I try not to pull any babies until they are 3-4 weeks old. At this age I am feeding 3 times a day. 8cc AM, 5-6cc lunch, 8cc PM I use a 6-6-12 schedule. This means 6 hours between 2 feeding and 12 hours overnight. Schedule is revolved around when I start the day for the first feeding.
Here is something I have saved for postings that may be helpful: You can right click, copy and save the info below to print out for personal use.
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Some Guidelines:
1....Feed 10% 0f body weight. if you don't have a scales that weighs in grams in .1 increments you can find one at an office supply (such as a postal scales)
2....Formula should be the thickness of baby food applesauce and be the temp. of 104-106 degrees when feeding
3...Allow the crop to empty between each feeding.
Re: Hand-Feeding and Weaning babies
I normally pull my babies at 3.5 to 4 weeks of age.
You can use a chart to keep track of when and how much you feed.
Also keep track of the weight of your baby. Always weigh the bird when it is empty. At fledgling age you may notice the baby has lost a few grams. This is normal, especially if you have noticed that they are flapping their wings and trying to fly. Once they have taken their first flight (never let them fly with a full crop, this can cause aspiration if they crash and food gets forced up the neck) they should start gaining a little more weight again.
The reason for weighing is also it can be your diagnostic tool to make sure things are fine. Sometimes a baby may appear fine, but start dropping werght rapidly. If so, this is an alert that there is a serious problem going on.
I start them on 3 feedings a day, 8cc morning, 5-6cc lunch, and 8cc night. The reason why so little is because at this age their crop has shrunk considerably because the parents have already reduced the amount fed.
They are in a big container with pine shavings, with half of the top covered. If they are fully feathered there is no need for heat…room temps are fine.
I place a small bowl with seed, and sprinkle some on the bedding near the bowl. I also place millet in with them.
It takes them approx a week to explore and start nibbling. The container is big enough for them to walk around, explore, and flap wings for exercise.
I write down every day how much I feed per feeding and amount.
Once I start seeing them nibble on millet seed, I will daily decrease the middle feeding by 1cc per day, and reduce daily down to 0cc), and at 9 skip the middle feeding.
When they are down to 2 feeding a day, I will move them to a cage.
By then I introduce greens, veggies (separate dish) during their skipped lunch feeding time.
Once I see them nibbling eating more, then I daily decrease the morning feeding down 1cc per day. Once down to 0, then they are down to 1 feeding (night) a day.
I wait a day or so and then start decreasing the nighttime feeding by 1cc a day. When I get down to it reduced to 2-3cc many times they are starting to refuse the formula. If they still want formula hold it at 2-3cc for a week or so, feeling their crop to make sure they also have food in there from trying to eat on their own.
Once I finally get to where I am no longer hand-feeding I will make sure that at the normal nighttime feeding I change out food and water so that they have fresh, and give more millet or other treats they will eat. At their normal bedtime I feel the base of the crop to make sure I can feel food in it. This goes on for a few weeks before I can consider them weaned.
Sorry,...it sounds long and confusing. But if you write your daily feedings on a calendar it makes it easy. And it is far better to slowly taper down a feeding than to cold turkey skip a feeding.