Hand rearing finches

[spanna]

anyone had any experience theyd be willing to pass on?

am rearing a fledgling emblema on Vetafarm Neocare, using a mix that is barely runny and feeding whenever crop is near empty, giving as much as the bird will take. it's eating well, but i havent really had any experience in this before, so am hoping to learn from others if possible...

cheers

[gomer]

Sounds like your doing well spanna.There are a few on this site who have done hand rearing before.Is more common with our U.S.A members i think.

[spanna]

yeah i know it isnt common practice in australia. made it through the first night!!! which is good. time for another feed now... just wish it'd take more in one sitting!!

[Jayburd]

http://www.finchsociety.org/cfa/others/hand.htm

[spanna]

thanks jay, thats a great guide for hacthlings but it didnt really go on to cover feeding fledglings much.... which is what i have here. thats the problem im having everywhere ive looked, everyone will tell you how to care for anything up to 3 weeks old but after fledging, no info on weaning, water, what foods etc etc.

[Jayburd]

that's ok
yeah, I've noticed that too. I just can't find a good fledging rearing website or book!!!

[VR1Ton]

Most birds will wean themselves, they generally start to fight you when feeding. Depending on how often you are feeding, when they are starting to fly it should be no more than 3 feeds a day, morning, noon, & night. When they start picking & rolling seed cut back to morning & night. Once they start to crack seed, just the evening feed is enough as they are now getting nutrion from the seed, softfood & maybe some live food should be offered. Once you are sure it is feeding well, stop feeding altogether, but continue to monitor it for weight loss, they do have a little weight loss when weaned but excessive weight loss will need to curbed by recomencing feeding. In parrots, this can take about 3 weeks, depnding on species, but finches I would imagine that it would take no more than a week & a half to 2 weeks tops.

[spanna]

okay, thanks VR1ton. it doesnt take much in a feeding at the moment, still doesnt beg properly for me, so am just feeding when crop is empty, but did notice some seed in there this morning. also appears a bit stressed today, has lost a lot of feathers when it was attacked/nurtured by the quail so i may keep feeding it a bit longer/more often than you suggest just to make sure it makes it through. still a runt of a bird, so not flying yet.

thanks heaps VR1ton