Help with my 4week old indian ringneck

[Saddlebredgirl]

Hi everybody.I need help.I have a 4week old indian ringneck.I feed it formula 3times a day.When can i introduce it to solid food?

[Lori~D]

GAH, who sold it to you? I hate breeders who sell babies to inexperienced handfeeders. Im not saying you dont know how to do it but there are so many things to go wrong and if you dont know the answer to that question you are in fact not experienced enough. Not your fault - whoever sold the babys fault. You can and should keep some spray millet and stuff available now. I usually would start to put different foods into the cage around as soon as I started dropping feedings. Spray millet, chopped vegis, egg food, pellets. Its called abundance weaning and as the baby begins to explore he will check out these new things with his beak and as I drop feedings he will begin to taste more and eat if he is hungry between feedings. I never force wean. I keep all kinds of foods available and there will come a few days in a row where the baby will seem like he doesnt want to eat at one feeding very much or at all. I then will drop the middle of the day feeding. You will begin to see more of the goodies being munched on and then after another week or two or three you will get another feeding the baby goes "off" of. I make sure it is a few days or so of the baby not wanting that feed but no matter which feed it is I will drop the middle of the days first, the morning one next and save the bedtime feed for the last one to drop but only when the baby is ready. The first food I introduce is pellets and millet spray. I dont soak the pellets. This way they stay fresh. When I finally can tell the baby is actually "EATING" some and not just playing with it I start to introduce fresh foods and egg food. I dont like wasting fresh food for days on babies who just arent interested yet. The millet is usually the first thing they try and I watch them from a distance to see they are actually hulling the seeds and eating them.

[Lori~D]

Please get your new baby to an AVIAN vet for a new bird Check up and some sound advise?

[rewki]

How is your baby doing it must be just about six weeks old and shedding keratin like crazy. Please keep us updated and check the ringneck section.

[Saddlebredgirl]

Hi.Thanks for asking.You wouldnt believe what happend.I phoned the breeder just after posting this and she told me she made a mistake and that the baby is only 3weeks old.So i changed its feed to every 4 hours.Now bubbles is 5weeks old and has nearly all his feathers.He is green.He is starting to show intrest in seeds but cant eat them yet.When should i start to give him less formula? I still feed him formula 4 times a day.

[birdiemommy]

The baby will tell you when it wants less. It just won't take as much, usually the mid day feedings go first. The baby will take a bit, then refuse ot take any more and be distracted by the surroundings. It is much better for the baby to wean itself when it is ready. Keep the millet handy. My babies always liked cooked brown rice, and the frozen mixed veggies, cooked briefly just enough to soften them up.