How old is my baby bird? Here is a picture

[zulphur]

Hello!


This is a baby lovebird. A friend of mine gave him to me because she was an idiot and had no idea how to raise baby birds :]. Her pair of lovebirds had eggs and they didn't take care of their babies properly. I've been feeding him baby bird formula and I have started the weaning process. How old is my baby bird? I am guessing he is about 3 and a half weeks old. What do you think?

[huntress]

Just a few weeks Id say. Dont force him to wean - just offer millet and seed and see if he eats it dont drop any feedings until he refuses most of one. Apparently you have handfed before? Id say he is just at 3 weeks. Aussie Cinnamon Orangeface?????

[Courtzrocks]

Aww how cute!!!! We get ones that look like that here but im not up on the lovebird info though.

[greencinacheeks]

i would say 3-4 weeks old....he's a cutie!!!


~Nate

[zulphur]

To be honest, No I have never hand fed babies before. I spent countless of hours in the library researching about raising baby lovebirds. I spoke to an Avian Vet and she recommended Roudybush formula to me. I weigh him everyday. I've been keeping him for 2 weeks now and I often see him pecking at the floor so I offered him some seed. He really enjoys eating his millet.

[Matt]

Make sure to heat formula properly and then test it on your wrist after stirring thouroughly. You don't want to burn the crop but you probably knew that already. Microwave heating is notorius for making hotspots in the formula. When the crop is getting a good bulge be careful. I would feel mine gently as I fed. You don't want it so tight that it can't hold a drop more. Good luck and ask the more experienced hand feeders here questions if you need to. I haven't done it in years. I probably am forgetting some things.

[Amie]

Don't test it on your wrist if you have a high pain tolerance!! A digital thermometor works best.

Before Katrina, when we were still fostering, we had a baby CAG come in with SEVERE crop burn because the breeder sold him to someone with no experience. . .she had been testing on her wrist, and when we had her prepare the formula and test it for us, we put in the thermometer, and it was 118 degrees!!! and it just felt "warm" to her! The poor little guy died from infection a few days later, and his owner was heartbroken. . . you can hurt a bird you never meant to by simply not knowing what you're doing or not being told correctly.

I'm sure your vet covered all of that, though. I just wanted to stress that.

[dancelady]

He's probably around 4 wks old since he has feathers on this wings. He isn't ready for weaning yet, are you feeding him every 3-4 hours? It will take this until late at night and then let his crop empty out before feeding him again in the morning ~6-7:00 am. It won't be too long before you can space out the feedings. Good luck with keeping him healthy and hearty!

Dancelady

[huntress]

NEVER TEST ON YOUR WRIST! Digital FOOD thermometers are inexpensive.

[featherduster]

Hi!
I'm saying your little one is at least 6 to 7 weeks old. His feathers are really grown in!
He should be picking at things like his toes, toys or food that you have supplied for him by now. The more you give him to explore, the better..:)
Start the abundant weaning process now.

He sure is cute..:):)