How long to wean a parrot finch

[MariusStegmann]

I see that my parrot finch babies that fledged 11 days ago have been eating for the last 3 days. I wonder are they really eating properly or are the parents still feeding them. I would like to mate the parents up with different birds before they breed again. Ideally I would like to send the male and a different female to a friend of mine for a few weeks, while I bond the female to a pied male. Does both parents feed the youngsters, or is there a primary feeder with parrot finches? I don't want the babies to starve when I send the father away.

[finchmix22]

The father is usually who weans the babies. Moms tend to incubate great and feed sometimes, but the fathers are the ones who feed after fledging most of the time. I would not separate them until you observe the fledges eating and drinking on their own consistently. They may be learning, but not yet good at doing these on their own consistently. Once you don't hear any more begging noises for a few days and they are observed eating and drinking, then they are weaned.

[MiaCarter]

finchmix22 said it perfectly!

The drinking thing is the most important as they tend to learn this last.

I would wait at least 3 weeks after fledging or at least 3-4 days after you last heard them begging.

Often, they'll eat independently, but not enough to survive. So you need to be careful in this regard. Fledglings also tend to mouth foods, without eating them.

Also, during that post-fledging period, they're learning really important socialization. Just like a dog or cat who's removed from the parent too soon, you can end up with socialization issues if you have juveniles who aren't around adults during those formative days.
Stated simply, they're learning the ins and outs of being finches.

[Corkysgirl]

Yes, it's very important they're getting enough fluid from the parents if they're not drinking on their own. And as Mia said, the socializing issues. I love to watch the parents as they flit back and forth trying to get the fledglings to copy them. They will stop begging when they are fully weaned.

[Smurf]

I've weaned my chicks at between 35 and 38 days old which would generally be a few days since i last seen/heard them begging, i wean them into a flight cage which contains either adults or older juveniles to be sure they learn habits from the same species. If yours fledged about 11 days ago and when being parent reared they generally fledge at 21-23 days then i think it's still too soon to wean them

[MariusStegmann]

Thanks people. They are definately drinking water on their own and they sit in the seedfeeder and go through the motions of eating. The father chase them away if they get near him and I have not heard any begging sounds for a while, but the aviary is in my backyard and I only go there about 4 times a day. The parents are definately going to clutch again, because the male is very possesive about his female. I might not have the opportunity to rebond them to other mates.

[Smurf]

An option would be to wean the chicks and one of the parents together into the same cage, then you could immediately introduce the new cock to the hen and foster the next clutch she lays as original cock will probably still be the dad

[MariusStegmann]

Smurf Thx, maybe I will do that, except for the fostering bit. I don't keep bengalese and won't sell any bird that is not parent-raised. I also won't buy birds from someone that fosters birds. I believe that birds raised by foster parents won't breed properly.

[finchmix22]

Most of my parrot finches are weaned about 3 weeks after fledging, so I wouldn't think they are totally independent after 12 days from fledging. I'd let them stay with parents for another week or two, but if you're giving them soft foods and millet, they can learn a little faster, but drinking the water is usually last. They may be playing with the water, but I wonder if they are actually drinking any of it yet. The parents may be feeding them when you are not around, so you don't hear any begging. Good Luck with those babies!

[MariusStegmann]

I decided to wait a bit longer. If I pair up the mother with another cock, then I will keep the youngsters with her.

[monotwine]

Even once they eat on their own, I still find young spend a lot of time mimicking their parents and learning from them. Also they usually still cuddle up with pair at night to keep warm.

If I were you, Id leave them in with pair for another week at least and then maybe remove cock bird. If the pair lays any eggs before then, remove them.

Also you will have to give your hen time away from her current mate or you stand the chance of her being mated by him and she lays eggs by him reared with her new mate. She needs at least 2 weeks away from him and no eggs to be produced after separating.

[finchmix22]

monotwine
Great advice !