Handfeeding Unweaned Birds

When someone hears the term, handfeeding, many times they think it means getting birds to eat seeds or pellets out of their hand. If you are one of these people, you may be surprised to find out what handfeeding really is. It is the process of feeding a soft diet to a baby bird who is unable to feed itself. While some breeders may prepare their own handfeeding formulas, many others use a formula that is developed especially for baby birds.

Baby birds that are raised by parents will not be as good for pets as handfed ones. Handfeeding baby birds is a huge undertaking and is also a huge time commitment. Many people compare it to raising children, especially when they are babies. Just like a newborn infant, the bird relies solely on you for it’s feedings, even if it means sacrificing your sleep to get up in the middle of the night.

Being a bird breeder and being a new parent are similar in a lot of ways. In the case of bird breeders though, the baby might be as tiny as your thumbnail. In some ways, bird breeding is more difficult, because there are always new babies to raise. Parents of human children get a break once their children grow older. Saving an abandoned one day old baby bird often requires feeding every two hours around the clock until it is a week old.

Many times your first experience with handfeeding will be when you are feeding you new six or eight week old baby bird. Others are forced to learn handfeeding when trying to save a clutch of abandoned newborns. Some people may not have had the opportunity to be instructed on the techniques and equipment to do it properly. Sometimes your local pet store can give you a brief rundown, but that still might not be enough.

The equipment you’ll need for handfeeding your bird is relatively easy to acquire. A brooder, a handfeeding syringe, formula, a cooking thermometer, and bedding material, as well as a method of mixing and heating the formula are the things that you will need. If need be, it is easy to make your own brooder, since many of us don’t have one on hand. All you need to do this is and aquarium or some type of plastic pet cage and a heating pad with a low setting.

First, find a place to put the heating pad that is free from drafts. Set the pad on low and check it in approximately fifteen minutes. If the pad is not too hot, place the aquarium on top of it. Leave part of the aquarium off of the pad to provide a cool spot for the bird to retreat to. The last step is to line the bottom with paper towels or some type of cloth.

Once you have all the equipment and everything is set up properly, it’s time to begin handfeeding. Two things should always be kept in mind:

1. Your bird’s esophagus is on his right side, which means this is the side you should squirt the food in. Food that is given on the left side of his mouth could get into his lungs.

2. The temperature of the formula that you feed the bird should be closely monitored. Make sure it stays between 102 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit so it is not too hot or too cold.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when mixing your handfeeding formula. You’ll want it to have the consistency of pudding that is slightly runny. Make sure the formula is heated properly. You risk injury to your bird if it is too hot. Put a paper towel on the table and place the bird on the paper towel facing you. Fill the syringe with formula, making sure no air bubbles get in it. Place the syringe in your right hand, then position the bird’s head so the mouth is pointing to the left.

Only squeeze a small amount of formula into the mouth at a time. Make sure the bird has swallowed what’s in his mouth before giving him more. Overfeeding should be avoided. Newborns will not be able to move away when they are full like some older ones will. In this case, feel the crop and see if it feel like it is getting full. It should feel firm, but not overly so. If it is too firm you are possibly overfeeding the bird.

Place your bird back in the brooder when feeding is complete. If less than a week old, you will need to feed him every two hours. As your bird gets older, he will need fewer feedings. At two weeks, four feeding are recommended, and at four weeks this number drops to three. Many of the larger species of parrots require handfeeding up to twelve weeks of age, so don’t be in a hurry to wean them.

More Articles on Basic Bird Care: