PLEASE, now I need help with handfeeding!!! HELP!!

[oversweet10]

Hi, I do not think my white zebra pair is feeding the 1 Gouldian baby they are fostering... All the other zebras always seem full and are growing and their necks are with food, etc. But when I check the little Gouldian baby he seems always hungry when everyone is sleeping... He also seems empty, I don't see the food anywhere. I think 3 times total have I seen anything in his neck. So I have thought about it a lot and have decided to do that hard but right thing by handfeeding him. Years ago I handfed a baby bluejay that fell out of it's nest in a big rainstorm but that was years ago. What EXACTLY do I need to purchase (seringe, food, etc.)?? How often do I feed. What is the longest he can go without food, etc. I need to know as much as possible because if I am going to do it I want to do it right. ANY HELP AT ALL WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED!!! Thanks you guys for all your help!!!!!

[Sally]

The best thing is to read the articles at the FIC, linked at left, on handfeeding. Hilary also has a thread under Breeding about Blue-capped Cordon Bleu chicks, which she has been handfeeding. The newest thing as far as tools is using a leg-banding application tool to offer food to the babies--Hilary tells how she did this.

Basically, you need handfeeding formula (I like Lafeber's, but Kaytee also makes one), and a way to supply the food (leg-banding tool, pipette, or syringe with crop needle, or even a flat toothpick in a pinch). Are you going to leave the LG baby with the Zebras? I would, if they will tolerate him, and then maybe they will start feeding, too? If you don't leave the baby with the Zebras, then you have to provide a brooder (info on that at FIC) as the baby has to stay warm. Good luck!

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UPDATE ON THE BABY GOULDIAN: This morning at 7:00am, after the parents went in and fed them, I checked on the little Gouldian and he again was empty. Everyone else was fed and had their crops full. He was so empty I could see his bare neck with a vein running in it. So after that I made up my mind that either I was going to watch this little guy die or I was going to have to hand feed him. I went over to 3 different pet stores looking for Kaytee Exact and finally 1 place had it. It was a small place that actually specializes in hand raised parrots and birds. So I was able to get a 1cc seringe and The Kaytee Exact. She was helpful and told me exactly what to do and what to expect. So I get home and mix it and get ready to feed the starving little guy and to my GREAT SURPRISE...HE WAS FED!!! YEEEAAAAAAHHHH! I couldn't believe it. I guess his little constant perseverance paid off and made those zebras feed him! I showed my husband and he and I both sighed with relief. You see I am currently 8 months pregnant and we weren't looking forward to having to feed a newborn and a baby bird. So, I just want to tank you all so very much for all your wonderful advice and help.

Despite all of this, now that the zebras are feeding the little guy, I think I am going to keep putting Gouldian eggs under them. Hopefully they will be more comfortable with feeding them and if not I am ready!! Thanks guys!!

[Sally]

That is great news on the Gouldian baby. It is sooo much easier if you can have a foster do all the work for you!

[oversweet10]

YES it is! I checked on before I went to bed and he was fed. This morning however he was empty so I think I will just have to supplement him with the Kaytee Exact when I see him not fed and hungry. This morning I mixed up a batch and fed him in the nest with all the others. He opens his mouth so wide for me that it's really easy. I think they feed him when they feel like it. Anyways, as long as they are doing most of the grunt work it will make my life a lot easier.

[dfcauley]

I had something very familiar happen to me. It is possibly because he is not begging as loudly as the others and they always feed the loud ones first. Please keep us posted.

[oversweet10]

I don't know it seems to me whenever I check on them that he is the first to beg for food? Also his mouth is bigger than the others?? He definitely has the different markings in his mouth and his tongue doesn't stick out when he's begging... Maybe they just know he's different? I will keep you all posted!

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Well a lot has happened since the baby Gouldian was a few days old... He/she is currently 1 month and 1 day old.

Since my last post I had been having to handfeed him "Kaytee Exact" in the morning and about every 3-4 hours. Then on June 1, 2008 I put the Gouldian baby to get used to the the Gouldians on top of the cage. I read it was important for “imprinting.” And the funniest thing happened. He started begging for food and the biological mother started feeding him! She had never really even seen him before then. It’s been a week since then (June 7, 2008) and now he is permanently with his “mom” and she is feeding him on a regular basis. I do not handfeed anymore at all. Isn't that crazy!? I had never heard of something like this happening... Let me know what you all think.