Weaning tips

[Phill]

Just wanting to get some advice on weaning. The Quaker bubs are in a cage, and down to 3 feeds a day. Although, since cutting them down they go crazyyyyy at feeding time. I've got seed and vegetables and in their cage constantly, but they haven't really seemed to be picking at it.

So, what are your guys suggestions about how to slowly wean your bubs?

[vankarhi]

how old are the quakers now Phill? I think they are around 4 or 5 weeks now?? Three feeds a day is fine. They should be given lots of different colours and shapes of food now just to play with and taste test. Once they are seeming to eat more of that stuff then you can cut out the middle feed ......... probably around 7 weeks. I had Rikki on 2 feeds a day by around 7 weeks. He was 9 weeks yesterday and just went onto 1 feed at night now. He is eating well in the mornings now on his own. I just feed him anytime from 4pm on now.

When mine are on 5 feeds a day it is roughly 5am 9am 1pm 5pm and then around 10pm when I am so tired and need to go to bed.

Then gradually I get it down to 4 feeds a day then 3 feeds a day was 7am 2pm and 9pm then by 2 feeds a day it was 8am and anytime from 4 or 5pm depending on what I was doing and how much commotion he was making or if he was eating food on his own (if he is eating food on his own I do not interupt him and feed him formula a little later).

This is basically how I wean all of them.

[jusdeb]

Millet sprays are a favourite here , food + foot toy + easy to carry around . This is my first seed to be given to them along with a little bit of everything and anything . Oranges are another favourite first food.

[Phill]

Thanks guys. Tracey - the eldest is around 6 weeks now with the youngest being 5 weeks. They're all fully feathered besides the youngest who is nearly there.

I will try some millet. My GCC bubs usually started picking at seed at around 5 weeks. That's why I'm surprised that these guys haven't really Bern getting into it.

[vankarhi]

I usually start mine off with mixed frozen veges.......bright pretty colours and soft and easy to chew, then within a short time I put millet sprays and seed and lots of other fruit and veges chopped up for them to munch on as well as bread (we eat grain bread and the birds LOVE it) and dry weetbix and dry rolled oats etc etc. Everything and anything to encourage them eat ;D

[vankarhi]

you need to teach and encourage them eat.......and yes I also put small toys in there for them to play with too. I like to use colours to encourage them to play and eat ;D

[Phill]

I've got the mixed veges in their cage, with the corn, peas, carrot, broccoli and all that. I sit there with them and try to encourage them to eat the corn etc.

Hopefully they start to pick at it soon - maybe I just don't see them when they're picking at the seed. I know they don't touch the veges becuase I can tell.

They may just enjoy there h/r mix so much that they don't need anything else

[vankarhi]

just keep putting fresh stuff in their cage ..... their natural curiosity usually gets them playing and taste testing then they realise they can actually eat it. They don't eat immediately it can take a few weeks before they are actually injesting anything of what you are putting in there with them. Just be patient ;D even the parents have to keep feeding them for a few weeks after they have fledged and they have to teach them to eat on their own. We just need to be patient and keep trying to tempt them with the tasty dishes we give them.

[jusdeb]

Its a monkey see monkey do thing with parrots , once 1 starts the others follow . I did have a picky bugger a while back which I would squish cooked peas up between my thumb and finger and hand feed to the baby ( before the formula ), didnt take long after that .

[Phill]

Just a quick update. The bubs will be 8 weeks old tomorrow, and still not touching any sort of solid food

Going to take time with these little rascals I think.

[vankarhi]

by now I would have them on 2 feeds a day Phill.......and putting heaps of and heaps of different things in their cage to encourage them to eat......anything and everything from multi grain bread/toast to dry weetbix and or dry oatmeal and pine nuts and slivered almonds, to different types of fruit and veges fresh and frozen to cooked pasta and cooked brown rice......sometimes with cooked mince (spagetti or curry mince etc on top) or even home made fried rice (minus any onion or shallots........I pick those out when I cook or I get it all ready and take out some for the birds and then add the shallots or onions for us humans). Try watermelons, mangoes, paw paw, apples, pears, cucumbers, sprouts, coconut, banana, passionfruit cut in halves, cooked boiled egg cut in half or quaters, the list is endless. I also found pomegranites were a big time fav for the birds once they realised what it was....or that they could eat it. Snow peas, beans, peas, ........ the list just goes on and on. I find weaning to be extremely expensive in my house.

[vankarhi]

pumpkin seeds are another hit too. You have to just keep trying them on everything and sometimes quite a few times they will eventually start to play with it and then eat it......but you have to keep offering so they do start to eat it and they also develop a liking for eating all fresh stuff.

[Phill]

Thanks Tracey. I'll try sone things that you mentioned which I haven't yet. They're on 2 feeds day and begging constantly. I just fed them and one of the blues decided to dunk their head in the rearing formula lol.

I've got the seed, pellets, veg,fruit etc in the cage constantly so I'm sure they'll give it a go eventually.

[vankarhi]

unfortuneatly begging for food is what the babies do best lol

[kingsam]

Hi guys,
I have a baby King Parrot that is 7 weeks on Monday that is pretty much the same with the food but he is refusing the formula as well and is making thing very difficult for me. I don't want to force feed him but as he is not really eating any thing i put in the cage i don't know what else to do.......any advice is gladly appreciated. Thanks Sam

[vankarhi]

Read all of this thread Sam ......... we have been helping Phill with his 4 quaker bubs. I also replied to you in your introduction just before explaining about my birds and weaning them ;D There has been a couple of threads lately about weaning chicks.........go through and read them there might be some helpful info in there for you ;D

[Phill]

Got to love these stubborn little babies haha!!

Another quick update, Quaker babies 2, Phillip, 0

One is picking at seed but not cracking anything.