Hand Rearing

[Woodstock291]

Hello,

In three weeks i will be picking up two new little baby ringnecks. They will be four weeks old and ive never hand reared so young and without someone else having started them off first. I I need some advice on a feeding schedual and how to keep them warm etc.

I have experience hand rearing that was with my first IRN 5 years ago. Since then i have obtained another male ringnecks but he isnt people friendly i adopted him as a friend he is four years old. So looking for some adivce please please

Thanks

[ellieelectrons]

Hi

There is a great thread about handraising here:
http://www.indianringneck.com/forum/vie ... ?f=1&t=799

Good luck!

ellie.

[Melika]

At four weeks they'll have some feathering going on so that will help keep them warm.

Two ways:
We found these fantastic microwavable discs that can be reheated when needed
or
Plug in heating pad.

The important thing is to keep the babies away from draughts and to only put the heat under one side of their enclosure. That way if they're too warm, they move away from the heat. Too cold they can sit right on it. I like keeping baby birds covered from light- I figure the parents put babies in a dim hole for a reason. I used towels with paper towels layered on top to line the enclosure of choice so they can grip easily until they begin perching. Keep it all very clean and you should be good.

[saramccau]

hi there, its much easyer than you think. I use a click clack for the container, and i prefer to use a heat cord as the more you coil it the more heat you get, so you can have maybe one or two coils on the cool side so its not absolutely cold, and the rest of the cord on the other side for a warmer spot. When you first put the cord in, start with 2 peices of material (i use a cut up sheet 2 layers thick for each peice) and keep a very close eye on the chicks and temp for the first half an hour.. If it gets too hot keep adding sheets till it is the right temp. If the chicks are panting and/or restless it is too hot. When u find the right temp layer it with paper towel. I feed mine 3 times a day and i dont worry about the time... If i wake up early andd feed at 7, their last feed will be at 4, and if i give them there first feed at 10am i give them there last feed later in the night and so on.. As long as it is the right time in between feeds i dont think it matters imo. Also i found that my chicks chew on the blankets and there own droppings a lot, so i put one Trill Honey Stick apple and current flavour for budgies in with them, all of my ringnecks LOVE this one specific treat, and my birds of only four weeks will happily nibble on it instead of pooh. I think this helps with weaning too. Steralise your feeding utensils and keep the box clean. You will find that if urine reaches the heating implament it will evaporate it onto the box walls so make sure the bux is allways dry and urine free. And that is all! Good luck it really is an amazing experience ps get a heat cord off ebay search reptile heat cord