Almost Weaned Now.

[Robyn]

We are just in the process of weaning off 4 baby eckies. They are just on 4 months old give or take a week. They are progressing very well. We only have a feed at night now if you can call it a feed, they like to scoff down about 4 tablespoons of formula then attack the spoon just to let me know that enough. I offer them a big platter of all sorts of foods, fruit & veg & sprouted pigeon seeds. They have learnt how to open a whole passionfruit all by themselves.

They spend the day in their outside cage & are breaking their necks to get out in the afternoon. Little buggers seen to know what time it is to. So inside for their play time before formula, that's around 5 or 5-30 then they head off to their night cages, i leave the door open so they can come & go when they please & also offer another bowl of weaning food. I never have to put them to bed they know the drill & do everything themselves all i have to do is cover them with their blanky.

I can't believe how well behaved these little guys are. Apart from the nips one of the girls used to give me at least that has stopped now & she actually has cuddles to. The best part there is no screaming from any of them. The only naughty ones in that department are the sunnies holy crap are they loud.

I am sure when an eckie starts to scream it's because its wanting attention & it normally gets it, so it then becomes a habit that is very hard to break. Another reason is it's hungry especially a young bird, not fed properly or enough or the wrong type of foods. I find with my bubs they are never fed their fruit & veg out of their cage. They are funny they follow me around the kitchen but as soon as that bowl of food goes in the cage they all try to get through the door together. I also think eckies need a really good routine, once that is established with the owner half the battle is won. I am convinced these birds are a lot happier when they are not molly coddled to much when young. Some of my customers have admitted that they did go overboard when they took their new bub home & had to deal with the screaming episodes. Once it is worked out why this bird is screaming & then the problem is fixed & everyone is happy.

OK now the sad part some are to be moved on to their new home soon. Oh well they will be someones else's joy.

Robyn.

[robert]

Thanks for this,Robyn. No doubt, most helpfull for those weaning Eckies.
from Robert and Precious

[sypher]

Thanks for sharing all the info Robyn. what sort of weights do your birds wean at?

Shaun

[vankarhi]

For me Shaun, Erik weaned at just under 370 grams but he is a bit on the small side. BB was closer to 400 grams if I remember correctly.

[sypher]

Thanks Tracey.

Shaun

[meandem]

Weaning - hah! Someone needs to tell my big girl about it. Of course, it is my fault entirely. I am still feeding her mashed veges every night. We have cut out the breaky, she has this on her own. And if I am in a hurry at night, she will eat on her own, but if I offer the mashed veges - Chucky NEVER says no!

The other two babes, I have just finished weaning, and they are terrific. They don't need any encouragement to eat. They eat anything I put in their dish. Pickles (the male) is 410gms and Cherry (the hen) is 401gms. We have to make a few adjustments out in the aviary and then as soon as it warms up - they are going out. My loungeroom at the moment is like a call centre - there is always someone talking!