Handraising baby finches.

12 Dec 2010, 20:17

Hi, I have been handraising two baby zebra finches which the parents deserted for what reason I don't know. One was on the ground dead the other two were completely different sizes I say they were only feeding one. One had no feathers the other feathers on it's wings. I have been feeding them for a week now and had them on the dogs heating pad. I am feeding them egg and biscuit mix with a flat toothpick and seem to be going great. The little one has now grown feathers and the older one jumps on my hand. My question is the egg and biscuit mix okay or should I give them something else. The crops are really full after feeding and they settle back down. Will they start to eat the seed off the ground later by them selves? One can hop around the other is still only little and only just opened it's eyes 3 days ago.I went to get some advice from a bird breeder who sells birds and all he told me was I must be dedicated to be hand feeding zebras.I will try and post some photos. Thanks for any advice. :

13 Dec 2010, 13:04

you can buy hand rearing mix from most bird dealers which is much more balanced than egg and biscuit mix, just make sure it's suitable for finches rather than only parrots.

i've just finished hand rearing some baby painted firetails and yes, they do start to eat seed just out of curiosity, and if you put them in with other finches when they "fledge" they pick up on how to do it properly and also what other things they can eat. mine are now fully weaned, living out in the aviary full time and eating finch mix, green seeds and maggots for the most part

good luck with yours, definitely recommend getting some hand rearing mix.

13 Dec 2010, 19:11

I don't know if you guys get the Kaytee hand rearing formula. Apparently its one of the best for feeding finches unlike many of the hand rearing formulas which are for parrots as Lyn mentioned.

Only thing I would suggest is you change their feed very slowly. Add a little of the new formula to what you are currently feeding and increase it over a few days until its basically only formula. A sudden change in diet could push the little ones in the wrong direction quickly.

Good luck. You are dedicated and you know what whether its a zebra or an expensive species there is no difference. A life is a life. I also can never just leave them to die.

13 Dec 2010, 19:35

Kaytee exact hand rearing formula is back on the shelves in Australia , someone has been allowed to import it again .

14 Dec 2010, 20:45

Hi,Thanks for your replies, I will have to ring around the Bird shops to see if I can get the hand raising mix. When I feed them the crops get really very large they seem to beg for ages and I am not sure when to stop feeding them. I will get a couple of younger finches out of the aviary and put them in a cage with these two and they may teach them to feed on seed later. One is still very young and only feeds and then sleeps the other is flapping it's wings and trying to fly. As you can see in the photos one is really smaller than the other.The older one is really friendly but it has not grown any feathers on it's back hopefully will grow. The first photo is about 10days old and the last taken yesterday.

14 Dec 2010, 20:51

Me again I wondering if any one knew why when I feed them only one side only gets full. As you can see the older ones feathers have not grown very well. Is that because it is only getting the egg and biscuit if it was fed by it;s parents would get the proper food?

14 Dec 2010, 20:56

How are you going with getting fluids into them ? The crops may be full or uneven because food is staying in there too long and new food just sits on top of old food... apple ( baby food ) can be mixed in with the formula to get the crop flowing nicely but this time of year I think a few drops of water cant go astray.
Doing well so far , the smaller one may have a growth spurt on proper hand rearing food .

14 Dec 2010, 20:59

Ooops sorry forgot to add the egg and biscuit is not ideal nutrition wise ....see if you can get some formula asap its about $9.00 for passwells , easy to mix and spoon feed or syringe feed slowly at about 40c , make it sloppy with some apple puree and get those crops emptying , you will see a big difference Im sure.

14 Dec 2010, 21:00

As what Deb said but definitely purge with apple.(not every day)

14 Dec 2010, 21:10

Thanks for the advice Deb, will go to the Living Jungle tomorrow and see if they have any of the formula you mentioned. Will let you know how they go.