How to Wean a Baby Parrot

Before going to a new home, handfed baby parrots must learn to eat independently. The weaning process usually takes several weeks, during which the young bird first begins mouthing food, learns to eat soft weaning foods and eventually transitions to an adult diet. In general, a baby parrot is ready to begin weaning when it is being handfed two to three times daily, is mostly feathered, and no longer requires supplemental heat. Parrots should be allowed to wean naturally at their own pace to avoid excess weight loss and regression to begging behaviors.

Things You'll Need

• Soft foods
• Weaning pellets
• Millet spray
• Adult pellets

Instructions

1. Begin the weaning process by offering the young parrot soft foods such as fruits, vegetables, bread, soaked pellets and sprouted seeds. These foods spoil quickly and should be replaced every few hours to prevent illness. Continue to handfeed the parrot chick as usual and do not reduce feeding frequency yet.

2. Observe the baby parrot to determine whether it is eating the food. At first, most young birds will play with the food and hold it in their beak without actually swallowing. Wait until a significant amount of food is being consumed before proceeding to the next step.

3. Begin to offer transitional foods, such as unsweetened dry cereal, weaning pellets and millet spray. Continue to offer soft foods as well, especially fruits and vegetables.

4. Gradually decrease the frequency of feedings and the amount of formula fed. Be sure to weigh the baby parrot each day. Some weight loss is normal during weaning, but the bird should not lose more than 10 percent of its total weight during the entire weaning process. If the chick loses too much weight, temporarily increase the frequency of handfeeding.

5. Eliminate the last feeding when the baby parrot is eating plenty of food on its own. Many birds will lose interest in handfeeding at this point, in which case they should not be force-fed.

6. Replace the transitional foods with the adult diet. This should be done gradually to prevent excessive weight loss. Most young parrots that are weaning, or recently weaned, will convert to the new diet with a minimum of fuss.

7. Wait at least one week after discontinuing handfeeding before moving the parrot to its new home. This will help prevent regression and refusal to eat, which sometimes happen when very recently weaned birds experience stress.

Tips & Warnings

• Take care when choosing what foods your baby parrot is weaned onto. It may be difficult to convert the bird to a different diet.

• Baby parrots wean more easily when they are housed with their clutch mates or other birds of the same species and approximately the same age.

• Don't forget to offer a shallow dish of water after the baby parrot has begun to eat on its own.

Resources

• Understanding the Weaning Process
• Weaning Cockatiel Chicks
• Bountiful Weaning