I had to remove the babies from the mum as she was starting to attack them. The babies are 3 weeks old and Im currently hand feeding (I have fed lovebirds before)

 

Question is how much food should I give them at each feed. Ive looked on the net but there is nothing I could find to tell me how much and how often?

 

Any help would be appreciated

 

Barnesy :hap:

I usually feed them when ever their croup gets under half empty, and if you feeding from a spoon the babies will tell you how much is good, if syringe i have no idea, I eye my babies croups to see when i think they should be full, full and a little puffy but not pulling the baby down with so much food, not sure on exact CCs

I wouldn't feed until the crop is empty - the food in the crop can go sour, and cause illness. As August said, a spoonfed baby will eat til he's full. If the baby is being syringe fed you will be able to see the crop, and judge when it is full enough

I've been watching how much Mama feeds the babies and she only fills them up at night. During they day, their crops are never full, never bulging, but you can see there is food in there. She feeds them about every couple of hours, sometimes more, during the day (at 2+ weeks old). It seems like the best thing would be to let them take it from the spoon and offer it whenever they cry. At least that's what I would do. I'm trying to learn as much as I can by watching how Mama does things in case I ever have to take over. I want to do it as close as possible as she does as she knows a lot better than we do about what her babies need. That said, I'm far from an expert, - and have only hand fed large birds. I never use a syringe after they are old enough to use a spoon as the birds don't learn how to 'tongue' their food - don't taste it - don't get to learn about texture, or any of those necessary things, if the food is 'shot' directly into the crop. But, that's just my opinion

 

Julie

Many thanks for you all for replying.

 

I am currently doing well. I am feeding them 3 times a day and they seem very happy with that. I agree you never give them food until their crop is empty as the food will sour the other food and my in turn kill them.

 

They still wont feed from a spoon but thats okay I will slowely change them over but apart from that they are going will.......growing fast and looking cute!

Even at a young age you can tell whos the boss in there!

 

Barnesy