Hand feeding Baby Parrots
Author: Anil Garg,
Paradise Aviaries,
Bangalore.
Introduction:
Majority of the bird chick’s hatch totally defenseless, blind and naked. Constant care needs to be given to the weak chicks for their survival. The parents do a good job in doing so. But there are several instances of abandoned chicks, chicks fallen from nest, lack of parental instincts, slow breeding… In this case human interference by way of artificial incubation & hand rearing can be very beneficial to the survival of the bird and the species. It is noted that by way of artificial incubation and hand rearing we can increase the reproduction of birds by several folds.
Many aviculturists prefer to hand feed baby parrots to natural parental care. Most common reason for it is to increase production endangered species and slow breeding species. The major advantage of Parental care is it helps the bird learn normal bird behaviour.
Hand feeding birds reduce mortality, increase production, save orphaned babies, produce healthier birds and tamer birds.
We have been successful in raising over 1000+ baby parrots over last 17+ years and this paper is to share our experiences while doing so.
There are 4 major areas that we need to look into during hand feeding of parrots.
·
- Nursery
- · Formulae
- · Method
- · Process
Nursery:
Use of quality brooders is highly recommended during the initial 1-7 days of a chick’s life. If the same is not available we can make do with aquarium or wood box. Line the bottom with several layers of Pinewood shaving or tissue paper. A heating pad is placed under the box or aquarium or a over head infrared lamp to provide requisite heat. A towel is placed over the top to avoid excess heat loss.
A bottle or tin filled with water and holes punched in the lid to allow for evaporation will help to provide humidity.
The lining needs to be changed regularly preferably with every second feed for the first 1 week.
Brooder temperature is very critical during the first 10 days of hatching and needs close watch. Ideal temperature for a new born hatchling is 36° C (4-5 days) which is then gradually reduced to about 3/4° C a day for next 7 days (Age 12 days) and further reduced from 31°C to 27°C as the feathers start to grow. Age 12 to 15 days onwards the chicks are shifted to plastic containers with simple over head 60 watt Bulb except in case of weak and rare species where close monitoring is advised.
For most species we prefer keeping the clutch together for first 15-20 days and then thin them out to 2 chicks per box to avoid fights and control of infections if any. During weaning the birds are shifted to Galvanised cages.
Regular sterilization and disinfection of brooder, container and Cage is a must.
Common problem faced in housing is chilling, overheating, low / high humidity, fight among chicks & squashing, spread of infections. All these problems can be controlled easily.
Methods:
There are several methods of hand feeding parrots, common ones being Crop feeding, Spoon feeding and Syringe feeding. We prefer syringe feeding as the same is safe, easy, fast and hygienic. Disposable syringes are used for the same.
During feeding time the plastic container holding the chick is removed and placed on table (room temperature should preferably be warm). With one hand using index and thumb is used to hold the chicks head lightly and use the other to hold the syringe, the syringe tip is slowly coaxed into the beak and small qty of food released into the beak. Once the food touches the tongue the chick will make pumping motion which normal and helps it swallow the food. This is continued until the crop is 3/4 full.
Make sure that you put the syringe into the beak on the baby's left side - your RIGHT side - aim it toward the back of the throat, across the tongue at a slight angle to the left (your left). You will want to feed the formula slowly and watch the baby carefully as he will stop (pause) drinking the formula to take a breath. If you keep feeding the formula when he is trying to take a breath he will inhale the formula and this can kill your baby. During first feeding or weak chicks we may need to use our thumb to open the beak slightly. Make sure you have a firm grip on your babies. Healthy hungry babies will have strong feeding responses (they pump sometimes very strongly) A firm grip will prevent injuries.
The quantity of food is species and ages specific. Avoid mixing of syringes to better control spread of any infections and wash hands before and after every feed with antiseptic liquid or spirit.
The temperature of the food should be in range of 38°C to 42°C (Luke warm).
Always keep tissue paper, warm water handy during feeding the chicks clean their beak and throat if dirty.
FORMULAS:
The easiest and wholesome (highly recommended) diet would be using ready Baby Parrot food by Nutribird, Pedigree and Versalaga but unfortunately the same is not readily available and need to be imported. If the same is available we could mix them in 50% ratio with Nestum ‘Rice’ (baby cereal) For smaller species and upto 25% for larger species. For Macaws, Palm Cockatoo, Eclectus and Grey Parrot 18% crude Protein and 13% crude Fat should be the formula. For Cockatoos and other smaller birds 22% crude Protein and 9% crude Fat should be the formula.
Recipe for own formula:-
· 10% boiled Corn.
· 5% soaked almonds
· 15% fine ground sunflower seed.
· 15% fine ground millet (Sawa).
· 15% sprouted grams ( Wheat, Moong & Chana)
· 40% Nestum ‘Rice’.
· Few drops of Abdec or Vimeral and Osteo-calcium syrup.
· Few drops of Digitone.
The ingredients are blended in a mixer with warm small qty of warm water into a thick paste and the same should be stored in the deep freezer. It’s easier to manage if they are packed in small packets so that they can be easily removed and used for each feed.
Feeding schedule:
The new born hatchling is fed with Pedialite for the first 12 - 24 hrs starting with 0.2-0.5 ml and slowly increasing to 1 ml every 2-3 hrs. Pedialite helps in rehydration of the chicks and helps crop stretch.
After the first 24 hrs of rehydration we can start with the recipe. The recipe is mixed with warm water. The first feed the paste needs to be thin and slowly thickened as the chick grows. The feeding cycle will vary from bird to bird. Feed chicks only after their crop is about 80% empty.
AGE | Feeding interval | Thickness |
0-24 hrs | Every 2 hrs | 0% |
Day 2 | Every 2 hrs during day and 3 hrs in night. | 10-20% |
Day 3 to 5 | 5 feed during day and 2 feeds in night | 20-50% |
Day 5 to 10 | 4 feeds during day and 1 in night | 50 -75% |
Day 10 to 25 | 4 times during Day | 75% |
Day 25 to 35 | 3 times a day | 75% |
Day 35 to 40 | 2 times a day | 75% |
Day 40 to weaning | Once a day | 75% |
SPECIES | CAPACITY | SPECIES | CAPACITY | SPECIES | CAPACITY | SPECIES | CAPACITY |
Macaws | 100 to 140cc | Eclectus | 35 to 50cc | Indian Ring-necks | 12 to 25cc | Smaller Amazons | 35 to 50cc |
Cockatoos | 75 to 120cc | Amazons | 50 to 70cc | Quaker Parakeets | 12 to 15cc | Alexandrines | 25 to 35cc |
Smaller Conures | 15 to 30cc | African Greys | 25 to 60cc | Cockatiels | 10 to 15cc | Parakeets | 4 to 10cc |
Smaller Cockatoos | 50 to 75cc | Large Conures | 35 to 60cc | Brotogeris Parakeets | 8 to 12cc | Lovebirds | 5 to 10cc |
Weight Gain:
Weighing the chicks at regular intervals is very important to keep track of the health of the birds. All chicks will gain weight every 24 hrs until almost weaned. Most birds will loose some weight during weaning which is normal.
Any fall in weight or slow gain of weight is signs of unhealthy birds and root cause should be identified and rectified.
Chick weight Courtesy: Gemini Bird Farm | |||||||||||
Days | Eclec tus Min | M.S.C. Min. | Mol.C min | U C Min. | Galah Min | B&G M Min. | Scar-let M min | Palm Min | Ama zon min | Nand. Con. min | Sun Con. min |
0 | 13 | 12 | 19 | 15 | 8 | 15 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 5 | 4 |
1 | 13 | 12 | 19 | 15 | 8 | 15 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 5 | 4 |
2 | 14 | 13 | 20 | 16 | 9 | 16 | 20 | 15 | 12 | 6 | 6 |
3 | 16 | 14 | 22 | 17 | 11 | 17 | 21 | 17 | 13 | 8 | 6 |
4 | 17 | 15 | 26 | 19 | 13 | 20 | 23 | 19 | 14 | 9 | 8 |
5 | 19 | 16 | 32 | 22 | 16 | 24 | 26 | 22 | 16 | 11 | 10 |
6 | 22 | 18 | 40 | 27 | 21 | 29 | 31 | 25 | 20 | 16 | 13 |
7 | 27 | 22 | 50 | 32 | 26 | 35 | 38 | 28 | 25 | 19 | 16 |
8 | 32 | 28 | 62 | 40 | 36 | 45 | 48 | 31 | 30 | 22 | 19 |
9 | 40 | 35 | 73 | 50 | 46 | 55 | 60 | 34 | 35 | 26 | 23 |
10 | 48 | 43 | 85 | 60 | 60 | 68 | 75 | 38 | 42 | 30 | 27 |
12 | 70 | 63 | 115 | 82 | 90 | 100 | 110 | 48 | 60 | 40 | 37 |
14 | 80 | 88 | 150 | 110 | 115 | 130 | 160 | 58 | 85 | 55 | 52 |
16 | 100 | 120 | 200 | 140 | 145 | 165 | 210 | 64 | 115 | 75 | 68 |
18 | 130 | 160 | 250 | 180 | 180 | 220 | 270 | 78 | 145 | 95 | 80 |
20 | 145 | 200 | 290 | 220 | 210 | 285 | 330 | 100 | 175 | 105 | 90 |
22 | 175 | 237 | 335 | 260 | 230 | 360 | 395 | 130 | 205 | 115 | 96 |
26 | 235 | 310 | 420 | 340 | 260 | 495 | 535 | 190 | 250 | 135 | 112 |
28 | 265 | 335 | 455 | 370 | 265 | 530 | 605 | 220 | 275 | 145 | 116 |
30 | 295 | 360 | 500 | 410 | 270 | 590 | 670 | 260 | 310 | 153 | 122 |
34 | 330 | 400 | 600 | 455 | 275 | 710 | 780 | 335 | 360 | 170 | 136 |
36 | 342 | 405 | 620 | 480 | 285 | 760 | 820 | 370 | 375 | 173 | 138 |
38 | 350 | 420 | 630 | 490 | 280 | 790 | 860 | 400 | 390 | 175 | 142 |
40 | 350 | 440 | 650 | 510 | 270 | 820 | 920 | 445 | 400 | 175 | 140 |
42 | 350 | 440 | 665 | 515 | 265 | 870 | 960 | 480 | 395 | 173 | 138 |
44 | 345 | 445 | 670 | 510 | 260 | 920 | 970 | 520 | 390 | 173 | 138 |
48 | 355 | 450 | 685 | 510 | 260 | 970 | 1010 | 580 | 385 | 170 | 138 |
50 | 370 | 450 | 690 | 520 | 255 | 1000 | 1000 | 605 | 380 | 170 | 136 |
52 | 375 | 450 | 695 | 510 | 255 | 1020 | 1010 | 635 | 380 | 170 | 134 |
56 | 375 | 440 | 715 | 490 | 260 | 1040 | 980 | 705 | 375 | 165 | 132 |
58 | 365 | 435 | 720 | 480 | 260 | 1050 | 990 | 720 | 350 | 163 | 130 |
60 | 360 | 440 | 725 | 470 | 255 | 1060 | 970 | 740 | 340 | 160 | 128 |
64 | 350 | 435 | 725 | 455 | 255 | 1020 | 960 | 757 | 315 | 158 | 126 |
66 | 350 | 435 | 730 | 455 | 260 | 1030 | 940 | 760 | 315 | 160 | 128 |
68 | 345 | 445 | 730 | 455 | 260 | 1000 | 930 | 770 | 310 | 160 | 130 |
70 | 345 | 445 | 735 | 450 | 265 | 1000 | 920 | 780 | 315 | 160 | 130 |
Weaning :
The birds are left in a cage with a flat plate with required grains like Sunflower seed, Millet, Sprouted grams, boiled Maze, etc and fresh fruits. Offering few seeds and pieces of fruit every now and then by hand will coax them to try and eat on their own. Hand feeding is completely stoped once the bird starts to eat own its own in good quantity. Water should be present at all time.
Weaning Chart:
Species | Clutch size | Incubation period | Weaning Start |
Rosellas | 3-6 | 19-22 | 35-40 |
Palm Cockatoo | 1-2 | 32-35 | 90-120 |
S.C Cockatoo | 2-3 | 26-28 | 65-85 |
Galah | 2-5 | 23-25 | 50-55 |
Macaw's | 2-4 | 24-27 | 95-105 |
Cocktiels | 3-7 | 20-21 | 30-40 |
Eclectus | 2 | 28-30 | 75-80 |
A.G Parrot | 2-4 | 28-30 | 75-80 |
Amazon | 2-4 | 26-27 | 60-65 |
Red-Rump Parrot | 4-6 | 20-22 | 30-35 |
IRN Parrot | 4-6 | 22-24 | 45-50 |
Alex Parrot | 3-4 | 24-25 | 52-60 |
Conure | 2-6 | 21-24 | 50-55 |
Rainbow lori | 2 | 23-24 | 55-60 |
Ringing:
For easier identification and keeping History like parentage, DOB, sex, owner etc ringing of birds is necessary. Close ring leg bands are fitted on the chicks during the age of 8 to 20 days (Species specific) the leg band come in sizes which are species specific. Right size Close ring Leg bands cannot be put once the birds grow up and are difficult to remove.
Problems:
Problem | Possible Cause | |
Weight loss / slow weight gain | Incorrect diet | Change recipe, increase Protein |
Low temperature | Increase brooder temperature | |
Thin Formule | ||
Digestion problem | Give Digitone | |
Infection | Start Required Antibiotic | |
Under feeding | Increase feed qunatity/Frequency | |
Crops not emptying even after 5-6 hours | Thick formulae | |
Digestion problem | Give Digitone | |
Over feeding / Faster frequency | ||
Cold food | ||
Crop burn | Over heated food | Rinse with cold water |
Poor feeding responses | Too Cold/Hot food | |
Dehydration | Give pedialite | |
Regurgitation | Over feeding / Faster frequency | Reduce size of each feed and increase frequency. Give Pedialite. |
Unexplained deaths | Do Post-portem to find out problem | |
Leg abnormalities, such as splay leg or turned legs | Calcium deficiency in chick or parents | Use steel wire to slowly bring it back to shape/position. |
Incorrect bedding | ||
Sour Crop, Candida, and Crop Stasis | Chilling, overfeeding, food sitting in the crop too long, and "dry" food in the crop. |
Eye infections | Congectavites | Ciplox eye drop reduction of temperature |
Excess heat |
Equipments :
The following are the list of equipments which are regularly required during regular course or emergency during Hand feeding.
· Spare Bulbs
· Spare heater
· Thermometer – digital and Mercury
· Tweezers and Scissors
· Stainless steel wire and rod.
· Syringes
· Needle
· Antiseptic cream and spirit
· Thermos
· Hand towels and tissue paper
· Ear buds
· Sterile water
· Hot water bags
· Digitone, Sporolac & Terramycin. Ciplox / Gentamycin eye drop. Chloramphenicol tube.
· Pedialite
Bonnison
References:-
Mr. S. Balasubramanian,
Gemini Bird Farm,
Chennai.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletestill searching for parrot huh jegan for 600 rupee u cant collect parrot....good comedy
ReplyDeleteThe above article is truly enlightening for an amateur like me.
ReplyDeleteI am visiting Chennai and would be grateful if you could give me contact details for Gemini Bird Farms.
ReplyDeleteVinod Shenoy
vinodskokken@gmail.com
Te. 09987730616
Hi Anil,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your posting for such good article and I would like to appreciate for your such huge farm for birds.
Mitesh Patel
9033667374
Mits Farm Ville