Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 11/1/2006

Question
hi there Chrys,
we have been hand rearing 2 baby ringnecks from about 2 weeks of age.they are about 5wks old getting mostly all there feathers we feed them a mix of porridge,suflower seeds,spinach water,cutle fish and heinz baby cereal,they are starting to peck at there own shit,can we give them seed we were told budgie seed will be fine,is that right
Do we have to give them water?
When can they go in a cage and do they have to be kept warm ALL the time?

Answer
Hi, Doris.  Thanks for posting!

You can give them seed, but I don't recommend it AT ALL.  Seed is high in fat and low in nutrition...not a good diet for parrots.  Parrots need a large variety of foods.  Seed can be given, but only occasionally as a treat or reward for positive behavior.  This includes those sunflower seeds, which are a parrot's favorite seed!  In addition, their beaks aren't hard enough yet to crack open most seeds.  Visit my website for information on proper diet:

http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html

Of course you have to give them water!  Everything on earth that lives MUST have water...fresh, clean water...every day or perhaps several times per day if necessary.  Water is even more important than food to most of us living things!

They can go in a cage once they have learned how to maneuver around cage wire, sit on a perch, etc., and are able to stay warm enough.  Since cages are open and allow air circulation, your babies will have to have enough feathers in order to keep themselves warm.  If they don't have enough feathers yet in order to keep them warm enough, you will need to provide some heat.  At 5 weeks of age, they may be feathered out enough, but I've never raised ringnecks, so you'll have to be the judge of this.  

Come back with any additional questions.

Chrys