Feeding Chicks from newly hatched. The first feed of the day for three days should be a quality yoghurt with a high live organism count. Next feed a mixture of the suggested amounts of Hand rearing food and pre-boiled water heated to about 50deg C. allow the prepared mixture to stand for 2 minutes to absorb all the water. Remix and if too thick reheat and add a little water to make the desired constancy. Bring the prepared food to 35deg C and feed with a spoon or syringe fill the crop full, taking care not to introduce food to the windpipe.

Feed prepared Hand rearing food 4 to 6 times daily when the chicks are very young reducing to 3 to 4 feeds per day as the chick gets older. Feed small amounts frequently and allow the crop to empty completely at least once each day. Thoroughly clean utensils before each food preparation. Food must be prepared fresh for each meal. Discard all uneaten food.

Growth of Chicks. Weigh chicks at the same time each day. Daily weight gain will fluctuate but on average healthy chicks should gain from 10% to 20% of their body weight each day. Weight loss could indicate the onset of disease but often means the chick is not getting enough food. Healthy chicks that do not gain weight may need more solids in the mix, more food at each feed or more feed per day.

Weaning chicks. Provide adult type food to chicks once they are fully feathered or begin to resist being hand fed. To wean onto Pellets or crumbles, reduce the number of feeds and offer some moistened pellets in a dish. Once the chick starts eating the moist pellets, stop hand feeding and offer only dry pellets. Chicks will naturally lose some weight during weaning*i.e.  Budgies should also learn how to crack and eat seed. Stat with a soft seed, such as millet and when they have mastered that start to introduce ordinary budgerigar mixes.

# Probotics. Some parrot hand rearing products either include Probotics in their formula or recommend the use of a probotic product. Probotics are live bacteria feed supplements that may have a beneficial effect on a birds intestinal microbial populations. Most probotics contain several strains of bacteria, none of which has been demonstrated to be normal intestinal inhabitants of parrots. Commercial probotic suppliments are expensive to use and have short expiry dates. A quality yoghurt that contains live Acidophillus and Biffidus bacteria produces a similar result and is considerably cheaper to use.

This information has come from Passwell Hand Rearing Product.

The mix for growing chicks differs from product to product. All ways read the recommendations on the packet and use accordingly.

# I personally use a Probotic with my birds and will continue to do so.