Expert: Alicia Stiteler, M.S.W. - 10/12/2007

Question
Hi Alicia,
I have just got an indian ringneck it is 5 weeks old and I am trying to feed it I have to force its beak open and push the spoon in I do not want to do this and I feel it is not getting enough I am feeding a proper mix and add water to it  I have added baby apple to it and still the sameit spits it out and very little goes down what can I do please I should call it he or she but sex unknown thanks karen

Answer
Hello Karen. Thanks for your question. Congratulations on your new baby!
Handfeeding baby parrots, especially ringnecks (from what i've heard) can be difficult as they can be very stubborn. It takes alot of time and commitment and you absolutely HAVE to feed them enough to ensure proper growth.
The most important thing to remember is that you must provide sufficient nutrition for the bird no matter how much time it takes or how many feedings it takes.
My first suggestion is that you do not use a spoon. Try and purchase a syringe specifically for feeding baby birds (you can find them at any pet store or bird shop). I've found that using the syringe is more "natural" for the bird than the spoon. They will usually clamp onto it with their beak as you slowly push down on the plunger and let the formula go into the crop.  I would suggest using baby bird formula to ensure adequate nutrition. Again, baby bird formula can be bought at a pet store or bird shop. Also, when you mix the formula with water, use distilled water or water that you know has been filtered (for the safety of the bird.
The temperature of the formula is also important...birds are used to their mothers feeding them with food that is the same temperature as their bodies...about 104 degrees Farenheit. Sometimes babies will spit food back up if it is too cold or too thick so warm your water before you add formula. Don't mix formula and cold water and microwave the mix. This cooks the formula and destroys its consistency and nutritional value. When it is heated up, do not let it exceed 108 degrees...you can measure the heat using the same kind of thermometer that you would when you cook a turkey (meat thermometer).  If it is too hot (over 108) you can burn his crop.
When you are syringe feeding him, and he chokes, sneezes or pulls away, stop feeding for a few seconds to let him calm down. You will have to be patient and let him eat at his own pace. It is very time consuming but necessary.
Since he is about 5 weeks, next week you can start to offer him soft, cooked mixed vegetables, "bean cuisine", diced fruit, and crushed pellets. Even if he doesn't try to eat it, continue to offer these items every day while still hand feeding 3 times a day until the bird is eating solid foods to the point that it doesn't care to have a mid-day feeding.
I know you are concerned about the spitting up and whether or not he is getting enough nutrition. Birds also spit up when they are too full...a good rule of them is to observe his crop to see how full he is...if you don't already know, the crop is that little pouch by his throat.
After a feeding, hiscrop should be distended and firm to the touch, not tight. If he spits up and the crop is distended, it is most probably full. If the crop empties during the day within two hours of a feeding, then you have not given the himenough food and he will have to be re-fed, regardless of a schedule. As you get more comfortable with the process, you will be able to give him sufficient nourishment to last during a normal feeding schedule. As he grows, it may not eat well at one feeding or another. This may be its way of telling you to go from 4 to 3 feedings a day. Remember, you must let the crop completely empty at night before the first morning feeding.
If he still is not eating "right" after two feedings, take him to the breeder or to the vet for help.  A malnourished baby bird can become very ill and die.
Good luck with your new baby...just remember, shortly you will no longer have to feed him and he can eat by himself, he just needs a little help from you to get started. let me know how it goes. alicia