Help with an 18 week old baby please

[Bear]

Hi everyone, We have recently purchased an african grey who we were told is 18 weeks old. He was kept in an aquarium, no toys, with no opportunity to perch or climb. He also hadn't had the opportunity to fledge and doesn't have the best sense of balance! Since bringing him home 3 days ago he has been doing very well, learning to climb..although he finds up much easier than down!

 

The problem is we are worried about his weaning progress. The pet shop told us he is on 2 feeds of 4 10ml syringes of Av Plus (phase 2) a day, does this sound correct for a parrot of his age? We have been doing some reading and it seems a lot of birds his age are already weaned?

 

He is trying to figure out seeds and has a particular liking to peppers and beans, so is showing an interest in solid foods, however it is generally more trying to eat it than succeeding! He is a very sweet boy and seems happy in every way, loves his new toys and has plenty of time with us every day, we just want to make sure he is getting the best diet, and when to completely wean him off the porridge? Thank you in advance for any advice

[JillyBeanz]

Hi Bear - welcome to our family. That is a sad start to life for your baby - but luckily it hasn't been for long and you've got him now. Personally I wouldn't have purchased a bird that wasn't weaned, especially with no experience, but it's done now. Just to reassure you - there are some extremely knowledgeable members of this forum who are breeders who will be along soon to help you out (time difference - this is an international forum) - so don't worry when you don't get an "instant" answer - they're all still in bed!

 

Here in the UK it is illegal to sell unweaned birds - so luckily this decision is taken from our hands

 

Please also go and tell us a bit about yourself in our "Welcome Room" - and photos would be great if you have any (huge hint!!). Once again - welcome to you both x

[Bear]

Hi Jilly,

 

Thanks for the quick response Bear is eating very well (the syringe feed) so I'm not too worried on that score, just more as to when we should cut him down, or take him off it. Thankfully it is not tube feeding or anything as invasive, just squirting a syringe of the porridge into his mouth. He does not get 4 twice a day though, he has had enough after two and I have not been trying to force him to have more than he wants.

After his feed he goes straight to his bowls of mix/ fruits/ seeds and plays around in there, so he is definitely trying to eat them. Unfortunately as you say he did not have the best start. His tail feathers are a mess too thanks to him being on the ground his whole life in less than clean surroundings. He does seem very happy, settled in his cage and out, happily preens in front of us, comes to play, willingly wants to step onto our hands...I think he is glad to be finally getting some attention tbh. He is also vocalising, not noisy but little chirps when we talk to him

 

We have never had an African Grey before but do have lots of experience with animals (we run a game reserve and also have horses, dogs and various other animals who decide to choose us!) I'm definitely a sucker for a sad face, and Bear was in with two others who were picking on him, he was just in the corner with his head down, but since he came home he has been a different bird, loves his toys...and of course everything that is not his toy! We just want to do the best for him so thanks for the reassurance!

[judygram]

Hello Bear, please take a good read thru the nursery room for it is filled with some good advice on feeding and raising young greys. The age they wean varies so continue to hand feed him his porridge until he no longer wants it, he will let you know when he is ready.

 

The bird food room is where you will find lots of ideas and suggestions of what to offer him to eat, it seems he is interested in other foods so give him a wide variety, there is also a list of what you cannot feed to him as there are a few foods that are toxic to birds.

 

You have taken on quite a task but I agree that he was being kept in deplorable conditions, poor thing, but it seems like he is blossoming now and will continue to improve since he has come into a family that is providing what he needs and wants.

 

Do take Jill's suggestion of introducing yourself in the welcome room so you can tell us some more about yourself and Bear.

[Bear]

Hi Judy,

 

Thanks for the advice. He definitely seems a lot happier than when we first met him. He is practicing climbing a lot. The pet shop clipped him far too much though and his wings are pretty useless, so his balance is pretty bad, not helped of course by the fact he was kept in a fish tank in a busy pet shop, surrounded by other birds. I'm actually surprised at how quickly he has settled and how trusting he has been with us, after just two days he is stepping onto our hands, investigating anything we give him, and having 'chats' with us whenever we talk to him. We had been worried it would go the other way, particularly as he was being picked on and cowering in a corner when we saw him.

We are giving him a syringe whenever he seems hungry, he is having about 5-6 a day (10ml), but is trying the seeds and fruit/veg. He is very bright and happy in himself now so I think he is getting enough. I didn't want to take him off it if he wasn't ready, but after hearing conflicting advice regarding this I wanted to be sure it wasn't completely strange for him to still be on the porridge at 18 weeks.

 

Thanks again

[Jayd]

Welcome, don't worry about weaning him, let him wean himself, some birds take longer than others, our Spock took over 22 weeks, give him all he'll eat. Keep pellets and seeds in the cage 24/7, keep veggies changed and fresh.[assorted types] We call it "Abundance Feeding" make sure he always has more[!] then enough food. Danmcq and Dave007 and others will answer more...His feathers will grow back, and Greys are famous for being clumsy.

Thanks

Jayd

Edited April 17, 2010 by Jayd

[Bear]

Thanks Jay

 

He is letting us know when he is hungry by finger sucking, he is definitely tucking into his hard feed more today even, he just had seeds at the pet shop and I don't think he even know how to break a lot of them. His co-ordination has improved vastly just in these few days, from never perching to happily sitting on any of his perches. We are just hoping his feathers don't take too long to grow back, so sad seeing him trying to fly when he wants to go and see something in a certain direction, and he can't get any lift at all.

He did make a new friend today though...we have a tame bush squirrel who visits our house, Bear didn't know what to make of her, but once he realised she wasn't going to eat him he was fine. He will definitely meet a lot of different animals here. We are very happy with him and he is a little dude, I'm so happy that there isn't too much wrong and that we are on the right track now!

 

Thanks again