Weaning handfeds

[dfcauley]

I would like to have some tips for weaning handfeds. I am trying to wean two little cherry finches that just won't stop screaming for me.
They have been out of the nest now for almost two weeks.
I have seen them nibble at seeds, millet and drink some water, but not enough to leave them. I have been bringing them to work with me every morning and taking them home in the evening and putting them back into the aviary with the other birds. I was hoping that this would help them learn more quickly. But.... everytime they see me they scream for food and eat, eat, eat....

How long does it usually take once they fledge and I would love some tips to help with this process. Thanks all!!!

[Sally]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Stars, Gouldians and Owls take about 3 weeks to wean once they have fledged, according to the FIC. So you have about another week to go.

Are you giving them eggfood? Another good first food for them is hulled millet--you can usually find it at health-food stores. They can eat the seed without having to hull it first. I think it is Candace that takes a piece of spray millet, lays it on the floor of the cage, then taps it with her finger like she is trying to eat it, to show the babies that it is food.

I'll bet your kids love watching the babies being fed--wonderful teaching tool!

[CandoAviary]

Baby chicks are so cute...but can indeed get very demanding
I do put a sprig of millet on the cage floor and pinch at the seed. As the seeds roll off the chicks will peck at them and then soon come investigate what the fingers that feed them are doing. But this is when they are even younger and just beginning to eat something other than formula. Sounds like your chicks are already nibbling at the millet but are just wanting more still. I have had chicks that were parent raised and many in the clutch would wean and eat at the feeder with mom and dad...but there is occaisionally those that will harass Dad until he just simply refuse to stop feeding it..or until the chicks are moved. Can't blame them
After another week or so I am sure they will start eating on thier own. I do think offering some eggfood is a good idea also.
I am so glad that these chicks have done so well for you

[nixity]

With both clutches of my hand feds I noticed that the third week was when I really started to see them transition over to solid foods/seeds.. but hand feds also take a bit longer to wean than if their parents were feeding them.

Even after mine started eating seed, I was still feeding them three times a day.

Misty gave me good advice to just be persistent and gradually start to cut their feedings back - because this way they are more likely to start trying to eat on their own than if they know they can always just rely on you to feed them.
Little buggers
At two weeks fledged I'd say 3-4 feedings a day should be sufficient, and then slowly wean them down - I had my babies down to one feeding in the evening at 4 weeks after and the 5th week they would beg, but then pull away when I tried to feed them, and at that point I knew they were weaned

[dfcauley]

Thanks for all the great advice. Looks like I am almost there.
Yes, the students are loving it. They all crowd around the cage when I fed them and when they start crying for food they willl say "the babies are hungry!"
I am sure they will miss me not bringing them back and forth... but I won't.

[Ameza]

Good luck with them

But am I getting this right, are you a teacher and had to bring them to class everyday in order to feed them? How adorable is that?

[dfcauley]

Good luck with them

But am I getting this right, are you a teacher and had to bring them to class everyday in order to feed them? How adorable is that?

Yes, I have been taking them back and forth to school all week. The week before we were on Spring Break, but I also took them the week before that. It is getting a little old......

One problem is that they are not happy at school. They sit in the cage all day and they LOVE the aviary when I bring them home each day. They shoot out of that cage like a rocket.

[Ameza]

Ha ha I can imagine that Quite the work handfeeding isint it?

[Sally]

I guess you are able to catch them up in the morning because they come to you to be fed? The morning they don't come to you, you will be both relieved and a tiny bit disappointed.

[dfcauley]

I guess you are able to catch them up in the morning because they come to you to be fed? The morning they don't come to you, you will be both relieved and a tiny bit disappointed.

Yes, catching them each morning is no problem.... they are hungry and they come right to me.

When I put them in their cage...(which is a nice size one I am dragging around) they are quiet as a little mice. So I am sure they don't like being drug back and forth. But I have to take them home each afternoon as they get about three feeding before lights out.
I am going to watch them carefully this weekend and space their feeding to about every 4-5 hours and hopefuly soon they will be weaned. They look great and are adorable little things.

[dfcauley]

I am working really hard to get them weaned this weekend if possible, but not sure it is going to happen.
They LOVE the aviary and being free and are eating some, but I have already fed them 4 times today. I am going to try to only feed twice tomorrow. Enough already!!!

[Sally]

That is just the cutest little juvie. Don't you have three youngsters now out of your pair?

[dfcauley]

They are all weaned and grown up finally!!!
Two more hatched this week. Hopefully no handfeeding will be necessary this time.

[MLaRue]

They look awesome Donna - great job!

[lovemyfinch]

You did a wonderful job Donna. Now go get some well deserved R & R.