View Full Version : HELP hand feeding baby sun conure
I have hand fed many Quaker Parrots in the past with no problem, but I decided I'd like to add a Sun Conure to my family. The baby is a little over 3 weeks old and is INCREDIBLY hard to feed. I've been using a syringe, but feel like maybe I should start using a pippette. (I may have misspelled that.) He moves around so much during feeding, and then cries often once he's done. I may just be paranoid, but if anyone else hand feeds conures, I'd LOVE some advice. The pet store that sold him to me has sold me Quakers in the past, so they trust me as a hand feeder, but I'm so scared I'm going to do something wrong...advice would be so helpful! Please either post back or email me at Hsnite@hotmail.com.
Thank you!
nanajo
01-31-2007, 07:33 PM
hey hon, you have yourself quite a job dont you?
Is he or she staying warm enough because that can cause them to have feeding issues as you know. Also, keep trying the shringe feeding for a few more days and if that does not do anygood, turn to the pipette.
how long have you had it? It could be that the stress of moving may have it off its feeding a bit as well.
you will do fine if you have had the others feeding in the past for you. You are an old hand at this.
Thanks! I just brought him him yesterday (Tuesday). He just seems less...stable than the Quakers. He sleeps with his head face down, cries and pitches a fit at feeding time. He's been to the vet, and so far so good. I just feel like he's more delicate than the others I've raised. :confused:
His cage stays around 88-90 degrees. He's in a plastic cage with a top, plus blankets over the most part of it--and a heating pad under the whole thing. He seems to be very warm...no shivering or anything, but they are so much harder to feed than the good ole' Quakers.
Another update...he's been crying constantly today...but we had snow here where I lived, so the pet store was closed. I swear, I think I ought to stick with Quakers!
A lot of baby birds will cry constantly in your presence even when overly full. Just made sure to hold his head gently between 2 fingers with your hand resting against his back so he can't squirm, feed a little at a time until his crop is round and plump but not firm, it should be very squishy and soft still. Firm is overfed and causes great discomfort and even harm to babies. If he still cries don't keep feeding, just bond with him awhile and eventually he should snooze. They grow out of this eventually. Its just a natural instinct when young to cry to make sure they get the most food out of the clutch in the wild, where food isn't as plentiful.
I found out firsthand that cockatiel babies are much much harder than lovebird babies, even though they're a bit bigger. But practice makes perfect, and don't give up. Little guy's depending on you :P
Edit: To coax a feeding response you can gently rub the edges on its beak from front to back a few times, they catch on quickly that you're their new mama!
Thanks so much! He's eating very well...we've had a few "accidents" (where food has ended up ALL over his face) but aside from that, he's a great eater and looks very healthy and beautiful! The crying just breaks my heart...he'll cry when it's time for bed, he'll cry when I wake him up, he'll cry before and after he eats...he just likes to cry. I've read some articles saying that this could be the sign of a very unhealthy bird, but the breeder assures me that he's fine, and as far as looks and his appetite go, he seems to be great. We'll see...I'm keeping my fingers crossed, and I'll keep everyone updated. I attached a picture to this post for everyone to see. I haven't named him yet, so I've been calling him "no name" and "baby bird."
mzdolittle
02-03-2007, 06:39 AM
I have always stuck a reptile heater to the outside of the pet keeper, on the side, down low. I have found that the babies will put their crops up to the heat after feeding. The vet told my friend, who is a hand feeder of 15 years, that this is good for them and helps their crops to empty with less potential problems and aids in digestion of the formula.
Hmm...that makes a lot of sense! I think I may go get one today. I really feel the baby is doing well...he looks incredible, I just feel bad about the constant crying. I'll keep everyone updated! :)