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Post by privateer on Jan 1, 2007 19:29:19 GMT 10
I have 2 babies I'm feeding at the moment.Just wondering when to start weaninig them and the best method for this?Also any Idea how old they would be in the photo?  |
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Post by Jane on Jan 1, 2007 20:09:32 GMT 10
I'd guess about 3 weeks maybe going on 4 by their feathering. I'm not sure about the official age for weaning lorikeets but I'm sure someone else will. As a guide they will need to be feathered and flying and will start taking less food and showing more interest in trying fruit etc and the lori mixes, you will need to be confident they are feeding themselves enough to fill themselves not just playing with the food. Hope that helps abit.
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Post by AussieBirds on Jan 1, 2007 20:39:58 GMT 10
Good advice Jane.
John
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Post by silvercloud on Jan 3, 2007 11:43:04 GMT 10
How many feeds a day do they get? Have you started introducing soft food to them yet? Try some pureed fruit and see what they do with it. Most babies will play with new food for a while before they start eating it so I wouldn't advise even thinking about weaning til you're SURE they are actually eating different foods.
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Post by vankarhi on Jan 3, 2007 11:58:31 GMT 10
couldn't have said it better  they are too young judging by the photo to be weaned or even weaning yet. Not sure how old they are when they wean, but if you use the above guide that Jane said you should be ok. I would be guessing a few more weeks yet before even starting to wean. I would have those babies on 4 feeds a day at the moment until they are starting to nibble at stuff. You could put some cooked frozen veges in the cage with them when they are about 5/6 weeks old and they will probably play with that, maybe a bit of seed, some crackers etc and when you can see they are showing interest in that cut them down to 3 feeds a day. When they are eating some of that stuff (fresh food etc) then cut them down to 2 feeds, when they are eating heaps of it, cut them down to 1 feed (usually the night feed you keep as their last feed)........when their crops feel quite full at the end of the day before giving them their final hand feed .......... that is a sign they are almost weaned. I would then give 1 feed per day for a few more days to a week just to be sure they are eating properly then drop that feed. You just have to keep watching them to make sure they are eating and not losing too much weight. That is how i would do it. |
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Post by sebzpets on Jan 12, 2007 16:45:33 GMT 10
When I was handraising lorikeets for my shop I would place lori dry in a small container in their box/cage at about 5 weeks old so they pretty much did it themselves....I also left a bit of "leftover" wet (I raised on Roudybush) with them as well. Lorikeets are pretty independent and like to think they are the boss They should be completely off feeds by bout 8 weeks....some are faster others slower. Also give them a native flower to play with as it helps get them over to them and fruits etc later on. |
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Post by loriluver on Jan 12, 2007 22:47:59 GMT 10
My rainbows and scalys tend to wean themselves anywhere between six to eight weeks. They will start to refuse the formula when they are ready.
At that time I introduce other foods. The first food I give them is wet mix to eat (or play in), dry lori mix then soft foods like unfrozen peas and corn etc.
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they are too young judging by the photo to be weaned or even weaning yet. Not sure how old they are when they wean, but if you use the above guide that Jane said you should be ok. I would be guessing a few more weeks yet before even starting to wean. 
