Burping Update

[monotwine]

Arg had a whole thing typed out an my computer goes haywired on me.

Will try again hoping this makes sense:

When you want to wean you need to make sure that the food is the same as what you are currently handfeeding but chunkier however not stiff or they will choke. Add more grown up foods in it that you will eventually replace the formula. So SLOWLY add dehusked seeds and eggfood to the mix. You don't want to make too big a change or you upset their digestive systems. So just add a small % extra at a time.

I leave the current feeding food and a bowl of seed on the floor of the cage in a low dish.
I stretch out my feeding times, and the weanlings get hungry and become inquisitive. They peck a bit at the food and eventually start eating it. If they don't then you can encourage their curiosity by pretending to get their food from those dishes by "pecking" at it with your feeding tool, which is familiar to the young bird. That will get its interest, but do some tough love and don't feed it for a bit. When they are screaming their heads off give a little food, but not enough to completely satisfy them and then go back to the pecking. The youngsters eventually get it and start eating on their own. Hunger drives natural processes.
It does take a few days though.

If you have an older bird that won't mind being in a cage with the youngster and your regular visits, then they help alot in the show and tell of how to eat.

I may not have had much success with finches, but have reared all sorts of other softbills and mammals. They all eventuall get it and start eating and drinking on their own.