BABY BIRD

Tweets · Post by **Tweets** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 3:00 am

Hey guys..
I got a baby IRN 2 Sundays ago..
TOTALLY adorable!!
just got a quick question - how and when do I start weening kiwi?
Also, she still likes to burrow into her blankie.. and likes to be under covers even tho its very hot outside.. Is this normal?
When will it be a "safe" age to put her in a cage? I dont want to leave her alone with Skye tho.. Last night, Skye was on my shoulder and kiwi on my chest..
Skye started making hissing noises at kiwi..
I try to give them both equal amounts of attention, but I guess it's kinda hard to explain that all to a bird.. especially when they have been the ONLY bird in the house for 2 years.. now this change..

Any help/tips will be HUGELY appreciated!!

**hugs from Sami, Skye and Kiwi**

Mikaela · Post by **Mikaela** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 5:44 am

Your baby will ween himself. You will try to feed it one day and he will refuse it. Atleast that has been my experience. It saddened me when my girls did that because I enjoyed the feedings. But, from my expericence, they ween by themselves and refuse hand feedings. Thereby, making them weened.

Now is a safe time to cage your bird however I would NOT cage my birds together. Why? Because they will bond together and leave you out in the cold. So, plan on getting a different cage. Make sure the bar spacing is no more than a half an inch for obvious reasons. Buy the biggest you can afford because with Irns (because of their tail) bigger is better. You can make it appear smaller by putting in many ladders arranged different ways. I'll show you how I had my Babys cage when she was 4 weeks if you'd like.

You're doing great!

Tweets · Post by **Tweets** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 6:12 am

Thanks for that Mikaela..
I really appreciate your reply..
The only thing im concerned about is the fact that I hate caging birds - or any animal for that matter..
Skye has a cage that has her food and water, but the door is permanently open - she also has a tree that my dad and I made for her.. It touches the cage, so she is able to walk around there too.. she never goes onto the floor or anything like that.. she is much happier UNcaged..
so I dont want to have to cage this one

also, how do I get my other bird used to this one?
I think skye is jealous of the new baby (kiwi).. last night skye was hissing at kiwi

I dont want to do anything wrong.. grrrr

p.s. when kiwi decides she doesnt want hand rearing food anymore, what food should I give her? I cant remember any of this stuff from when my other birdie was a baby.. lol..

Melika · Post by **Melika** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:34 pm

When your baby begins feathering in, offer her soft veggies and fruits when you bring her out for handfeeding (after or before feeding), and also in her cage. At first she'll just nibble them and chew them to bits like toys but eventually will like the taste and eat them. I found that Hane and Tsume would take anything from our hands, which is what they were used to food coming from. ^_^

Tweets · Post by **Tweets** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 11:26 am

Thats a great idea.. thank you so so much!!

Melika · Post by **Melika** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 9:33 pm

Offering everything you can think of later on, when it's time for them to begin flying and finish weaning, is called abundance weaning. You give them lots of choices so they get a taste of everything when young, even pellets. So when they're older, you won't have a hard time getting them to eat something new.

Oh, warm mashed sweet potato might be tasty to them too. ^_^

Mikaela · Post by **Mikaela** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 5:02 am

Melika:

I offered Baby a spoon with peanut butter on it last night and she held that thing and licked on it for hoooours, it was so cute! I know peanuts arent good but is peanut butter, in moderation cool? I have never heard otherwise.

Melika · Post by **Melika** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 10:54 pm

Peanuts aren't bad.

In-the-shell peanuts, however, can (but not always) contain a mold that could be deadly.
http://indianringneck.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=82

The best peanut butter would be the organic kind with nothing added that you have to stir before using, lol. ^_^