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Sometimes we end up in the position of hand raising a single budgie chick on their own. In this situation you will run into a number of additional things to consider, and potential problems to be aware of or avoid.
What are some of the most common concerns and obsticles of raising a chick on its own, and what can you do to help the little one become a fully weaned and confident adult? Here are a few things we have experienced in hopes of helping others to raise a happy, healthy baby! |
Part of the "problem" is when she is in her cage all she does is hang in the corner begging to come out. So she isn't even thinking of investigating things, she just wants out. And when she is out she doesn't want to investigate things, just sit with me.
If that is the case then you just need to set some rules for her and inforce them If she is used to getting out whenever she wants then you just need to show her that that will no longer work.
She cant put up a fuss forever as it takes alot of energy, so once she is calm and not begging to come out, even if that is just for a second, get her out even if it is only for a few minutes. And the same only reversed, if she is putting up a fuss wanting to come out she stays in the cage.
They catch on very quickly that the old ways of getting out dont work and it will get better, and once she realizes that she cant just be out 24/7 when she wants too, she will settle down in her cage and things can progress with her weaning
Limit her times out to a certian number a day and stick to it. By keeping her out all of the time and not letting her be used to being on her own will only hinder her weaning, if not make it almost impossible.
That is what budgie parents naturally do, they dont spend every second with the baby, even if the are begging for food and such they fly away from them, and let them explore and try new things from a safe distance from them where they keep a close eye out. The cage is that spot for Didge as she learns how to feed herself, she needs that time even if she does not realize it, even if you are home and she could technically be out
It might help too when she is putting up a fuss to cover her cage with a light sheet so she focuses on her cage instead of what is outside of it. And what is in her cage? Lots of food!
Does that make sence?
If that is the case then you just need to set some rules for her and inforce them If she is used to getting out whenever she wants then you just need to show her that that will no longer work.
She cant put up a fuss forever as it takes alot of energy, so once she is calm and not begging to come out, even if that is just for a second, get her out even if it is only for a few minutes. And the same only reversed, if she is putting up a fuss wanting to come out she stays in the cage.
They catch on very quickly that the old ways of getting out dont work and it will get better, and once she realizes that she cant just be out 24/7 when she wants too, she will settle down in her cage and things can progress with her weaning
Limit her times out to a certian number a day and stick to it. By keeping her out all of the time and not letting her be used to being on her own will only hinder her weaning, if not make it almost impossible.
That is what budgie parents naturally do, they dont spend every second with the baby, even if the are begging for food and such they fly away from them, and let them explore and try new things from a safe distance from them where they keep a close eye out. The cage is that spot for Didge as she learns how to feed herself, she needs that time even if she does not realize it, even if you are home and she could technically be out
It might help too when she is putting up a fuss to cover her cage with a light sheet so she focuses on her cage instead of what is outside of it. And what is in her cage? Lots of food!
Does that make sence?
I have had a few babies that were Didges age that were especially stubborn and still wanting feedings at her age, she is not the only one to do this The important thing to remember is that even though it is frusturating, Didge doesnt know what she should be doing right now by parakeet standards haha You just need to work with her natural instincts to wean, which all babies have even if they are being stubborn!
When do you offer foods to Didge? I know it might sound wierd but when they are the fullest they eat the most food... I dont know if anyone has told you that? But right after her morning feeding is when you want to have lots of things for her to try to eat. Having them in shallow wide dishes on the floor is what I have found gets them interested in it the most, since they can see it easily and its is not hard to reach like this
When do you offer foods to Didge? I know it might sound wierd but when they are the fullest they eat the most food... I dont know if anyone has told you that? But right after her morning feeding is when you want to have lots of things for her to try to eat. Having them in shallow wide dishes on the floor is what I have found gets them interested in it the most, since they can see it easily and its is not hard to reach like this
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Oh yes, she has foods available to her all the time. After I feed her in the morning I put her on the couch with me and put her foods next to me. I play with the food, pretend to eat it, and nada. Every time we take her out I make sure we have foods available to offer her as well. When she is in her cage I out the same foods in with her....nothing. She does have a dish of water but she doesn't drink. I do know she can crack seeds, but I don't have seeds in her cage, just pellets and her other foods. I will try mixing the seeds and pellets like you suggested.
I very rarely have babies eat food when they are out with me, they usually just want to play and explore. At that important time right after she has just eaten and is in a good exploring mood it would be best to let her stay in her cage with food to try. I would focus on giving her some seeds and mashed hard boiled eggs with some shredded carrots(seperate dishes) to begin with until you see her eating those things as they are basics, as you are just trying to get her used to feeding herself. The egg food will give her lots of good nutrients that the seeds wont have to begin with
Its not important to give her a bunch of different things at once and make it difficult for yourself, having a bunch to prepare and put in, just have one or 2 things each morning and in there at a time that she can get used to
Maybe it would be best to just try and give her mostly seeds until she is eating more on her own, as they always take to the seeds better than pellets, then just reduce the pellets and seeds until she is just on the pellets There is noting wrong with doing it that way aslong as you switch her over to just the pellets when she is weaned, that is what I do with all of my stubborn one
I very rarely have babies eat food when they are out with me, they usually just want to play and explore. At that important time right after she has just eaten and is in a good exploring mood it would be best to let her stay in her cage with food to try. I would focus on giving her some seeds and mashed hard boiled eggs with some shredded carrots(seperate dishes) to begin with until you see her eating those things as they are basics, as you are just trying to get her used to feeding herself. The egg food will give her lots of good nutrients that the seeds wont have to begin with
Its not important to give her a bunch of different things at once and make it difficult for yourself, having a bunch to prepare and put in, just have one or 2 things each morning and in there at a time that she can get used to
Maybe it would be best to just try and give her mostly seeds until she is eating more on her own, as they always take to the seeds better than pellets, then just reduce the pellets and seeds until she is just on the pellets There is noting wrong with doing it that way aslong as you switch her over to just the pellets when she is weaned, that is what I do with all of my stubborn one
I don't know what I am doing wrong but Didge has absolutely no interest in weaning. I've been doing exactly what everyone has suggested and still nothing. She won't even look at foods. She won't play with toys no matter how many times I've played with them with her. If it is in her cage she completely ignores it. For example she does like millet and I have a piece in her hanging in her cage. She ignores it, but if I take it out she pounces on it. But even when she is out of her cage and I offer her other foods she ignores them. I take toys out of her cage and she may play with it for a minute or two but then ignores the toys. I've been leaving her in her cage longer, usually just taking her out for an hour or so in the morning and then out again in the evening, hoping that the longer time in her cage would encourage to investigate but it doesn't. I just don't know what I'm wrong.
Don't worry! hand fed babies always take longer to wean than parent raised ones, especially so when they don't have siblings to encourage them to try things. And many babies don't play with toys until they get a little older too, again it is harder sinc3e she is a lone baby but don't worry she will Can I ask afew questions?
How old is Didge now?
How many feedings is she on? At what times?
What kind of foods have you been offering her? And how have you been offering them?
Didge is about 6 weeks old now. She is on a regular two feedings a day, one in the morning and then one right before bed. Occasionally she will want a feed in the afternoon. I've been offering her veggies, tried cut all different ways. I've made cooked foods for her, I bought several varieties of Beak Appetite. I try mixing her foods with some seed, nothing. Tried mixing her pellets, seed and cook mix together, nothing. I put the foods is her food dishes, nothing. On a small paper plate, nothing. On a paper towel, nothing. I pretend to eat her food, nothing. I offer her foods off her feeding spoon, nothing.
Originally Posted by Oceana's Mom View Post
I have two suggestions:
1.Maybe you could put her formula in a seed dish in the cage. Is it possible for her to eat the formula without you feeding her?
2. Bring her out for a feeding (spoon and all) but don't give her anything. Then put her back in the cage hungry.
Maybe she's not eating regular food cause she's not hungry enough. Well that's my thoughts.
While that might seem logical to us humans To a baby budgie it does not help unfortunatly
The problem is not giving her the formula, she just needs to try new foods and get used to them and then she will nolonger need the formula at all and will refuse to eat it even when it is offered to her
Leaving a baby hungry will only make them depressed and lathargic and not inclined to do anything but beg for more food as they can only think about being hungry. Never leave a baby starving hoping it will eat something, because they wont, they will only loose weight and get weak
When they are full and happy is when they try new foods and that is what helps them to wean
Originally Posted by EvaC. View Post
What type of pellets do you give her?
Originally Posted by EvaC. View Post
I am giving her the Roudybush crumbles. I will try it your way since mine is obviously not working.
Your way is working since she is down to only 2 feedings a day! She must be eating some food to be on that, she is just sneeking it when mom is not around
Keep up the good work! You are at the budgie raising finishing line
I have never used that kind although I have heard it is a great brand Just a suggestion though or another option just to get her on pellets, if she takes a liking to seed like I think she will and does not like the crumbles you can try zupreme natural for parakeets, it is almost the exact same size and shape as a millet seed and mine take right to it
Please let us know how she is doing with it the next few days and if it is helping
Don't worry! hand fed babies always take longer to wean than parent raised ones, especially so when they don't have siblings to encourage them to try things. And many babies don't play with toys until they get a little older too, again it is harder sinc3e she is a lone baby but don't worry she will Can I ask afew questions?
How old is Didge now?
How many feedings is she on? At what times?
What kind of foods have you been offering her? And how have you been offering them?
Didge is about 6 weeks old now. She is on a regular two feedings a day, one in the morning and then one right before bed. Occasionally she will want a feed in the afternoon. I've been offering her veggies, tried cut all different ways. I've made cooked foods for her, I bought several varieties of Beak Appetite. I try mixing her foods with some seed, nothing. Tried mixing her pellets, seed and cook mix together, nothing. I put the foods is her food dishes, nothing. On a small paper plate, nothing. On a paper towel, nothing. I pretend to eat her food, nothing. I offer her foods off her feeding spoon, nothing.
Originally Posted by Oceana's Mom View Post
I have two suggestions:
1.Maybe you could put her formula in a seed dish in the cage. Is it possible for her to eat the formula without you feeding her?
2. Bring her out for a feeding (spoon and all) but don't give her anything. Then put her back in the cage hungry.
Maybe she's not eating regular food cause she's not hungry enough. Well that's my thoughts.
While that might seem logical to us humans To a baby budgie it does not help unfortunatly
The problem is not giving her the formula, she just needs to try new foods and get used to them and then she will nolonger need the formula at all and will refuse to eat it even when it is offered to her
Leaving a baby hungry will only make them depressed and lathargic and not inclined to do anything but beg for more food as they can only think about being hungry. Never leave a baby starving hoping it will eat something, because they wont, they will only loose weight and get weak
When they are full and happy is when they try new foods and that is what helps them to wean
Originally Posted by EvaC. View Post
What type of pellets do you give her?
Originally Posted by EvaC. View Post
I am giving her the Roudybush crumbles. I will try it your way since mine is obviously not working.
Your way is working since she is down to only 2 feedings a day! She must be eating some food to be on that, she is just sneeking it when mom is not around
Keep up the good work! You are at the budgie raising finishing line
I have never used that kind although I have heard it is a great brand Just a suggestion though or another option just to get her on pellets, if she takes a liking to seed like I think she will and does not like the crumbles you can try zupreme natural for parakeets, it is almost the exact same size and shape as a millet seed and mine take right to it
Please let us know how she is doing with it the next few days and if it is helping
