Eva and Wally are 5 and 6 weeks old. Pellets and seeds are coming in 2 days. They only eat formula by spoon. So far, they’ve seen veggies and it’s been offered (while i was preparing breakfast for my tortoise) and Wally has nibbled on a few millets. Same will be offered tomorrow.
Although I would like to start cutting down the feedings, I know it’s recommended to just feed them instead of letting them cry as that’s not natural and could cause anxiety because of food insecurity. I have noticed that when I feed them when they call and it’s mostly Eva calling now, she is easier to soothe!! She was hungry and wants cuddles.
I try to do 8AM, 2PM, 7PM, 11PM. I do a late night feeding because it tends to keep them sleeping until the morning and not waking up at 3AM. That’s 4 feedings still! If they had it their way, they would eat every 4 hours, that’s 5 feedings. That seems so much! I’m going to continue to do the 4, I’ve been noticing that they are so excited to eat and hungry but get distracted and stop after (what I feel is like 70%) and just run over to me to be held and snuggled. I chalked this up to them weaning in the next 1-3 weeks. They used to fill their crops fully but now, they just run away from the dinner table before they are done haha. Their crops fill properly and empty quickly. He has a lot of energy, she is a bit less hyper.
I tried to put them to bed early, last feeding earlier but they woke me up at 130 and I did a feeding. I am off work for a few more days, so it’s fine, but I would like them to get some sleep. They only sleep straight like 12AM-6AM and sleep throughout the day, on and off. I cover the tank so it’s dark. It just doesn’t seem like progression. Is this behavior normal for almost weaning babies? I don’t want her to scream and stress anymore and want them to feel full and comforted for bed. How come they can’t make it through the night without waking up for food? Even when they were filling their crop fully. I know the parents feed them periodically in nature but in hand rearing, I heard that they don’t usually need that middle of the night feeding. Especially at this age, they can get a good night sleep and make it through trip morning.
Thanks in advance. I’m a worried mama, haha
Although I would like to start cutting down the feedings, I know it’s recommended to just feed them instead of letting them cry as that’s not natural and could cause anxiety because of food insecurity. I have noticed that when I feed them when they call and it’s mostly Eva calling now, she is easier to soothe!! She was hungry and wants cuddles.
I try to do 8AM, 2PM, 7PM, 11PM. I do a late night feeding because it tends to keep them sleeping until the morning and not waking up at 3AM. That’s 4 feedings still! If they had it their way, they would eat every 4 hours, that’s 5 feedings. That seems so much! I’m going to continue to do the 4, I’ve been noticing that they are so excited to eat and hungry but get distracted and stop after (what I feel is like 70%) and just run over to me to be held and snuggled. I chalked this up to them weaning in the next 1-3 weeks. They used to fill their crops fully but now, they just run away from the dinner table before they are done haha. Their crops fill properly and empty quickly. He has a lot of energy, she is a bit less hyper.
I tried to put them to bed early, last feeding earlier but they woke me up at 130 and I did a feeding. I am off work for a few more days, so it’s fine, but I would like them to get some sleep. They only sleep straight like 12AM-6AM and sleep throughout the day, on and off. I cover the tank so it’s dark. It just doesn’t seem like progression. Is this behavior normal for almost weaning babies? I don’t want her to scream and stress anymore and want them to feel full and comforted for bed. How come they can’t make it through the night without waking up for food? Even when they were filling their crop fully. I know the parents feed them periodically in nature but in hand rearing, I heard that they don’t usually need that middle of the night feeding. Especially at this age, they can get a good night sleep and make it through trip morning.
Thanks in advance. I’m a worried mama, haha