Our babies - Handfeeding:
This applies to Amazons & Macaws only as we do not handfeed our finches.
We allow Mom & Dad to feed babies until the first baby is at least 2 weeks old. This provides much needed antibodies and immune boosting that is vital to a healthy, strong bird. At 2 weeks old, babies are still pretty small and fragile. Feedings are usually every 3-4 hours at this point and our sleep deprivation begins. We make sure that food is being digested fully, and keep the crop full without much "empty time". Growth at this point is absolutely phenomenal - it's so amazing to watch them grow!! We use Kaytee Exact for our babies (Macaw forumla is used for macaws as they need more fat). We do not add vitamin supplements to the formula. We do, however, eventually start adding baby food (carrots, sweet potatoes) as they get older. We also add, once they are about 7 weeks, Organic Red Palm Oil to formula 1-2 times per week (very small amount). It provides good, healthy fat and Vitamin A/Beta Carotene. Babies are weighed daily for the first 7-8 weeks, and then every 3-4 days after they start sampling fresh food & pellet.
Our babies - Socialization:
Immediately after pulling from the nest, babies are delicate and fragile. They don't usually have their eyes open, if they do they aren't able to really focus just yet. They require constant warmth and lots of sleep - just as human babies do. Once they begin to feather and can keep themselves somewhat warm, they begin to have "play time" several times per day at feeding time. We make it calm, loving, and secure for them. Then as they progress, they spend more and more of their day out of their bed/cage, in the center of the action. They are not kept away from the family or the other pets in the house (although they are NEVER allowed to see the parent birds while still babies). They have time out on the floor, with toys, and we get down in the floor with them to cuddle, preen, play and interact. Though sometimes, as they get a little older and more bold, they will get "over stimulated" and have to have quiet time in bed to calm down and rest. They are comfortable with cats (though we don't allow the cats to get close and are NEVER unsupervised near them), our Great Dane, who absolutely loves birds, and children. For the most part, they are with humans from daylight to dark every day after they start to feather enough to keep warm without added heat.
We also make sure that they are accustomed to bathing and being cleaned. Even before they are feathered they get wiped down with warm water and rag, their bands are cleaned, etc. daily. Then they graduate to the sink (when they are too big for the bowl). At that time they learn to accept full-body light mist from the vegetable sprayer or a spray bottle. We snuggle in a towel and preen after bathing to get them in the habit of keep their feathers groomed.
Our Sales Policy for our Babies - Please read if you are interested in adopting a baby from us.
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Our Weaning Policy:
We are VERY adamant about our weaning. WE DO NOT FORCE WEAN!! This is not good for the babies. It can cause stress, it can cause stunting. Some babies mature faster than others and are ready to start trying "big bird food" earlier than others. Our babies are given formula for as long as they want it. By 8 weeks (for macaws) they are offered soft fruit such as papaya (must be very ripe). This is a good food to start them with because it aids in digestion, thereby not causing problems with digesting forumla and the fruit sitting in their crop rotting. At first the food doesn't even make it to crop, they play with it, and it usually falls to the side of their beaks and gets wiped off. We offer them the same foods, gradually, that the adults get and on the same schedule - rice/veggies in the morning, fruit in the afternoon, and pellet throughout the day. At this point they are on about 3-4 feedings per day, and are about 9-10 weeks old. They are also offered pellet. So far, our macaw babies have not wanted "soaked" pellets. They prefer that we just break up the macaw pellets into small pieces and crumbs and eat them dry.
Flight:
We will not clip wing feathers until the bird has learned to fly - fully! This is for their safety. If they can't fly before wings are clipped then they can injure themselves. Besides, they are birds, after all. They are made to fly!!