Blue and Gold Macaw Juvenile slow feather growth

by Suzi
(Texas)

I have a blue and gold macaw age 50 days that has slow growth was slow opening eyes but are fully open has wonderful appetite and good crop emptying is at good weight and very responsive and alert. Has pin feathers not errupted through skin has wing feathers still incased but has the plumage at the very ends open slightly. Feeding Exact macaw 100cc 4x a day

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Blue and Gold Macaw Juvenile slow feather growth

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Jun 28, 2012

Blue and Gold Macaw Juvenile slow feather growth
by: Suzi

I took the bird to an avian vet had the bird checked out the vet told me everything was fine with the bird I have handfed other birds including macaws I have a copy of The Large Macaws I use as a guideline. He said to keep on doing what I am doing he did suggest bumping up the humidity on the brooder I do weigh the baby and it is at good weight the vet also weighed the bird and agreed. I have always used zupreem in past and unfortunately in my area haven't been able to find anything but exact macaw I have never used this before on macaws. The vet said that the baby did have a rocky start and will just mature slower. I have never had one that was this slow so that as where my concern was. I was curious if anyone else had ever experienced this and I just needed comfirmation that things would be ok. I do thank you for your time and suggestions or comments.

Jun 28, 2012

Feeding young macaw
by: The Avian Vet

I recommend feeding a better hand feeding formula. Roudybush makes the best, KT makes to worst. Nutrition may be partly the cause of what you are witnessing. However, I recommend that you have this bird examined by an avian veterinarian with hand feeding experience. Have you hand fed before? Have you hand fed a macaw before? Are you weighing your bird daily? What has you think the growth is slow? Have any pictures you can share?

Dr B

Jun 26, 2012

Macaw baby
by: Suzi

Thank you Linda I have raised only 11 previously so I am still a novice but they all seemed to feather faster then this baby I do have an appt. already this Friday as to have a checkup to make sure there is no underlining problems I will let you know what their opinion is I basically wanted to see if anyone else had a slow maturing baby in the past and what it could be so I can be sure to have vet look for this.

Jun 26, 2012

Blue and Gold Macaw Juvenile slow feather growth
by: Linda

Well actually it sounds as if your bird is doing fine. I'm not familiar with the Exact formula and have always fed Roudybush breeder formula. Make sure the Exact has no chemical preservatives or other chemicals added that could be causing slower growth.

Since your bird is barely 2 months, old, it would be a great idea to take him to an Avian Vet ONLY and have him examined for any type of infection or other physical issue. A little basic bloodwork will show his overall health, and a throat swab will show if there are any bacterial infections present that would be keeping his feather production slower.

One thing you need to know, if you have not had Macaws before, is that they need to be handfed longer than smaller birds. This means to continue handfeeding up to and including 6 months and then begin the weaning process by introducing new foods. In the wild, Macaw and Cockatoo Mothers continue to feed their babies 9 months to a year while teaching them to forage(wean). The larger birds mature more slowly and this includes emotionally, so it is a wonderful idea to give them plenty of time to be babies. Your bird will be a better adjusted bird if you don't get in a hurry to wean. Most breeders hurry weaning them to the detriment of the bird, and then bird has emotional problems which their people have to deal with. A longer handfeeding time eliminates most of these problems.

Also, when ready to wean, please get some Harrison's organic pellets found here so he can be weaned onto a 100% nutrition high quality diet. His adult diet needs to be 80-85% organic pellets with 10-15% in organic fruit/veggies which means only a few times a week. The object is for birds to eat most of their diet in the organic pellets, and you'll be happy you are feeding the Harrisons because sick birds going to avian vet is rare when they are fed a healthy diet. Harrisons makes a bird bread mix that is liked by the birds and will forward the weaning when it is time. Use the Sunshine Factor Organic Red Palm Oil for the oil it calls for which is cold pressed and very good for skin and feathers.Right now, continue to feed him formula as he is NOT ready for more complex foods.

Write back later on and let us know how he's doing and keep up the good work!

Linda
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