Hand feeding parakeet when to offer other foods?????

[sherrygayle]

Hi my name is sherry and I have a baby hand feed parakeet. She or He is 2 weeks and 5 days old today. To be exact the baby is a albino parakeet. Angel is eating anywhere from 5cc to 7cc of formula at each feeding. Loves her lttle warm brooder. My question is this, when do I start to offer other foods such as millet? Can anyone tell me exactly what other kind for foods to offer the baby when it's time. I wish I could find a chart that shows exactly at what age I can offer other foods, what kind of foods and at what age to offer. How old does Angel need to be before she or he is completly transfered to the cage without heating pad? Thank you
Sherry[/b]

[Joel]

I would transfer to cage without heat (as long as room temp. is not very cold) as soon as it is fully feathered, otherwise keep a heat source available but also an area of the brooder or cage where it can get away from the heat at any time it wants to once it can move around.

I would not give it any millet or seeds, in addition to the formula, until it is feathered and just starting to perch on very low perches. Others may give millet or seeds sooner but I don't. As soon as it starts walking around pretty good I usually give mine some small lightly dampened Zupreem Fruit Blend pellets and fresh or frozen (thawed) mixed veggies (mash them a little) and crackers without salt to munch on a little bit. Only leave dampened food in cage for a couple hours. Make sure not to give water too early but when ya do, put it in a very shallow drinking vessel. I usually also wait until they are walking well just around the time they are starting to want to perch. Never try to put water or liquids into it's mouth.

Do a search on Google for weaning tips and purchase a book or two at a local pet shop and/or go to the library for extra info. on all this. Look back into our older posts too. Make contacts NOW with breeders or bird only pet shop personnel to lend a hand in case you have an emergency down the road with your little baby. Don't wait, please, do it NOW......Unless you have a bunch of extra $$$$ to spend at an Avian Vet if when needed.

[sherrygayle]

Thank you for your advise. The baby is 2weeks and 8 days old now. Angel is really eating her formula very well. This morning she ate 7cc. She still is in her brooder and cuddles up to her very small soft teddy bear I have in there for her. She is walking around some and holding her head up very well.