Fledgling question

[a_gouldian]

We have a baby Owl Finch in a brooder box that is 15 days old. Normally, I think of a fledgling as a baby bird that leaves the nest box. When do we know that this baby is a fledgling and time to move into a cage set up for a fledgling? On Finchinfo.com it says 22-26 days. Do we keep feeding it formula until it is put in a cage and then continue with the formula until it is eating seed and refusing formula (and have spray millet and seed in the cage from day 1)? This is our first baby finch and we haven't had a baby successfully raised by the parents so far.

Thanks, Andy

[cindy]

Andy, handfed birds take a bit longer to wean than parent fed, even with parents some owl babies seem to need to be fed a little longer.

I have hand fed out baby owls... if fully feathered and perching you can put him in a small cage, cover the grate with paper towels, set small dishes of foods and a lid with water in it..if using a water tube set it near a perch that is low and continue to feed him. You can add millet sprays, dried eggfood and seed for him to pick out. Often I have taken a teacher bird, maybe an older sibling and place it with the baby so it can watch the other bird eat. you stop hand feeding when the bird is eating and drinking well on it's own.

[a_gouldian]

Andy, handfed birds take a bit longer to wean than parent fed, even with parents some owl babies seem to need to be fed a little longer.

I have hand fed out baby owls... if fully feathered and perching you can put him in a small cage, cover the grate with paper towels, set small dishes of foods and a lid with water in it..if using a water tube set it near a perch that is low and continue to feed him. You can add millet sprays, dried eggfood and seed for him to pick out. Often I have taken a teacher bird, maybe an older sibling and place it with the baby so it can watch the other bird eat. you stop hand feeding when the bird is eating and drinking well on it's own.

Thanks Cindy. We don't have any older Siblings so we can put him in with either a male Gouldian, a female Gouldian, or two Star Finches. His parents are sitting on 6 eggs right now. We are trying to give the other birds a breeding rest so they are in a large flight cage with resting food and their artificial day light is only on for 8 hours.