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She is absolutely fabulous.She is so gentle that she goes to anyone--even my kids. My husband has not met her yet but he is going to love her. I hold her and she flipped over for me today.Unfortunately she is still on baby food(she is 4 months old )but I can deal. I think she has just reverted for awhile. She is so affectionate!! She just loves to cuddle on my chest and chew her toes.I have an appt for her tomorrow to get her checked out. I am truly in love!!

Congradulations! They are very sweet, gentle giants. Enjoy, take some pictures.

Congrats on the GW baby! They are such gentle giants!! BTW, the GW's I have fed out weaned at about 6 months of age or a tad older so you may be handfeeding awhile yet. They are definitely worth it though.

Sally
SE Idaho

lilla wrote:... BTW, the GW's I have fed out weaned at about 6 months of age or a tad older so you may be handfeeding awhile yet...

Thanks, Sally. I was waiting for a moment slow enough for me to search out this information. Can't imagine a bird so large weaning at 4 months. Are the feeding frenzies for which large macaws are so famous usually earlier than 4 months? I'm thinking I recall hearing of them in the 5-7 month developmental period. What's been your experience?

Congratulations, Greylover! I hope your DH returns soon and is able to forge an early bond with this baby girl. Have you considered using the Scenic weaning pellet technique? If so, he can help feed her. That's a good way to make friends fast

Gongrats! Don't forget to post the pictures!

Paca - I have always found macaws to be very "enthusiastic" eaters
GW's can and do handfeed until 6 months or more - I've had some wean about 8 months. I believe Hy's wean at 9 months or more. I don't have alot of experience with GW's as I never bred them, just handfed for a friend who didn't like to handfeed large macaws.

[quote="ParrontPlus"] Can't imagine a bird so large weaning at 4 months. Are the feeding frenzies for which large macaws are so famous usually earlier than 4 months? I'm thinking I recall hearing of them in the 5-7 month developmental period. What's been your experience? [/quote]

My GW's wean at 3-4 months but it is a process I've developed over the years. First and foremost is the daily weigh in. I keep exact records of each and every day weights so if this shifts either way I'm on it to correct. Next I weigh in all the food (fresh, seeds, and pellets) and check to see that I am still feeding (what the bird eats) is at least 10% of the total weight of the bird per day.

Next and most important I've found is the rinse period. Since I use a 60cc Bolis Syringe the bird still likes to "nurse" so to speak but instead of formula I use warmed up "spring water" to not only give them this needed interaction (nurse) but this also flushes out the crop. When the bird realizes that this is only warm water they will refuse the syringe all together and you'll see the increase in the amount of food eaten from the bowls.

But then again even at the highest period in hand feeding I still keep it at 140cc max (not for the water... only about 40-60cc) and most of my birds come in at 2 3/4 pounds to 3 lbs birds when I start to wean.

I guess holding them at 140cc each feeding allows them to crave more food when they are allowed to eat for themselves (when food is offered in the bowls.)

At this time I spoil them with lots of fresh food (veg's, fruit, ground nuts, etc..) and still have one bowl seed mix and the other Macaw pellets.

Hello and thanks for the replies. I took her to the vet today and she thinks she is on the thin side. She told me how much she should be taking and how to wean. She is just a little over 4 months. I have no problem hand feeding her for however long she needs.I just hope I don't make any mistakes! She isn't afraid to try new food but just shows very little interest in bite no. 2.It is kind of a daunting task. I was assured she was weaned.They wanted me to take her unweaned about a month ago but i said no. It is actually illegal in Calif. to sell an unweaned bird.I appreciate the advise. Of all birds to START hand feeding with a macaw! Sheesh!

Sorry, but it's ALOT easier than most say on here. I have handfed Finches thru Macaws, and it is not hard once you get the hang of it. Alot of peeps will scare and there really is nothing to it, once you start.

Thank-you for the encouragement feathered. She just doesn't have much interest in food in general.She is more into cuddling. She has lost weight since I got her on Friday( about 30grams ). Should I even be trying to wean her now? I can't fathom her losing any more. I took her to the vet yesterday and she thinks she is a little on the thin side. I weighed her this am in at 900 grams.Is that thin for a 4 month old? I can't get her to take more then 60 mls at a time. She will try new foods which is good but she doesn't even like seeds!!I am worried.

Make her some scrambled eggs with good chesse and egg shell for calcium, how about some oatmeal with fruits for lunch, and some pasta with veggies for dinner, try to get her to eat with you and wean to seed, pellet nuts and fruits later. Maybe some handfeeding formula when she wants it, mixed with some healthy stuff, oat meal, fruits, veggies, give her a bit of a smorgash a bit of this and that and see what she likes, I usually go to giant grocery salad bar, they have boiled eggs, all veggies and mellons, how about pomagranate, ours love it, but they love scrambled eggs with shell and chesse, and fruits for lunch, most of ours love a comfort feeding at night, which is 50 % fomula and oatmeal with strawberries and veggies like brocoli and califlower with carrot slaw, raw. Anything that is good for you, beans, plain yougurt with grape nuts and little drizzle of honey with some peeled cut finely apples and oranges, salad with out iceburg lettus(causes dehyration, all water no nutrients), try anything rice, mix a mixture and if you like it and show intrest 100% she will as well. Now this is all new to her so be positive and encouraging and she will follow along, she is still new and skeptical, so if you are excited to try new food so will she/he. Always have the pellets and seed in cage where she feels comfortable to get to them she will not starve, but she will be nervous so keep an eye on her and if she doesnt pick up weight go back to vet asap! We also make healthy Mac & Cheese and they gobble it, as well as sweet potatoe mash
there is always something they will love and add to it they will pick up on iy=t and enjoy. It is a big step from handfeeder to parent so go slow dont panic and pay attention to what your bird likes and needs.

I have three types of Macaws which I'm constantly trying to wean babies. But all three wean differently. My two Blue and Gold pairs are pretty much very easy to wean. The Scarlet and Greenwing pairs are the most difficult. No matter how long you've been breeding you're never as good as "another breeder" if you keep your eyes and ears open. I thought I knew it all untill I meet a nice young lady by the name of Tina (Sweetheart Aviary) who complied the web site below that I made a copy of the link.

http://www.freewebs.com/macaw672/feedingyourparrot.htm

I don't think I've ever come accross a better explaination with complete step by step instructions then the above. But then again with her experience (raising even the hardest- Hycinith Macaws') one can always learn a trick or tip.

What was the weight when you checked your GW into the vet?

What did the vet put her on?

Have you heard of "Ultimate" from Pretty Bird? (first couple of pages in Bird Talk mag is some info on this)

Keep us posted ok?

Dutch

http://www.foryourbird.com/page/foryour ... 9c2451620f


http://www.allbirdproducts.com/newprodu ... unces.html




These really work well.

Thank-you so much you two. She is eating my mixure of fresh fruits and veggies along with a beans and rice combo I cook for my birds. I just ignored her for 2-3 minutes tonight when she wanted to be fed her syringe! Of course, I will still give it to her when she wants it. I think her weight at the vets was 1.2 kg.She suggested Exact and Bella seems to enjoy that over the Zupreem. I have been giving her a lot of walnuts and almonds today too. I will keep a close eye on her weight. I am so happy she is eating!!

Hooray! Glad she is experimenting!!

Feathered is correct in that handfeeding a large macaw is not so daunting a task once you get the hang of it. I have always used Exact handfeeding formula for my large birds and never had any trouble with it. I still prefer it over Zupreem. 900 grams is on the small side for a GW, but I am sure once she gets used to you and the foods you feed and you get her completely weaned she will fill out. Keep us posted!!

Sally
SE Idaho