New Babies? What to do?

[MabesM]

Hello Peeps!!

As some of you already know... my Greys (Gracie & George) have 3 eggs... they are proven breeders and are approximately 25 years old...

My question's are the following:

1)When can i check viability?  
2)When do I start to wean them?
3)What do i keep the wee babies in after they are removed from the nest box?
4)Can they be kept together in a cage?
5) How long does it really take to wean them?
6)What should they be fed?

Thanks once again... Way In Advance!

[Laura]

Definitely questions for Danyaals. I know NOTHING about breeding them. 

[MabesM]

DANYAALS!!! WHERE ARE YOU??? 

[linzy]

um....

Well...

1) What do you mean? Candle them?? Um I dunno - id say dont as it might cause a bit of stess and scars

2)they usually are weaned by 14 weks but some can be late ones and some could be early ones. The best way to wean is abundance weaning. That is still give feeds until the baby rejects them and at the same time leave alot of food like fruit and veg ect about. Im not sure but I thibk you introduce them to the fruit n veg n food well before they want to eat them so they can pick at them ect. and learn it is food and all. Like around 7 - 9 weeks?

3) People keep there babys with the parents all different times. I think for you 3 weeks or longer would be best as it gets easier as the beby gets older. When you pull them, you kepp em in a brooder or in a tank/aquarium with a heat pad under it. Or just in a warm place. Again im not sure lol but I do know it needs to be warm enough or they cant digest there food right wuch causes problems with the crop.

4) Yea Ithink so    Until they are big enough to not be hand fed id think youd have anuther cage so they can choose if they want to stay together.

5)Baby parrot formula    I think the kaytee exact or something is really good.


Il be back with links! 

Linzy xx

[karine]

When were the eggs hatched? I hope you have added Calcium supplements to the soft food your breeding pair eat? I guess one name is Neo-Calglucon(one-quarter teaspoon) and should be given UNTIL 2 WEEKS AFTER the last egg is layed. When they are feeding the babies, no extra calcium should be fed (hazardous to babies).

[karine]

When the eggs hatch (around 27 days), make sure you provide the parents with an over abundance of soft foods ( at 8/9am, 3pm, and 9pm). An hour before the lights go out, another bowl of food that won't spoil by morning should be offered such as sweet corn, sprouts, fresh fruits, and veggies. Sprinkle all the soft foods with Wheatgrass and provide unlimited Pellets. The birds will gorge themselves shortly before lights out and feed the babies during the night. They will finish off the rest of the food in the morning.

I have never raised baby birds but I am taking the infos from the book : "For The Love Of Greys" by Bobbi Brinker.

That should help you until Danyall gives you more infos as he has raised baby greys before.

PS: I think the babies stay with the parents for 2 or 3 weeks.

[angela13rl]

1. You can candle and egg after the first week. That depends on the parents.

2. You usually pull the babies from the nest between 2 and 3 weeks. You introduce soft foods at about 6 weeks of age. Most greys wean at about 16 to 20 weeks if they are allowed to wean on their own and not forced.

3. You will need to use a brooder. You can make one out of a rubbermaid type container with a heat pad on the bottom lined with newspaper. I keep them in rubbermaid container in a glass bowl lined with a baby receiving blanket with paper towel. You will have to change the paper often.

4.Yes keep all the babies together if will give them comfort and warmth being together.

5.I use Katee handfeeding formula. If you have never handfed before I would STONGLY suggest finding a vet or local breeder that would be willing to teach you prior to pulling your babies. If you don't have the right thickness, temperature, and technique you can kill them very easily. If not I would let the parents raise them.

Angela

[MabesM]

WOW! Thank you all so much for the info... i am going to print it all out later today... the eggs have NOT hatched yet... i was just trying to think ahead... plan it all out so i don't panic! i am so excited!

i have gotten a small aquarium to use as a bed and i have a heating pad... do i need heat lamps too? i also have a brand new cage for them...

it's the food i'm most concerned with... what if i can't find a breeder to show me? i'm sure i still have a week to 10 days left... i wrote down each eggs' delivery date and time as close as possible anyway!

[angela13rl]

It is really important to be shown first hand how to feed. But if you can't find anyone and you are not going to let them be parent raised here is a link to Katee's site. At the bottom there is a video of how to handfed. One thing I disagree with is the temperature part were they say you can check it on the back of your wrist. Always use a thermometer. I use a baby digital thermometer. I always keep my temperature of the formula between 105 and 107. It helps if you keep the cup of formula in a bowl of hot water or on a heat pad so that it stays the same temperature for all the babies to get feed. Check it before you feed the next baby. It cools quickly.
http://www.katee.com/companion_animals/birds/hand_feeding/#video

As long as you don't keep your house to cold then having just a heatpad is fine. With a light running on top it tends to make it to dry in the brooder. It is important to have a little humidity so the feathers can come in correctly. If it is to dry the baby will have stress marks on their feathers as they come in.
Angela

[angela13rl]

http://www.kaytee.com/companion_animals/birds/hand_feeding/

The one I posted isn't the right one. Let me try again.lol

[MabesM]

You Rock Angel! thanks so much!

i will try to find a breeder near me... 

[linzy]

http://www.hilltopanimalhospital.com/hand%20raising%20birds.htm


http://www.parrotparrot.com/lovebirds/handfeed.htm - this one has some videos 


http://www.parrothatch.com/handfeeding.html I like this one


http://www.lafeber.com/products/feeding_instructions.asp


http://www.parrot-link.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=24 - this is on a busy parrot forum


Hope these help!

And I want you to pay me! By sending lots of piccies! 

Linzy xx
 

[MabesM]

I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW I LOVE THE ***WEE LOOPY LINZEY!!***

[linzy]

I love yhuuz 2! 

Loopy Linzy xx

[karine]

Hey!!!! Get a room!!!!!