handfeeding young chick

Question
Hi its me again..I tried to get to your site and it went somewhere else. And this is the only way I know how to contact you so far.

All the eggs hatched the 6th being born the 26th of may...But sadly the 6th did not survive. It seemed it was pecked to death or something as from the neck down was torn. As for the 5th well..its tiny compared to the other 4 as it was born the 24th of May. Adn twice I've seen away from the pile of four (I've started calling them the pile). I just checked on them and the 5th is trying to get in the pile to get warm.

I'm nervous that the mom or the dad might not feed it and focus more on the pile. I've been told I can get some baby bird formula from Petco or Petsmart. And that I can use an eyedropper to insert watery formula in the gullet..

but how often do I feed the baby? and the baby is four days old so far so I'm wondering how will i be able to handle something so tiny AND getting an eyedropper in..I mean i dont want to hurt it  =/

Answer
Hi, Courtney.

It is not unusual to lose 1 or 2 babies from a clutch of 6.  Being the last eggs to be laid and hatch, these are usually the smaller of the chicks.  When parent birds don't feed some of the babies and/or when you see babies moved to the side of the others, this often indicates there is something wrong with these babies.  Parents know when their babies are ill and act accordingly....this is just how Mother Nature works.  With a large clutch, sometimes the oldest hatchlings are the ones that get feed first, so it's important that the human owner be knowledgeable enough to step in, like you are attempting to do here.

Yes, purchase some baby parrot handfeeding formula.  I use Kaytee Exact, but there are other brands available.  Also try to buy a handfeeding syringe at the same place you buy the handfeeding formula.  If they don't have any, you can use an eyedropper.  Follow the directions on the back of the package for mixing....formula has to be 102-105 degrees F when FED to the baby....not when finished mixing, so you have to be able to keep the formula hot.  Remove the baby carefully from the nesting box and handfeed it (and perhaps a couple other of the smaller babies) about 2 times per day to start then put the baby back with the parents.  See how the baby does with 2 feedings....decrease or add feedings depending on how the baby is doing.  If you don't know how to handfeed, you could aspirate babies....read the information on my website about handfeeding.  www.angelfire.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html

When you handfeed a baby this small, drop 1 drop at a time in the mouth and allow the baby to swallow it.  Prior to feeding, rub the babies beak in order to get a feeding response (feeding response will be the baby bobbing its head/neck up and down quickly).  The feeding response will help keep the baby from aspirating.

Chrys