Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine. Handfeeding Parrots: Cornerstone to a Good Pet Bird

Why handfeeding a parrot makes a good pet bird. The dangers of buying an unweaned bird.

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Pet Bird
Magazine, Ezine

January 1997 Magazine

Topic II - Handfeeding Parrots: Cornerstone to a Good Pet Bird

HANDFEEDING PARROTS

Cornerstone to a Good Pet Bird

by Bobbi Brinker

Signs of trouble - Lack of feeding response, respiratory sounds, slight aspiration, delayed crop emptying, restless or lethargic babies, lack of weight gain are just a few symptoms of trouble. These indicators require prompt action if the baby is to be saved. With babies in trouble, the first system that shuts down is the digestive system. Very close attention must be paid to the slightest clue that the digestive system is not performing as it should be.

Lack of proper weight gain is an important signal of trouble. An experienced person knows how much weight gain to expect. If a baby is not gaining as he should, he may need more frequent feedings or a different formula. Or this may be indicative of another serious problem.
Crop burn - Improperly heated formula can have hot spots. Babies will eat scalding hot formula which can burn away the esophagus and/or the crop. If the burn is very serious, the baby will die. Some burns can be treated by implanting a feeding tube in the crop, but the esophagus must be intact for the bird to live after the tube is removed.

Some crop burns will make a fistula to the outside of the body. If the burned area is small, the baby often can be saved by cutting away the dead crop area and stitching it together, leaving a smaller but functional crop. This has to be watched very carefully by an avian vet as the flesh often continues to die.
Crop stasis - The temperature of the brooder and the formula are very important. Low temperatures can cause the crop to shut down. Unfeathered babies cannot regulate their body temperatures and don't have the reserves to heat cool or cold formula up to digestion temperature. When this happens the crop doesn't empty. Formula that sits in the warm environment of the crop can sour or become contaminated from the small number of impurities in the handfeeding formula. The formula powder is not sterile. Often the body will draw on the fluid in the formula to hydrate the body and the food can get compacted in the crop. Delayed emptying of the crop is very serious and needs immediate attention.

Bacterial, fungal and yeast infections can also cause a crop to stop emptying. Everything that touches or is in contact with a baby must be clean. Babies pick up gram positive bacteria from the environment - the handfeeder's responsibility is to make sure they don't pick up gram negative bacteria, yeast or fungal spores. Babies don't have the reserves, or a fully competent immune system, to be able to ward off these contaminants.
Aspiration - This occurs when large or small amounts of formula enter the baby's lungs. When the babies aren't given time to swallow or the mouth is flooded, aspiration is a real possibility. Care must be taken with the very liquid formula/water mixtures required by neonates. If a small amount of formula is aspirated, the body may be able to encapsulate it and wall it off from the rest of the body. If the amount of formula aspirated is large, the baby will die immediately - there is no treatment.
Beak Deformities - It is possible to cause a deviation unless careful attention is paid to avoid pressure of the feeding implement against the chick's beak. By far the more usual cause of lateral deviation or compression deformities occurs from faulty technique.

Too much pressure in wiping the beak can cause it to deviate from true. Often one can see the indentations or compression deformities when a thumb and forefinger are used to clean the bottom beak.
Poor socialization - The experienced handfeeder knows how important very early socialization is and will take care that the babies are kept warm, safe, secure. A novice might think that because the babies are very young or blind, they aren't aware of the handling they receive. But they are - and at a younger age than one would ever think. Blind babies especially need a reassuring touch. They frighten easily. A gentle touch is required for all babies, but the very young are quite responsive to a soft voice and a tender hand.
When and How to Wean - The experienced handfeeder watches very carefully for the first sign that the baby will respond to the weaning foods and is ready to begin the long process of weaning. Weaning is a process, not an event. There is a window of opportunity and age, around 6 weeks for the larger birds, when the baby will explore low heavy bowls of brightly colored or interesting foods. If the baby is accustomed to seeing food from a very early age, he will be drawn to the weaning foods naturally, without stress or fear. Early Unforced Weaning is the proper way to wean a bird. It relies on the natural instincts of the bird, promotes trust and security and prevents food related behavioral problems such as chronic begging, picky eating, whining, restlessness and insecurity. A properly weaned bird is calm, trusting, a good eater, and self confident. He understands and responds appropriately to humans and to his environment.

The beginning of the weaning period varies widely among species. As a general rule, the smaller the species, the sooner they wean. All babies are individuals and wean slightly differently from each other, even from their clutchmates. If these differences aren't accommodated, the chick's behavior and demeanor can be adversely affected. His suitability as a companion bird can be impaired by forcing him to wean before he is emotionally ready.

If this window is missed, the bird's attitude toward food, his emotional development and his natural progression to food-independence will be retarded. Dr. Branson Ritchie, well known avian vet states that, "Early unforced weaning is a sign of a physically and emotionally healthy bird".
Health Guarantee - The health of an unweaned bird can't be guaranteed. Most sellers of unweaned birds will give the buyer a short time to have the bird vet checked. But, some of the tests are meaningless when done on a baby still handfeeding. Test values for babies are significantly different than for adults - this makes the use of an avian vet even more important.

A baby must be 5-6 weeks old to be screened for PBFD. He must be 35-40 days old before the first shot of the vaccination for polyoma can be given. The screen and the vaccination can protect the buyer from an emotional and financial disaster.

Handfeeding, socialization and weaning leave a mark on a bird forever. They affect him the rest of his life. It is almost impossible to separate the three.

Buy a weaned, screened, vaccinated baby bird who was weaned abundantly and intensively socialized. If the seller won't do these things, find one who will. Buy your baby bird from a quality breeder or pet store. Don't accept less - you and your baby bird deserve the best.

Winged Wisdom Note: Bobbi Brinker owns Bobbi's Tropical Treasures, has been breeding birds for 10 years and is a founding member of ZAP (Zero Avian Polyomavirus). She is the Editor of The Avian Quarterly which is published in cooperation with Great Lakes Bird Lovers Club.

Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine
A pet bird ezine, pet bird e-zine, for pet parrots & exotic birds.
Articles on the care & breeding of pet birds, pet parrots & exotic birds

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Why handfeeding a parrot makes a good pet bird. The dangers of buying an unweaned bird.

Pet Bird Magazine, Ezine

HANDFEEDING PARROTSCornerstone to a Good Pet Bird

Winged Wisdom Pet Bird MagazineA pet bird ezine, pet bird e-zine, for pet parrots & exotic birds. Articles on the care & breeding of pet birds, pet parrots & exotic birds

Why handfeeding your parrot makes a good pet bird and the dangers of handfeeding birds by a novice.

Pet Bird
Magazine, Ezine

HANDFEEDING PARROTS

Cornerstone to a Good Pet Bird

Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine
A pet bird ezine, pet bird e-zine, for pet parrots & exotic birds.
Articles on the care & breeding of pet birds, pet parrots & exotic birds