Reply #16: Hand raising [View All]

[sarge43]

It's about the same as caring for any infant. Prep'ing the formula (a mix of special baby bird food, right consistency, temperature) is a hassle. You use a syringe and squirt, gently, into their mouths which they then dibble half of it all over themselves. Keeping them clean is a big part of the job. They should be about three weeks old before starting hand feeding. Oh yeah, they must be kept warm and out of drafts at all times. They're usually kept in a fish tank with a heating pad under it.

It's worth the effort because you'll have a bird that's totally bonded to people.