Here at
Avian Elites it all starts out with the
parents. Mom and dad showing their love
and affection for one another by having
a family.
Mom sometimes with dad's help incubates
the eggs anywhere from 26 to 28 days
before hatching (Depending on each
Species/Sub Species). Mom hatches the
eggs, cleans, and sometimes, (with dad's
help), feeds, loves, protects and
nurtures the babies. All of us here at
Avian Elites believe in letting mom and
dad take care of their babies for at
least 3 weeks, if possible. Letting the
parents feed and care for their children
not only benefit the parent's health and
minds, but also benefits the parrot
babies health and well being. (Only the
parents are able to give the natural
enzymes the parrot babies need which
also gives the babies a better chance
for a long and healthy life.) NO ONE CAN
DO IT BETTER THAN MOM AND DAD!
The next day after hatching, and every
day after that, Melissa lets the parents
know she needs to pull the babies to do
a check- Up and Weight (to make sure
babies are growing like they should).
This is also a great way for the babies
to hear human voices, and feel the touch
of humans, which helps the socialization
process.
At 2 weeks old Melissa, bands the babies
with there own unique identification
band, watching closely to make sure
parents are leaving the bands alone.
Some parents find bands on babies to be
a foreign object that they must be
removed or in some cases might hurt the
babies unintentionally.
Babies that are going to pet homes are
pulled at 3 weeks of age, started on
handfeedings, and placed in a
Temperature and Humidity Controlled Joe
Freeds Intensive Care Unit until they
are fully feathered. Placed with each
baby is their first stuffed animal. They
normally cozy up to, get comfortable
with, and sleep with until the next
handfeeding. Avian Elites spoon feed
around the clock with Zupreem Embrace or
Katee Handfeeding Formula.
At about 5 to 6 weeks, they are offered
a large variety of foods, fruits,
vegetables, assortment of beans, brown
rice, lentils, split peas, birdie bread,
nuts, assorted seeds, non colored
pellets, dried fruits etc. They are also
given their first bowel of water and a
water bottle hooked up to their cage. We
change their food and water dishes 3 to
4 times a day to make sure all stays
fresh. All of Avian Elites babies are
Lixit water bottle trained by the time
they are weaned and ready for their new
homes.
At about 8 weeks old, they are fully
feathered and transferred into a weaning
cage. This is the age group where they
start to learn how to perch, and climb
for the first time. All weaning cages
have a variety of perches (to meet each
individual babies needs), assortment of
toys (to play with), mineral block, and
a millet.
At10 weeks of age, babies are getting
more relaxed and used to their different
perches and toys, love the attention of
humans, and lets not forget Jackson, our
7 year old Doberman. Jackson was born on
April Fool's Day, but he doesn't let the
babies get one over on him! Jackson
allows the babies to play around him, on
him, and every once in a while, a baby
will get a kiss from Jackson. One day we
had a visitor at out door step, Jackson
layed next to the babies to make sure
they were protected and safe. Normally,
Jackson goes to the door with one of us
or is already there before we can be.
Jackson takes his job seriously!
During this age the babies are trying to
take their first flight. It is vary
important to allow a baby parrot to take
their first flight and learn how to fly
like a bird should. We here at Avian
Elites allow them to not only take their
first flight, but they learn how to take
flight from a table, a humans hand,
being on the floor, and taking flight
off of their cage. By the time they are
weaned all babies are flying through our
home. (We have even had a Aruensis
Eclectus fly to the TV and then fly back
to our daughter Ciprianna arm.)
Avian Elites does not clip wings unless
the owner asks for them to be clipped
and Avian Elites waits until the day the
babies are ready to leave for their new
home before the wings are clipped.
Most Eclectus, Congo, Timneh African
Greys, and Blue Quakers are totally
weaned out on their own and ready for
their new adoptive homes at the age of 3
to 4 months. There are those few
exceptions where the babies decide they
are content with how they are cared for
and they just decide to wait a little
longer. We never Force Feed or Force
Wean Out any baby. All babies are
Abundantly Fed and all Wean Out at their
own time and pace.
This is around the time for getting them
ready and used to water for bathing. Not
just for drinking! We take them in the
shower with us and slowly allow them to
ease their way in until they are
comfortable. We play games with the
Squirt bottes and the kitchen sink. By
the time they are weaned, they love
taking baths and are used to all ways.
Bathing is a important piece when it
comes to having parrots. They need baths
so their skin doesn't get dry, itchy, or
sensitive. In my opinion, birds that
don't get a chance to bathe either start
to pick (at their feathers or skin) or
they start to pluck. Which makes sense
if you think about it.
We at Avian
Elites believe this time and effort
socializes our babies with proper love,
touch, and care; the best of nuturing
and nutrition; adjustment to a variety
of perches, toys, and cages; and
preparation for their future lives in
their new homes.
