Hand Weaning Protocol

Weaning can be a stressful period for both the bird and the hand-feeder. While some birds naturally wean themselves by refusing hand-feeding once they reach the appropriate weight, others, particularly cockatoos and large macaws, may need encouragement. Several weeks before the expected weaning age, the bird should be offered a variety of foods, such as corn, cooked vegetables, fruits, and soaked formulated Scenic pellets.

A hand-weaning diet refers to the transitional food offered to baby birds as they move from being fully dependent on hand-feeding to eating solid foods on their own. The hand-weaning process is an essential stage in a chick's development, as it helps them gradually learn to eat independently while still receiving some nutrition through hand-feeding.

Weaning Parrots (4 - 12 weeks)

  • Hand-Weaning Soaked

  • Spoon-Feeding Mashed

  • Transition (4 - 6 weeks)

    Baby chicks begin showing interest in solid food. At this stage, a warmed mixture of diced vegetables and moistened Scenic pellets is introduced as part of their hand-weaning diet. Over time, unheated foods and dry pellets are offered. Once the parrot's consumption of solid foods is deemed satisfactory, they are weaned from the hand-fed slurry.

  • Hand Weaning (6 - 12 weeks)

    Many chicks will start to wean, reducing the amount of hand-feeding needed. Caregivers should continue to offer fresh foods while gradually phasing out hand-feeding formula.

  • Complete Weaning (12 weeks)

    Some species may take a bit longer to fully wean, but generally, by 12 weeks, most parrots should be able to eat solid foods independently. At this point, a parrot should follow the Scenic standard feeding protocol.

    Standard Feeding Protocol 

Suggested Feeding Instructions

This product is specifically developed to ease the transition from syringe feeding to eating from a food cup. It mimics the way parent birds feed their chicks, making it ideal for all types of exotic birds. For young birds raised on this food, it becomes an integral part of their diet throughout their lives. 

Precaution: These instructions assume the bird owner is an expert at hand-raising baby birds from the nest. Do not attempt this procedure unless you are a skilled practitioner with experience and training in proper hand-rearing husbandry. Be sure all equipment, hands, and fingers are sterile. Do not use chemicals to clean equipment; only use soap and water. Rinse thoroughly!

Step 1

Place 4 to 6 sticks of food into a cup of water heated to 100°F to 105°F (37.8°C to 40.5°C). Do not raise the temperature above 105°F (40.5°C); it will burn the baby’s crop!

Soak the food until it becomes soft and sponge-like, which typically takes 1 to 4 minutes. To check if it’s ready, lift one piece and pinch it in half—if it’s fully soaked through, it’s ready to use. Add more warm water to the bowl as needed to maintain the proper soaking temperature while the morsels soften. 

Baby parrots are highly sensitive to temperature, so ensuring the formula is at the correct temperature is critical for safe and effective feeding.

Step 2

Ensure the baby is hungry and ready to eat—its mouth will be open and it will be “pumping.” Place the food into the crop, using the same method as with a syringe. Soon, the baby will start reaching for the food. Depending on its age and experience, the bird may bite, bill, or swallow.

Gently push the food toward the back of the throat until the bird can “pump it down.”

Continue feeding until the bird is satisfied or the crop is full (up to the narrow part).

Step 3

You no longer need to measure the food. Simply feed until the baby loses interest or the crop is full. This will align with the amount they typically eat during a feeding, until they begin eating fruits and vegetables.

Use syringes or spoon-feeding as needed. After several successful feedings, you can phase them out. Some birds may reject them sooner than others.

If the baby regresses after it is weaned, have the owner start feeding the warm, wet morsels again several times a day until the baby is comfortable again and is eating dry food. In this case, do not use a syringe.

  • Scenic Hand Weaning Food Red Background

  • Scenic Hand Weaning Food

    Hand Weaning is a complete and balanced bird pellet packed with essential nutrients, high protein, and balanced Omega 3-6 fatty acids. This high-energy formulation is ideal for weaning and transitioning parrots. They are low in iron and easily digestible. It is a 1-inch long pellet that makes it perfect for soaking and softening when hand-feeding juvenile parrots.

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