How to Hand Feed & Wean African Gray Parrots

African gray parrots are believed to be the most intelligent birds in existence. There are two sub-species of African gray parrot: the Congo gray and the Timneh gray. African grays are native to central and western Africa. They are highly social and sensitive birds. People gravitate towards them because of these attributes and because they are funny, lovable and devoted pets. People often will purchase very young birds in order to train them from an early age. Raising them from babies to adult "family members," though, requires knowledge of feeding and weaning them.

Things You'll Need

  • Special parrot hand feeding formula
  • 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol
  • Small glass cup
  • Metal baby spoon
  • Small cardboard box
  • Soft small towel or diaper
  • Paper towels
  • Adult parrot food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase food especially made for hand-feeding African gray chicks. Most hand-feeding formulas are nutritionally balanced for baby chicks and will contain extra fat that the chick needs to grow. African gray parrot hand-feeding formula should contain 8% fat.

    • 2

      Disinfect all feeding utensils as well as your hands with 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Rinse the feeding utensils and your hands. Dry the utensils and place them onto a paper towel on the countertop to avoid contamination.

    • 3

      Heat one cup of distilled water for approximately 20 seconds in a microwave. Insert a thermometer into the water to make certain that it is between 104 degrees and 108 degrees. Mix the formula with the warm, distilled water according to the directions on the package. The food should be warm when fed to the chick. Baby chicks whose eyes are open should be hand-fed three to four times each day. Once their feathers begin to emerge, they can be fed two to three times a day.

    • 4

      Place the warm food onto the paper towel. Place a soft, clean towel or diaper into a small cardboard box and place this next to the food on the counter. Lift the baby chick up carefully by cupping him in your hands and place him in the box. Cup the baby's head to support its jaws while eating. Coax the chick to eat by placing the small spoon filled with food up to the left side of their beak. Feed the bird until its crop (similar to a stomach) feels firm but not tight. Clean the chick's beak off with a soft, dry cloth at the end of the feeding.

    • 5

      Begin to introduce solid foods to the bird at about sixteen weeks of age. Sprouted grains work well for weaning. African grays are also fond of foods such as apples, sunflower seeds, bananas, oranges, tomatoes, corn on the cob, hard-boiled eggs, chunks of tuna fish (that has been washed to remove salt), carrots, onions, natural yogurt and many other foods. Ask your veterinarian if you are unsure about a certain food.

      Introducing solid foods at this time roughly corresponds with the time they learn to fly; both in domestication and in the wild. Keep feeding the young bird by hand simultaneously. When the bird starts to flex and fly, it will become more interested in this activity than in eating.

    • 6

      Fill your bird's feeding dish and water dish daily. Continue to hand feed your African gray periodically because they view this as a social activity and it's a way to stay closely bonded with your now adult bird.