FINCHforum

I got a ton of questions about hand feeding newborns and was asked to do a followup on the stages of hand feeding, and last year I only did a photo-mentary with chicks I hand fed. This year I will add short videos to the thread to answer questions and for those of us (like me) who learn by "seeing rather than reading".

NEWBORN Handfeeding : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFWNCHD ... e=youtu.be


3-4 Day Handfeeding : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PfZAnB ... e=youtu.be

I will add more as the hand feeding progresses over the next few weeks. the first video is a repeat on another thread, because I wanted to compile all the videos over the next weeks into one useful tool.
Thanks for dealing with the re-post. I wanted to take the entire video compilation, from the day they were tossed til the day they are weaned. Wish me luck, because I'm doing this real-time.

Babs
Great idea! Another question for you..... When I've found babies either tossed or abandoned, they are not begging like your babies. They are much weaker. How do you feed them to get them strong enough to start begging? Has that ever happened to you? What's your secret?

Thanks again for your video/instructions. You will help save lots more babies!

Jen

If you get them in the brooder and warmed up first, it usually gets their strength up. I also never take them out of the warmth of the brooder when they are little, because if they get cold they wont lift their head.

I have had one chick I raised from an egg that refused to lift his head or open his mouth. I gently pried his beak open and slid the pippett in for tiny feeds until he got his strength up. That was a challenge(an exhausting).

I haave a thread somewhere on here for that little one and his friend I hatched, I wish I had taken videos, but I just have photos on that one. He laid on his back and had odd twitching attacks the first few days.. I was surprised he made it.

Babs

This is a great idea Babsi,

I do like your "save the egg/chick kit".

Definitel good to have handy.

lovezebs

Thanks honey! The whole setup just takes up about 2 1/2 feet on my desk. Sometimes I get a little cramped while I am working and mixing/feeding. But for the most part, it works out really well.

Until they fledge outta the brooder and go popcorn-noisy nuts on me.
It gets really loud at feeding. I try and feed only when I dont have a client on the phone

Babs

Try and explain those noises, lol.

"Excuse me, but what is that noise in the background? Do we have a bad connection?"

"Uhemmm.... what noise are you refering to? I'm sorry, I don't hear any noise.... it must be on your end....." tweet tweet tweet TWEET TWEET TWEET TWEET TWEET TWEET!!!

lovezebs

Me Oh I'm sorry sir, it's hot in my office and my boss is cheap. That's just a big ole squeaky fan.

Client: I cant hear you. Can you turn it off?

Me No sir, Im having a hot flash.

Babs

Jen In my experience, weaker babies should be kept a little warmer than the others, given electrolyte solution frequently by putting it on the corners of the mouth, and masssaged.

I know massaging a baby bird sounds weird but it really does make a huge difference! Just stroke and rub the baby bird along its back, rub its feet gently, and rub it under the throat. The throat rubbing usually gets them begging.
I imagine with a tiny waxbill, you may have to use a cotton swab, lol.

With my experiment involving two seperate clutches of sparrows and one clutch of thrushes, the massaged babies gained considerably more weight and ate more than the control group 100 percent of the time! Similar studies have been done with other baby animals, and those that were stroked and groomed more by their parents always physically thrived more than the ones who were cuddled not at all.

To be honest, some of these experiments were... not so great. D;

Thank you for the additional info MisterGribs. I've not been very successful keeping these little tossed Goulds alive so I can use all the help I can get!

Jen MisterGribs lovezebs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxSlE9x2uJw

Getting in a feed for y'all after work and before lights out. Night night! Zzzz Sorry, Im not into a "control group" I just take care of my flock as best I can.

Hope this helps folks.

Babs

Love them little darlings.

lovezebs

They are cute when they look right at you while they feed. Getting to the noisy stage now. In no time they will be hopping on each others heads and blocking their siblings from the pipette with their wings. Thats when it get crazy.

Babs You're doing a stunning job!!

MisterGribs

Thanks my dear. Looking forward to you hatching those eggs! ;)