When the
Bengalese don't do their duty, almost invariably as the Pin-tailed Parrot
Finch chicks fledge, the only option is to hand feed.
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With Pin-tailed
Parrot Finches, keep the fledglings being hand-fed with the Bengalese
as sometimes they resume their fostering duties after a few days.
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The syringe
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A 5ml syringe
is the most convenient.
Drill the exit hole to at least 2.5mm, 3mm is better, to minimise
clogging.
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Sand, file
or scrape the inner ridge at the top of the barrel to stop the plunger
coming right out. (shown by the green line in the photograph),
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You
need the plunger out to fill the barrel with eggfood.
To stop the rubber end coming off the plunger adhere it to the plastic
plunger handle with silicon sealant.
A teaspoon handle makes a good spatula.
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The mix
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Take a
heaped teaspoon of your eggfood, remove large seeds and crush to minimise
large lumps which will clog the syringe.
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Add more
water to get a moist paste which is quite wet but when stirred doesn't
run (click thumbnail above for a better idea).
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Add a pinch
of protein boost and probiotics.
Mix with
water until mix is quite sloppy. Leave for 2 or 3 minutes as the
water is absorbed.
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Keep this
mix in the fridge.
Don't use the same mix for more than a day.
Fill the syringe with about 1ml per chick.
Dip the part of the syringe containing eggfood in hot water to warm it
for 5 minutes.
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How much/
How often?
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4ml is
probably the daily maximum, 2ml the minimum. This varies as
the chicks age (less as they get older).
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Once they
are self-feeding you might supplement with only 0.5ml per chick last thing
at night until day 10 or even 12.
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Maximum
is probably better for first two days, thereafter a slightly hungry chick
is better as it will call to the Bengalese and will seek food from the
dishes.
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Watch the
chicks - they will let you know.
1 - 1.2ml is probably the maximum at any one time.
Less than 0.5ml isn't worth doing.
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Judge your
feeding from the chicks. If they are active they are fine.
If any close their eyes after you have stood still in the bird room for
a minute or two then feed.
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The evening
feed is the most important.
Try to get at least 1ml in, even if it takes two feeds close together
so the chick lasts the night.
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Be a bit
ruthless in the morning once they are fledged for a few days, to encourage
begging and self-feeding.
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The more
frequent the feeds the better but we have fed 1.2ml at 7.30am; 1ml at
4pm and 1.5ml at 8pm. The chick was fine.
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How
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Chicks
vary right from day one. There are the beak clenchers, the chokers,
the regurgitators, the fidgets and the blissful - let's get this ml in
ASAP!
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I open
the beak with sideways pressure from the end of the syringe.
My wife somehow opens the beak with her thumb.
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Once the
syringe is in, the food needs to fall behind the lip at the back of the
tongue.
Don't depress the tongue as the flap at the back is used like a paddle
to swallow the food.
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Try to
have the syringe entering slightly from one side to keep an air hole open.
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Don't keep
filling if the mouth is full and food is oozing out the sides.
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Stop for
a minute to let the food go down.
Judge the speed from the chick.
Judge if the chick shows distress.
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I've only
ever choked one chick out of probably 30 or 40 being hand fed.
But that's one too many
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