Hi!
I’ve been lurking here for months in preparation of adopting my eclectus, and am happy to be posting my first question!
I have a 6month old eclectus girl, Maeve, who is on the tail end of her weaning. I got her at 5 months from a reputable breeder. She was getting formula morning and evening when I brought her home, have kept her on the same formula and schedule. Maeve asks and she receives since I’m following the abundance method. We had no issue switching to me hand feeding her, and the breeder and I did it together before I took her home. I have some previous experience with hand feeding babies as a kid with my mom, but this is my first time doing it solo.
My question is about how she’s weaning- about 2 weeks ago she was over the syringe and went straight for the formula in the bowl, and just swallowed it down. I thought this was a good sign of her getting ready to be off it, but she’s still really chowing down and begs for it every morning and late afternoon around 5- going on 2 weeks now. She’ll still eat it from a syringe or spoon if offered, but she’s inpatient and seems to prefer to feed herself and not wait for me to refill.
She eats solids and has excellent chop that I make her (a variety of about 20 different veggies, sprouted chickpeas & lentils, sprouted brown rice, a little fruit, fresh sprouts, etc. lots of vitamin a rich veg and I sprinkle a bit of sprouted chia seed or sprouted Millet on top). I also give a tiny bit of Tops pellets just to absorb any moisture from the chop, but she barely touches the pellets (which is good for an eclectus). She drinks plenty of water and her poops look typical.
With formula, she fills her crop and typically flys to me when she’s done. With her solids she just picks at it throughout the day, but doesn’t make a full meal out of it. When she eats formula from the bowl, she switches between taking bites like she’d eat chop and then eating like it’s from a syringe with head bobbing.
All of that to ask-
Im happy to keep her on the formula for as long as she wants, but since her method of eating changed and she’s not too young to be fully weaned, I wanted some advice!
Thank you for reading my novel, and looking forward to your responses! I attached a photo because I like to brag about how beautiful she is.
ps. She was supposed to have her first vet appointment with an avian vet on the 5th, but they had to reschedule to the 16th.
I’ve been lurking here for months in preparation of adopting my eclectus, and am happy to be posting my first question!
I have a 6month old eclectus girl, Maeve, who is on the tail end of her weaning. I got her at 5 months from a reputable breeder. She was getting formula morning and evening when I brought her home, have kept her on the same formula and schedule. Maeve asks and she receives since I’m following the abundance method. We had no issue switching to me hand feeding her, and the breeder and I did it together before I took her home. I have some previous experience with hand feeding babies as a kid with my mom, but this is my first time doing it solo.
My question is about how she’s weaning- about 2 weeks ago she was over the syringe and went straight for the formula in the bowl, and just swallowed it down. I thought this was a good sign of her getting ready to be off it, but she’s still really chowing down and begs for it every morning and late afternoon around 5- going on 2 weeks now. She’ll still eat it from a syringe or spoon if offered, but she’s inpatient and seems to prefer to feed herself and not wait for me to refill.
She eats solids and has excellent chop that I make her (a variety of about 20 different veggies, sprouted chickpeas & lentils, sprouted brown rice, a little fruit, fresh sprouts, etc. lots of vitamin a rich veg and I sprinkle a bit of sprouted chia seed or sprouted Millet on top). I also give a tiny bit of Tops pellets just to absorb any moisture from the chop, but she barely touches the pellets (which is good for an eclectus). She drinks plenty of water and her poops look typical.
With formula, she fills her crop and typically flys to me when she’s done. With her solids she just picks at it throughout the day, but doesn’t make a full meal out of it. When she eats formula from the bowl, she switches between taking bites like she’d eat chop and then eating like it’s from a syringe with head bobbing.
All of that to ask-
- is it okay for her to be eating her formula from the bowl and not a spoon or syringe?
- I thinking of making a warm mash of sweet potato, peas and blueberries (her favs) to offer next to the formula- or, should I mix it into the formula and slowly switch her over?
- Since she’s eating straight from the bowl, is she basically weaned and just likes to have warm mash for meals, as in I should swap to warm chop when she asks for formula?
- Once she’s on the warm mash, can I slowly add in chop and reduce the temp until she’s eating her reg. room temp chop?
- Since eclectus don’t do well with added vitamins, etc. I’m nervous to keep her on the formula too long- is that a valid concern considering eclectus diet needs?
Im happy to keep her on the formula for as long as she wants, but since her method of eating changed and she’s not too young to be fully weaned, I wanted some advice!
Thank you for reading my novel, and looking forward to your responses! I attached a photo because I like to brag about how beautiful she is.
ps. She was supposed to have her first vet appointment with an avian vet on the 5th, but they had to reschedule to the 16th.
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