new here & have a weaning question
Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 10:15 am
Hello,
I'm new here, and had a few questions I was hoping someone out there
I just got my 1st IRN last Thursday, he/she is appx three months old. I have been hand feeding 10cc two times a day (as directed by bird dealer), in hopes that my baby will begin to nibble on more solids. So far, he'll only eat a banana and a few bites of millet on his own.While he was in his cage, he's was active and ended up wearing a spot out on his beak, I took him to an avian vet for a check up, and she said to place him in a plastic bin until he's weaned and his beak heals/hardens.
He HATES the bin, and has now broken off his longer tail feathers (Will they grow back? How long?)
He seems thin, and the vet said he was slightly underweight, but that was normal right before weaning. (How skinny do they get?!)
I don't want to do anything harmful, and I hate to see him losing weight and breaking feathers, does anyone have any suggestions?
I've tried cooked soft veggies, mango, corn, mashed up pellets... nothing.
Do they just "get it" and start eating eventually? I don't want to force it, and I'm worried he's too thin.
Also, when he's out with me or on his perch he puffs his feathers, then once I pet him or hold him they go down; I know puffed feathers can be a sign of sickness; but he is extremely active otherwise....???
I'm new here, and had a few questions I was hoping someone out there
I just got my 1st IRN last Thursday, he/she is appx three months old. I have been hand feeding 10cc two times a day (as directed by bird dealer), in hopes that my baby will begin to nibble on more solids. So far, he'll only eat a banana and a few bites of millet on his own.While he was in his cage, he's was active and ended up wearing a spot out on his beak, I took him to an avian vet for a check up, and she said to place him in a plastic bin until he's weaned and his beak heals/hardens.
He HATES the bin, and has now broken off his longer tail feathers (Will they grow back? How long?)
He seems thin, and the vet said he was slightly underweight, but that was normal right before weaning. (How skinny do they get?!)
I don't want to do anything harmful, and I hate to see him losing weight and breaking feathers, does anyone have any suggestions?
I've tried cooked soft veggies, mango, corn, mashed up pellets... nothing.
Do they just "get it" and start eating eventually? I don't want to force it, and I'm worried he's too thin.
Also, when he's out with me or on his perch he puffs his feathers, then once I pet him or hold him they go down; I know puffed feathers can be a sign of sickness; but he is extremely active otherwise....???