Why won't my Alexandrine parrot eat hand-feed? Is it weaning?

If Chikuu is already weaned he should be just fine eating on his own and should always have a balanced diet offered in his cage for him to munch on. You can, however, continue to offer treats and other extras by hand to help bond together and interact together on a daily basis!

The diet being offered currently is not appropriate. At 6 weeks old, Sparky should still be getting a hand feeding formula. A link is included below. Feedings may range between 4 and 8 a day depending on the weight and species. I would suggest having the bird physically examined by a veterinarian or an experienced avian vet to confirm good health. Weaning typically takes place between 8 and 12 weeks of age. At this point, transition to a commercial pelleted diet (Roudybush, LaFeber, Harrison's or Pretty Bird). Introduce other foods gradually and offer a small amount of a fortified seed mix. https://www.kaytee.com/learn-care/pet-birds/hand-feeding

If Mitthu doesn't want to eat food he is normally interested in, it is always best to have him sen by a vet to make sure there isn't an issue such as illness or injury causing him to not want to eat. Watery stool could be due to the food he is eating, being given too many treats, parasites, or general GI upset. Removing any extras such as excess fruits and veggies for a few days may help clear up the stool, however if he continues to not want to eat or has watery stool, the vet is best. If he checks out healthy, then switching him to a balanced parrot diet (many pet stores will carry commercial feeds that are usually a mix of pellets and various nuts and seeds) can help encourage him to eat more. You can add in some fruits and veggies as treats to help keep him happy and his diet varied.

Yes, you can wean him off the formula now. Average weaning is between 7 and 8 weeks of age. I would go to once a day for the next week or so and then do once every other day for a week or so and if all is OK (gaining weight, etc) then you can stop completely. Hope this helps. Best wishes!

Hi and thank you for your question. This is quite a common behavior. If he is aggressive near/in the cage, get him out of this area using a glove or a perch before you handle him. Avoid any reaction to his bites, as this will only reinforce this behavior. Instead, you can place him somewhere low and leave the room for a while. Reward him only when he is well behaved. Regards

It's possible your male is stressing out your female to the point of not eating. If she isn't in the mood to mate she may not be ready to produce eggs yet, and continued harassment by your male could lead to more stress. It is best to separate the two for a day or so to see if she returns to normal behavior without the stress of your male around. If she continues to not eat or has other symptoms of illness it is best to seek veterinary care to make sure she is not egg-bound or otherwise sick.

In birds, weaning can begin around 10 weeks of age. Larger species take much longer to wean, as long as 6 months in some cases. When you see Muthu picking up things and exploring, then you can begin to offer "adult" foods. The pellets mentioned in an earlier answer can be soaked with warm water or a bit of juice to stimulate his appetite. At the same time, begin to decrease the amount of baby food and handfeedings if applicable. This can be a stressful period for chicks, so close monitoring is essential. Weigh him daily and monitor for lethargy or loose droppings.