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Birds--General/when & how to start weaning sun conures

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Expert: - 10/26/2006


Question
Hi my name is Eric I have a pair of Sun Conures that had two babies and have been hand feeding them since they were 3 weeks old and I need to know when and how to start weaning them onto pellets. what foods should i use and what foods should i stay away from thank you for your help

Answer
Hi, Eric.  Thanks for posting!

Sun babies can start to be weaned at 4 weeks of age.  This process takes about 4 weeks, depending on the individual baby.  You can't wean to pellets right away...babies beaks aren't hard enough yet to crush hard foods.  You need to start out with warm, soft foods, such as baked potatoes, cream of wheat or oatmeal, you can soak pellets in warm water or fruit juice and feed them like this...warm, soft nutritional foods at first.  This is because the babies are used to having warm, soft formula and they aren't real receptive to cold, hard/firm items yet.  Then you can gradually go to foods like shredded apples, pears, etc., and veggies, corn bread, whole grain foods, etc.

Visit my website for more information on weaning:

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

Come back with any additional questions.

Chrys  

Birds--General

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Chrys Meatyard

Expertise

I`ve been raising/breeding/handfeeding/selling parrots for over 20 years (parakeets/budgies, cockatiels, 6 subspecies of conures, parrotlets, amazons, lovebirds, etc.). I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England. I can provide advice in raising healthy birds, handfeeding/weaning babies, some health problems (although I'm NOT an avian veterinarian), nail/beak/wing clipping, general husbandry, etc. I also have experience with racing/showing homing pigeons. I cannot diagnose specific illness over this website. If you suspect your bird is ill or if you have an emergency, contact an avian veterinarian or emergency pet clinic ASAP.

Experience

Experience: Over 20 years raising parrots and over 13 years raising pigeons. Organizations: Currently, American Racing Pigeon Union and American Federation of Aviculture. Prior member Miami Valley Bird Club, Southern Ohio Pigeon Association, National Cockatiel Society, Miami Valley Sportsman's Club, others. Publications: Monthly newsletters of bird clubs.

Publications
I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England.

Education/Credentials
American Federation of Aviculture, completed Level I course, Fundamentals of Aviculture. Keeping/breeding parrots and other birds for over 20 years.

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