hand feeding baby lovie!

[rparisan]

Well, yesterday I removed my baby from it's nest box into a brooder and started the hand feeding process. Just wanted you all to know everything is going great! He(?) is eating like a pro. Just wondering if 2-3cc is normal for a 2wk lovie? That seems to be about what he is taking, 2 1/2 or 3cc's. I did weigh him yesterday before beginning and today he seems to have gained a little. I'm so excited to be doing this...now...I'll let you know if it still excites me after many more nights of getting up to feed the baby. My own real babies are now 8yo and 2yo so I thought I was done w/ middle of the night feedings!LOL! Also, is every 3 hrs good for this age? I read lots of conflicting info about this. I have read anything from every 2hrs to only 4 times a day at this age. Thanks for all of your help and suggestions! I took some pics and will post them as soon as dh loads them to the computer for me!

[Lori~D]

How many days was he when you pulled him. The amount sounds right. you dont want to stretch his crop too tight. You want it to empty out at least once in a 24 hour period. Birds dont feed their babies at night. As long as my babies are empty in the morning I consider it good and I start with ten day old babies at five feeds a day for the first week depending on them (if they want it) and go down from there as they age.

[rparisan]

Ok,
So I pulled him at 14 days. His last feeding was at 6pm, and I have been feeding him every 3hrs. Should I stretch the last one out til about 10pm and then resume in the morning? And how early should I start again? Sorry, since yesterday I have fed him every 3yrs, round the clock, and if I don't need to feed that often especially at night it will be good to know. I thought I knew all the details, but then there is always something new to learn!
Thanks

[Flappuccino]

10 pm to 6 am is too long for a 2 wk old, I think...
MAYBE 1 am to 6 am would be better...? At least that's what I did when Jack was that age.

[Flappuccino]

Oops- got distracted and didn't read your post thoroughly.

[rparisan]

Well, last night went a little better on all of us! I fed him last around 10:30 and then I got up and fed him once at 2:30. Then I fed him when I got up at 6:15 and again just now at 10am. He seems to be doing just fine w/ approx 3 1/2 to 4hr intervals. I am able to tell when he is getting hungry because he wakes and starts searching for food. I put a little bit of a millet spray in w/ him after I fed him this time. I know he wont eat it yet, but he seems very curious and is starting to explore a little so I figured why not. Thanks!

[Flappuccino]

Sorry about last post- been a little crazy around me lately...
When Jack was that young, I fed her every 4 hours. However, as huntress said, crops need to completely empty once every 24 hrs.
I made my last feeding of the day around midnight or 1 am, then got a decent rest and fed again between 5:30 and 7, depending on the time I fed the night before. Jack did just fine.
It's pretty cool, huh? Although, what I've learned since is that parent fed but well human socialized babies are just as tame, and you have your life to yourself! You can take them out for 10 to 15 mins 4 or 5 times a day and get the same result.
Have fun with your new baby!
Jeni

[rparisan]

Thanks for the reply! It's always nice to get feedback when you're new at something. I had considered letting the parents feed it and just taking it out and handling but the parents are not tame and I nearly got my hand bitten off through a leather glove just to get him out once!LOL! I decided they might start "talking" and tell him "don't be nice to this person!"...he's less likely to bite the hand that feeds him(hopefully!). My pair seem to be very happy and back to normal now, I can at least put my un-gloved hand in the cage and they tolerate me:) I visited a local pet shop that is going out of business and bought a huge cage 50% off, and a bunch of new toys, so they are loving their new home and hopefully it will slow them down from mating again so soon. I really don't mind feeding one baby, I am a wahm so I am here all day anyway. I can't wait for my dh to get home from work and load up some pics for me to post since I forget how to load them :{

Do you offer drinks of water in between feeding times? I know they get their water in the formula, but seems like they might still get thirsty.

Thanks again!

[rparisan]

BTW, I love your lovies name...Flapjack, LOL! Cute. We have a hamster named Pancake! My 2yo ds decided she looked like a pancake when he first saw her, and it stuck. She's a Honey bear hamster and is kind of that color.

Anyway, just though that was a cute name.

[ROYJOY]

they get enough water in the formula, no need for more. water will just take up crop space, better filled with food. i was feeding mine 5 cc every 2 hrs. at that age, with one middle of the night feeding, to avoid weight loss. weight them every day. you can eliminate the middle off the night feeding by 3-4 weeks old. at that age its safe to go all night without feeding. then every 3 hours, then four, then when they start trying the other food you are offering them, feed once in the morning and once before bed, at about 5 weeks, and eventually, by 7 weeks, just a night feeding. keep that one feeding going til they absolutly refuse to take it. dont stop before that. it may lead to emotional problems later on such as plucking.

see my thread below titled "hand raising luvs". alot of your upcoming questions are answer there by all the great people who helped me.