FINCHforum

We are getting ready to start supplementing the six little meepers more to keep the parents from dehydrating them, and we were wondering if adding the applesauce from the get go will prevent any yeast problems? Any advice? They range in age from 4-10 days and so far totally healthy.

I used applesauce unsweeten in handfeeding formula when my hookbills got to certain age. It helps with keeping the crop from getting impacted, helps things move along. It also helps the young get a flavor for something different. I used to also use a little pumpkin puree mixed in the formula...lots of vitamins.

As good as handfeeding formulas are, I always feelt the chicks were missing something. But this is coming from someone that used to make her own formula.

I have only used the baby applesauce when I thought the babies were getting a yeast infection, but then I include a tiny bit of Medistatin in their handfeeding formula as a preventative. So I can't help you with this, but I'm thinking it might not hurt.

Yeast hate acidic enviroments. I haven't used the applesause but I have add a drop of apple cider vinegar to the formula when I suspected yeast. (signs, lots of bloating, chick scratching with foot, food in crop looking foamy) Most of the time I add nothing to the formula and have no problems. I think warmth plays the most important role in food passing from the crop properly. I feel that if the food passes quickly...no yeast will develope. Sometimes that means smaller amounts with shorter intervals of time. The times I feed too much, or the temps drop below 90% is when I have troubles. Once the chicks get 2 weeks old then the temp and amount do not seem to be as crucial as the very immature digestion systems.
Good luck. And avoid any sudden changes in diet...you do not want to induce diarreah.

Candace has a good point. (I haven't handfed in a few years so some of this escapes me until someone else mentions it). The times that I have seen handfed chick run into problems usually has to do with temp of formula and over stuffing a chick. I have seen baby hookbills pumped full by a breeder to the point of not being able to stand. I as a rule I under fed (not filling them to the top) at each meal and fed more often especially when they were very tiny, newborn.