My baby is being a turkey. He has refused two normal feedings. When you try to put your fingers on the side of his mouth he turns his head and backs up and is a general brat about the whole thing. If I just stick the syringe to his mouth and squeeze a little in he will take it but of course from the wrong side of the mouth or straight on.
He is 5 weeks old and he has been eating a little pellet and likes fresh veggies but he is not eating enough for living. He really got his flight going this week and I know that is part of it "being Mr. Independence" but I am worried about him. I guess he will eat when he is hungry. I know he is not sick- his poop is good and every chance I give him he goes zooming farther and farther with his flying. I am just waiting for that landing to get better so I can clip his wings.
He is like a kid with a new toy on this flying business. He doesn't want to be held or cuddled.... just fly.. fly fly fly fly! I know it is fun but gosh- give me a little mommy time why don't ya. It is so hard when the baby stage passes.
Last edited by Peachykeen on Sat May 03, 2008 3:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Your fledging wants to lose some weight that's why he's eating less.
It's a hindrance to his new found joy which is FLIGHT.
Let him master the art of flying so he becomes a more confident bird
before you cut short the ecstasy by wing clipping.
He still gives me a bit of trouble for eating. We let him flight till his heart was content. We were finding a hard place for him that was safe. There is always somewhere to fall of land where you are not suppose to.
He has simmered down. He got his landing down pretty good.... good enough to evade capture- so we took two primary flight feathers from each side and he has enough lift to get about 4 feet off the ground and go about 10 feet. It help a lot where my nerves were concerned. I wanted him to be able to free fly but with three kids who don't always consider the birdies.... I just could risk him getting out since it is summer and they are constantly going in and out.
He is acting more like himself. Back to cuddly bug with the trim...
DIFFERENT BIRD- same clutch-
Let me ask you all this... have you ever had a "mentally challenged" bird before.. Poor baby has a serious short term memory issue and she still has not flown. She flaps... but I think it will be a while before she flies. She has her basic skills- eating- thats it.. if I take one of the birds away for an hour- I swears she forgets who they are and freaks out when they come back. Two seconds later she is fine. She strikes every time I put my hand in the cage and attacks her toys like she can't remember that they were there not two seconds ago. It is very interesting. I know she is a few bricks shy of a full load. Has anyone else ever has a bird in the clutch that was "special"
i think he is not big enough to be Mr. Independence if he is 5 week old.hehe..
my tnago cant even stand up properly and still have to be in fishtank when he is 5 week old...hehe...
let him try all sort of food, pellet, seed, and veg and fruit...that way, it is less likely for him to be picky eater...
but make sure he eat enough( own or hanfeed)
guys, if i offend you in any way, please let me know....don't keep it to yourself....okay.tango is FE-male.............
He is doing great on being curious about other food like fruit and veggies and his pellets. I guess I have just become (myself) dependent on the fact that I have been the one feeding him that I am having to make an adjustment too.
I put them in the tank at night to sleep still. They stay in the cage during the day- well on the cage or on someones shoulder- but they are not in the tank except at night. I have one that will not perch often (the Lutino) but she will. She is my best independent eater and hand feeder. She doesn't care where the food comes from as long as she is eating. Got to love her for that.
I have three from the clutch here and they all are starting to refuse food as they get interested in flying. So... I know it is the natural progression of things. It is just a milestone for all of us I guess
