Post by avinet on Oct 10, 2012 21:56:16 GMT 10
Copied from the Chat Room so that it can be replied to
Firstly how do you know the age of the baby - I assume it is an aviary bred baby and you know the day it hatched? At 32 days it will still have a lot of pin feathers, and have around 4 weeks to go before it will fly and wean. If it looks pretty well feathered then it will be older than 32 days. If you can take a photo or two and post them we can possibly check the age.
It will take a day or two before it will start eating properly from a spoon or syringe. It will be scared initially and will have to overcome that fear to accept food. The older it is the longer that might take. Make sure the food is at the right temperature - VERY important. For a Galah around 42°C is good, below 40°C and it will refuse the food and above 45°C it is at risk of burning the crop. Which food did you buy?
See my articles at scas.org.au/html/articles.html for advice on hand feeding if you have not done it before.
By all means put some seed in his cage but a better first food is sprouted seed and chopped up veggies and fruit. Millet sprays are also good. If he eats it will be obvious by the seed husks and the general mess even if you don't see him eating. However I assume the cage will be in a family room type of area so you will be able to keep an eye on him.
cheers,
Mike
Hi,
Yesterday we got a 32+ day old galah from its nest as it was abandoned and had been keeping an eye on the nest for a while. I thought about hand rearing it now as it still wasnt out of the nest...
I have brought hand feeding formula for the galah but he wont eat it. Would this be because he is starting to wean himself?
If so, do I just leave some seed and water in his cage (water is in there already)?? But how do I know he is eating if I dont see him eat?
Thanks
Yesterday we got a 32+ day old galah from its nest as it was abandoned and had been keeping an eye on the nest for a while. I thought about hand rearing it now as it still wasnt out of the nest...
I have brought hand feeding formula for the galah but he wont eat it. Would this be because he is starting to wean himself?
If so, do I just leave some seed and water in his cage (water is in there already)?? But how do I know he is eating if I dont see him eat?
Thanks
Firstly how do you know the age of the baby - I assume it is an aviary bred baby and you know the day it hatched? At 32 days it will still have a lot of pin feathers, and have around 4 weeks to go before it will fly and wean. If it looks pretty well feathered then it will be older than 32 days. If you can take a photo or two and post them we can possibly check the age.
It will take a day or two before it will start eating properly from a spoon or syringe. It will be scared initially and will have to overcome that fear to accept food. The older it is the longer that might take. Make sure the food is at the right temperature - VERY important. For a Galah around 42°C is good, below 40°C and it will refuse the food and above 45°C it is at risk of burning the crop. Which food did you buy?
See my articles at scas.org.au/html/articles.html for advice on hand feeding if you have not done it before.
By all means put some seed in his cage but a better first food is sprouted seed and chopped up veggies and fruit. Millet sprays are also good. If he eats it will be obvious by the seed husks and the general mess even if you don't see him eating. However I assume the cage will be in a family room type of area so you will be able to keep an eye on him.
cheers,
Mike