FINCHforum

Has anyone ever handfed Red Headed Parrot finch hatchlings, and were you successful?? I am handfeeding 4 babies right now,all re doing very well.
Wendy

I have never handfed, but would like to wish you continued success.

I'm thinking Candace might have handfed them, but not sure. Good luck with it, at least they have nice big mouths, don't they?

I've never handfed - never got eggs to go that far. Congrats and best wishes for complete success!

Yes I have. I have feed about 20 of them, you cant wait for the 4 weeks to end though. I would feed at 6:30AM,4:00PM,7:PM and 10:30PM. They will be fine. I use an 18 guage crop needle and 3cc disposable syringe. The syringes last about a week and get sticky, you can find them for about 15cents each. I use Roudy bush formula-3 other formulas will clog the crop needle. You can by it at Dr. Fosters on line. I mix medistatin and ronivet-s, pro-biotic and guardian angel with the formula.I believe the medistatin really helps to prevent fungal infections. Warm the formula in warm water to about 90 degress but dont get it to hot. If you ever do more than one clutch switch crop needles after each nest. I had one sick baby once and spread it to other clutches. Ended up with 8 sick babies and lost 3 of them. I now boil needles after each feeding if feeding more than one clutch. Parrot finches will not remain tame after your done feeding them like some other finches will. Good Luck!

I use a 1cc sirynge while they are this young and will turn over to an eye dropper when they are older. Yes, the ssirynges do get sticky after awhile but I found a trick that really helps. Just dip the rubber end in the formula before you insert it and it goes right in. I was very frusterated by they way they would wear until I started to do this.
So you weaned the babies at 4 weeks?? That seems a little early unless it is just this species?? My owls and Goulds took longer than that but it would be nice if these guys weaned early.
I always boil water first,pour it into a small glass cup,put the siringe,spoon, and any eye droppers in the boiling water for a few seconds to dissinfect while the cup heats up. Then I pour the water into a small pirex bowl to use if I need to reheat. Then I pour a little of distilled water in the heated up cup and them formula, and bring up to temp. I just use the inside of my wrist just like if I was testing formula for a human baby, and then I feed. I do not medicate at all unless I thought there was something wrong with their health to begin with. So far, I have had no problems.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience with me. It's always nice to know that I am not the only one having fun at handfeeding

I wean them at 35-39 days, as soon as they are eating on thier own. Around 28 days when they are eating a little on thier own I may feed 2 times a day just depends.

Wendy, hope your parrot chicks are doing well. I have never had to handfeed any of mine...fortunlately all have been doting parents. Sounds like great advice that kcdozy gave.