Hiccups?

[red192]

Maybe I am being a paranoid mom here but I am just a bit curious, can birds get the hiccups? Reason I'm asking, I brought Cricket home on Sunday and I am having to do a bit of hand feeding and I have never done this. The breeder I got her from showed me how to do it and it freaked me out how she just shoved this thing into Cricket's mouth and squirted it in there in 3 seconds and said, "See, easy, piece of cake." And I'm there with my mouth gapping open like a fish out of water! WTH? Ok, I can't do that to my new FID. I'm not experienced, so Cricket and I feed very slowly. I give her a little bit, she gobbles. nudges the syringe for more. Takes 10 minutes or more but it's ok, I'm not jabbing her throat out & I feel more comfortable this way!

Anyway, back to the reason for this thread, since our first feeding, she's been jumping every few moments and chirping as if she has the hiccups. Have I done something wrong? The people at PetSmart said she was ok, it's a Conure thing. Mmmm A conure thing huh. Went to local pet store here in town, I asked her today when I took Cricket there for her to see, and asked why was Cricket doing this, and was she ok. She informed me Cricket is ok. Not to worry, I'm being a good mommy.

Ok so I ask ALLL of the experts, is it possible she has hiccups, or is she just so full of energy she chirps and bounces CONSTANTLY? I'm not experienced with birdie babies. My terrorist was 2 yrs old when I got her and Ringo was less than a year but fully weaned.
I don't want to hurt my baby when I feed her. Did I cause this? Or is she just happy?

She seems to be ok now. She's eating millet I coated with unsweetened apple sauce.

Thanks in Advance....

[kellywess]

You have to be very careful not to asperate her. If you do not feel comfortable shoving the syringe down her throat then by all means do not. You can easily puncture of stretch her crop which could have fatal results. If you are more comfortable doing the dribble... then I say dribble away. Just remember to go with the syringe in your right hand to the right side of the birds mouth (the left side is the airway). I have never heard of a bird having hiccups. She could be bouncing because she is still hungry. I would not be able to say without seeing her. How old is she? How many feedings a day? Is she starting to eat regular food on her own?


Edited to add video: Here is a video from you tube I found that might help:

YouTube - How To Hand Feed Birds

[red192]

She is about 2 months old and 2 feeds a day. She's starting to eat millet now. So that's a step in the right direction. Nope, not comfy shoving the syringe in, we'll dribble away! lol

[red192]

Well, I dribbled again....she ate, she's in bed now,,,she's trying to settle down.

[kellywess]

You can start feeding her a little bit of seed to keep the weight on her while she is weaning and you can also start feeding her pellets... whichever brand you choose. You can soften them up with water in the beginning (although you will have to change a little more frequently). You should be putting regular food in her food dishes as well as the hand feeding. She has gotta start learning and getting used to real food soon. Good Luck, keep us posted.

[red192]

Thanks Kelly,

This is new to me. She's a doll baby! I'm totally in love with her. MY FIRST BIRDIE BABY! She is munching on millet. She has some seed and pellets in her dish and she has water. I have got to go back to pet store and buy her the locking kind of dish. She tries to stand on these cheap things I got from wal-mart and she loses balance due to lack of toes on one foot. And she'll pull them off cage. So we've resorted to ceramic kitty dishes. Heavy and shallow, at bottom of cage away from perches. I need to change her name to Cro, short for Velcro. Or Maggie, short for Magnet. She won't let go, and she is up your arm before you can close her door. It's cute once or twice but the 100th time, it gets OLD! LOL

[jodringneck]

Have you tried using a bent spoon for feeding

[Tom Lawless]

How did I miss that you were adding to your family? Congratulations. It sounds like she is a great little bird. How come no picture of her in the signature line? What is her name. I've got a good name suggestion if you need one.

[red192]

Tom, you need to go see the thread.....Now I proudly introduce to you..... under conures.

[Flappuccino]

Oh my goodness- it drives me CRAZY when I see or hear of handfeeding being done by just shoving a syringe down a baby's throat!!!!!
It's dangerous and not comfortable at all- a spoon works great, although a bit messy.
I used a syringe, but let the baby do the eating. Then they bob their little heads in the same rhythm they'd do with their own mama. I just barely pushed drops at a time in a slow even motion.
Congrats on your new little guy!