Baby parrot hand feeding tips

Baby parrot hand feeding tips

The decision to hand-feed should be a personal choice and not because this is the only way to have a hand tamed bird.

We need to pull entire batch when youngest baby parrot is about 9-10 days old & elder one should be around 16-17 days.

At starting days all parrot chicks require 4 to 5 feedings in a day. We need to use high nutritional ‘hand raising formula’. The batter (hand raising formula) should have 103oF to 105oF of  temperature. It should not be overheated to avoid throat damage / life damage. The temperature of the brooder and the formula are very important. Low temperatures also can cause the crop to shut down. Featherless babies cannot regulate their body temperature hence cannot digest cool formula.

The most important thing is hygiene. The place, feeding equipment must be cleaned to avoid bacterial / fungal infection because baby’s immune system is not so strong at this stage.   

Droppings produced by a chick are best indicators of its health, the stage of development, it helps to detect early signs of health issues.

Keeping  accurate records of weight gain, temperature, formula and feeding procedure helps you gain experience of each species and helps to raise same birds easily next time.

Some important tips for hand feeding

Ø  Prepare a fresh batch of hand-feeding formula for each feeding. Bacteria quickly proliferate. Don’t be tempted to save leftover formula.

Ø  Place the bird on an easy-to-grip surface, such as a towel or dishcloth.

Ø  Gently grip the bird’s head from behind, stretching the neck ever so slightly and steadying the lower beak with a finger or thumb.

Ø  Release the food slowly. Do not flood the beak.

Ø  Feeding quantity and frequency depends on the age and size of the bird. 

Ø  Smaller species and very young birds require more frequent feedings.

Ø  The second- and third-week chicks grow rapidly & require more food but don’t overfeed bird.

Ø  The crop should feel full after feeding but should empty within three to four hours.

Ø  Temperature of brooder  depending on Chicks age, will need to be kept between 26°C and 37°C. 

Ø  The younger the chick, the warmer it needs to be. 

Ø  Exact temperatures are dependent on many external factors (such as the species of bird, number of chicks, place weather / temperature etc), however the following temperature range  can give you general idea:

o   Day 1 to 5 – temperature can be around 36°C

o   Day 5 to 10 - temperature can be around 35°C

o   10 days onwards they have enough feathers & are not completely featherless - 33°C is recommended.

o   While they have mostly down feathers - temperature can be around 29-32°C

o   When feathers are all over the wings, head and partially on breast - 26-28°C is recommended.

Ø  Needless  Syringe also helps in feeding bird but need to be employed carefully.

Ø  When the feathers cover wings and chest, chicks can be moved into a cage. 

Ø  Put a low perch in so that it can start learning how to perch. 

Ø  Provide a small dish with suitable size of pellets, some fresh fruit and vegetables are also good option.

Ø  Sprouted seeds is proven to be full of nutritious food for baby’s growth. Keep in mind that chicks will still need feeding 3 or 4 times a day at this age.

Ø  Always contact your veterinarian immediately if you see any abnormal sign.

Best of luck & have cheerful experience of hand raising your own baby.


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