to learn how to hand-feed, in case your baby does regress some into comfort feedings once weaned. You'll know how to do it then, and the bird will understand and accept your feeding style and handling without anxiety. I personally would let the shop where you bought your TAG finish him up though. You really don't want to take a chance of having your baby fussing because he's unfamiliar with everything - new home, new smells, new everything AND still hand-feeding.... and then aspirate your chick. Nothing's worse than having your baby shudder and die in your hand because you screwed up. Will it happen to you? Probably not. But, it can.

Weaning is also a more complicated process in a lot of cases than not if done right. It's not just stopping the formula and tossing a cup of food in and watching the chick eat. An eager chick will taste and test, a reluctant one will have to be coaxed. Eating food is really a learned behaviour and many a time a chick has been surrounded by food, only to starve to death while patiently awaiting the formula.

Another few weeks won't be forever. It's really just a small blip on what will be your entire life-time relationship with your new TAG.

[kali]

if it were me i'd learn how to do it in the shop, maybe on a smaller bird first and see how you go. if you don't feel comfortable then don't do it. but you never know, you mihgt be a natural lol. and get a book on hand rearing parrots, read that and it might be a few weeks visiting the shop b4 you are comfortable, but it could be a great bonding experience with your baby so he is comfortable with you and won't be too scared coming toyour home bcoz he is used to you.

i'm not a grey owner though, and i'd probably trust the people with greys over me :P

[my-africangrey-echo]

I have to agree with xafsmom... I did hand feed Echo at 11 weeks when I brought him home and must say it was a lot of work and kind o stressful. Not that you can't do it but are you really prepared to feed him 2 to 3 times a day until he decides he doesn't want anymore? If it wasn't for my husbands help I could not of done it...

On the other hand it must be costing you a fortune to make the 2 hr trip several times a week.


What if they show you how to hand feed him and you can help with one feeding on the days you are there. Just find out his time schedule for feedings and be there for the feedings as you can. Once you are 100% comfortable with the feedings and he is down to maybe one feeding a day you could take him home.

What ever you decide to do good luck and keep us posted on how your baby is doing Chris

[Beastiephile]

Thanks for all the advice. I know that hand-feeding is not something to jump into. I am having the lady at the shop in charge of all of his hand-feedings teach me to do it. I am going tomorrow to try my hand at it. She says if I do really well I could maybe take him home after a couple weeks, but I want to see how it goes. It looks like so much work! There's a lot more involved than I thought. Getting the right temperature, measuring it out. But it's also kind of exciting!

[loyallyroyal]

How are they handfeeding him?
Spoon? Syringe? Gavage? Power feeding?
I personally wouldnt buy a bird that was fed in the last 2 ways.

[Beastiephile]

Syringe. I tried my hand at it the other day, supervised of course after watching her do it for a couple of the other birds. She had me read up a lot about it first, but I was so nervous. I just tried a little but I was afraid I'd choke him, squirting food into his mouth! So I just did a little. Tomorrow she's gonna show me again and have me try it. She says it's not as hard as it seems, I just need to be careful not to overdo it! I don't want to mess up.

[my-africangrey-echo]

I had syringe fed Echo from 11 weeks of age. It's not hard just must be sure your temp and consistency is right. (VERY IMPORTANT) Take your time you will get the hang of it. If you do decide to take him home with hand feedings please please please get a digital temp probe so your temps are accurate!

[Beastiephile]

Oh yeah, if I do decide to do the hand feedings myself, I will get any equipment necessary. The store will sell me what they are feeding him, as well as the syringes, and I will definitely get the digital thermometer. I don't want anything to go wrong. I don't want to overwhelm him in a new environment, first of all. That is the one thing that worries me. It's a big adjustment moving into a new place, but if I keep the hand-feedings consistent, and at the same time as the shop hopefully that part of it wont be a big deal to him.

Hey, maybe if I'm no-good at it, he'll stay at the shop til he's weaned! Part of me hopes it works out, though! I really love Martin so much, and I can't wait til he comes home.