"If you are inexperienced at hand-raising a baby parrot, and you find yourself with a bird that still needs to be weaned, shame on the person(s) that sold it to you!"

The above quotation was taken from the article "Keeping Eclectus & Grey Parrots" by Dr. Willard and Lorraine Shantz which was published in the Parrot Association of Canada's Journal. Essentially it clearly and correctly answers the question: Who should be responsible for weaning a baby parrot, the seller or the purchaser?

I often get requests from inexperienced and very misinformed individuals to purchase unweaned baby parrots from me. They have been told by so called "experts" that weaning a baby parrot is easy and that it bonds better with it's new owner if he/she completes the weaning process. This may sound great on the surface, but, nothing could be further from the truth! In fact, anyone promoting this highly irresponsible philosphy isn't current in their knowledge. Next to actually hatching, weaning is the most critical period in a bird's life and the task absolutely requires an experienced individual to be accomplished properly.

Hand-raised baby parrots are expensive and the purchaser should consider this question very carefully: Would I trust a novice to be responsible for weaning my new baby? Unfortunately, that is what some people have been convinced they should do.

Weaning is a lengthy and often difficult process even for an accomplished
breeder. The time frame averages 5-6 weeks in duration for Amazons or African Greys and can be considerably longer for other species such as Eclectus, Cockatoos and Macaws. During this time, the nutritional and emotional needs of the bird must be properly met.

Forced weaning is unacceptable and should definitely be a thing of the past. That is when hand-feedings are deliberately withheld or their quantity prematurely reduced in order to make the baby hungry enough to eat on its own. The object is to wean the baby on a fixed time table. This method essentially amounts to cruel treatment that can ruin a baby's pet potential for life by making it insecure right from the start. Unweaned, hungry babies simply do not have the patience or ability to eat well enough on their own and can suffer from excessive weight loss and undue physical and emotional stress. This can lead to physical illness or produce an emotionally unstable bird down the road.

Abundance weaning is a new phrase that I heard for the first time during Phoebe Greene Linden's excellent presentation at the 1996 Canadian Parrot Symposium. This method is practised by all reputable breeders today. Essentially, the baby is given more than enough variety and quantity of weaning foods at all times during the day. Additionally, the baby is encouraged to nibble food from the fingers. Formula feedings are never reduced prematurely nor eliminated before the baby is eating sufficiently on its own. The droppings are constantly monitored and the baby is accurately weighed first thing in the morning (i.e.empty) on a daily basis to determine that its weight remains within acceptable limits, especially through the critical slimming phase just prior to being able to fly.

Abundance weaning results in healthy babies of excellent pet quality because both their nutritional and emotional needs are never compromised. Babies also wean more quickly and with less difficulty than ever before.

"A hand-reared bird bought soon after it has been weaned by the breeder will be as responsive and affectionate to its new owner as one for which weaning has yet to be accomplished." This quote by Rosemary Low from her book "Hand-Rearing Parrots and Other Birds" certainly dispels the old myth that babies bond better to their new owners when weaned by them. Parrots are very adaptable creatures capable of bonding and re-bonding many times during their life. It is nature's way of ensuring survival of their species.

Many problems can be encountered by a novice attempting to wean a baby parrot and a few of the worst (and all too common) are listed below. They have caused much needless suffering and worse.

• The baby can be aspirated instantly with fatal results if formula is fed in an inappropriate manner.
  
  
• Formula that is too hot, or contains hot spots from microwaving can burn the crop seriously. Major trauma, infection and death can result, not to mention expensive vet bills.  
  
  
• Formula that is too cool will often be refused. A novice may assume the bird has entered the slimming phase or perhaps even be fully weaned, when in reality it is actually starving.
  
  
• Weaning regression can easily occur when mistakes are made near the end of the weaning process. Believe me no one would ever choose to go down that road. It could take as long as six months to delicately and safely redo the process.
  
  
• Bacterial infections can occur as a result of feeding utensils that are not properly disinfected or sterilized. This also happens when old formula is reheated and reused.
  
  
• Digestive system impaction can occur if the baby over eats, especially on items like seed.
  
  
• Physical injuries and shock can occur from human error or accidents such as falling or jumping off the feeding table.
  

In summary, an inexperienced individual is simply not competent nor properly equipped to deal with the many potential problems that can occur during the weaning process. Unfortunately, by the time a novice notices the bird is sick or starving, it may be too late to save the bird. All factors considered, it is my humble opinion that it is irresponsible to expect a novice to perform the task of weaning a baby parrot. Only the seller benefits from such an arrangement by reducing his workload and expenses (read increased profits).

For your own protection, purchase only weaned babies. That is the right way to get full value for your money.