[Renae]

I've had my 3 babies for a week now, and they are 4 weeks old. They went from having a feed every 4 hours, and now that they are eating seed (and veggies sometimes too) they are having 3 feeds a day, morning, afternoon, and before bed.

2 Grays don't like the formula anymore really, they prefer the seeds, but my Theo, the gutsy girl/boy, wants to keep having the formula, and seed too. So what should I do, let them just have seed now, or just continue hand feeding + give them their seed to munch on which they love.

What's the usual age to stop giving them the formula? (if any) they are getting big so quickly, it's unbelievable. It's just that.. I hear about people still hand feeding 7-10 weeks old.. I thought that's normally the age when they are on seed and are ready to be given a new home (if being given a new home) I got Mali & Tilly at 9 weeks and they were on seed, but I guess some are different.

One more thing, I want to give the babies pellets, so would it be okay to start giving them to them now, or wait perhaps?!

 

[sweetrsue]

It really depends on the bird. Still needing formula at 7 - 10 weeks is not at all unusual. Some will stretch it out even further. I would be very surprised to see a baby weened at 4 weeks. They get more protien from formula and they are far from done growing. The important thing to watch for is your babies drinking water. They are all eating seed now but Theo who insists on formula may need to do so if she is not drinking water yet. Keep an eye on their wieght. They tend to lose some while weening and fledging. Try offering them beans and rice to pump up the protien.

 

[birdieness]

I agree. Keep feeding them and yes they are going to want to try new foods. offer then veggies and everything now. Great time to start. Hugs and slush were big babies and i had to feed them for 2 weeks after i got them.

 

[tielfan]

Try offering them soft warm food on a spoon. My chicks lost patience with the handfeeding syringe at a certain point but were very willing to feed baby-style off a spoon. I came up with a mixture I called chickie glop: human baby food mixed with handfeeding formula, egg food, cooked rice and quinoa, pellets, etc., plus some water to soften up the dry ingredients and get a good texture.

Some of my chicks weaned at six weeks, which I thought was terribly terribly early. But they were still willing to eat chickie glop from a spoon even though they clearly weren't dependent on it.

You can certainly offer pellets now. Pellets were one of the first things my chicks learned to eat - they're easier than seeds since there aren't any hulls.

 

[sweetrsue]

I usually use a spoon from the age of 3 weeks. I bend a measuring spoon to fit their beaks better.

 

[Renae]

Okay thanks, I'll start giving them some soft warm food as well as seeds & veggies. I will also try them on the rice and beans, they prefer the seeds right now, but I'm still offering them veggies which is a must! (oh and I'm going to get them some pellets too since it'll be better for them)

They are still wanting formula, but not drinking water (unless it's after a feed) they do have water there for them at all times, but they won't go anywhere near it. The 2 Grey's didn't like being fed from the syringe at first (I had them feeding off of a spoon but they ditched that one) and now they will go for it when they see it. I guess I'll just keep them on the formula but still offer other foods for their protein and etc.

Now that they are starting/trying to fly they are gonna lose weight.. so should I feed them more formula then I usually do and keep giving them seeds and other things; OR leave how much I give them and continue doing the same thing as I usually do/what I'm doing?