early parrot education - stage 3 - fledgling

Stage 3: Fledgling

Stage

©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved

Educational Focus

Stage Three of Early Parrot EducationFledgling Stage

• Continuation of the weaning process. Crop has significantly regressed. Gregarious nature now awakening

• Increased water consumption is important as the fledgling is eating more dry granules

• Body conditioning and toning• Fledglings leave nursery “cavity” and are now introduced to fledgling

cage and larger flock• Most dramatic desensitization period – caution as regression often

occurs• Complete misting activity followed by basking session to encourage

wing flapping/exercise & self preening• Clumsy-awkward flight must be supervised & guided Flight harness can

be worn more safely as crop has regressed..• Chicks are learning their place within a flock when misting /basking

/foraging• 1st basic command is introduced step up step down out of cage to scale

perch• Cognitive communication is encouraged–vocal communication /body

language & eye contact now has more significance for mentoring• Self-preening education encouraged as mobility and stability increases

…continued


Educational Focus


• Gradual supervised socialization with fledglings of other clutches • Personalities are now beginning to be revealed and slightly challenged

and molded• Foraging through exploration - foraging activities still take place mainly

inside the fledgling cage• Fledglings are observers at this stage , and will become intrigued with

the educational sessions as the older fledglings engage in the classroom atmosphere• More opportunity to advance the towel cradling exercise as crop is

regressing• Desensitization to the nail manicure rotary tool or nail file to prepare

chicks for slight grooming when they are able to perch confidently • Rules of conduct using modeling, mentoring, and gentle handling,

must be established .

TOOLS

NurturingMonitoringSocializationDesensitizatio

nModelingMentoring


• Feathers have emerged on approximately 95% of body

• Body weight now resting off hocks

• To the inexperienced eye chicks may even resemble adult birds


Characteristics of this Stage



• Downsizing and firming of the crop continues

• Beak commissures have hardened

• Mobility is increased and chicks are resting off hocks now, using their beaks and wings to climb with more agility

• Chicks are more awake although may still need to nap

• Desensitization to the nail manicure rotary tool or nail file to prepare chicks for slight grooming when they are able to perch confidently


The youngest Amazon chick in the clutch is still in stage 2 a pre-fledgling , whereas the 2 oldest clutch mates ( a few days older) have reached the stage 3

1st basic command is introduced:Step up and step down on a scale perch

• Weight is monitored daily, on a scale perch

• A weight loss of up to 10% of the highest weight recorded (the plateau weight) is allowed throughout the stages of weaning provided it is not a dramatic weight loss.



Primary Lessons


Transition to Weaning/Fledgling Cage

Housing

• is slightly larger than transitional weaning cage

• it offers more mobility and higher perching opportunities

• Paper cage liner to ensure visual inspection of the droppings as these will be essential in monitoring to ensure a healthy and feeding strategy adapted to each individual in the weaning cage


• Although fledglings have a stronger grip and are perching with more confidence, slippery perches such as the Java /Manzanita or wooden dowels should still be avoided at this stage

• Perches must not be too small nor too large for the fledglings grip

• Abrasive perches should also be avoided despite the fact they offer excellent grip as the feet of the fledglings are still to delicate

Housing

Java wood perch too slippery and too large for this Jandaya conure fledgling



Perches must be securely attached to the cage; a fledgling on a perch that falls could loose confidence and be reluctant to attempt to perch again. Larger psittacines such as these green -winged macaws develop their motor skills more slowly than the smaller , less heavy weighted species. They are often in the transitional weaning cage for longer .


Housing


The base of the transitional cage can be

integrated within the fledgling cage to be

used as a chick pen. At times, the young

fledglings will take refuge in this pen while some may still use the

chick den.Note: blankets cover up at least 3 sides and top of the fledgling cage.



Housing


• Several food dishes should be added and placed strategically (close to and at approximately the same height as the perches) to ensure the fledglings have food available wherever they are perched. Not enough feeding dishes are installed in this set up

• A water bottle can be added to the fledgling cage in addition to a water dish as the fledglings will soon be educated to drink from such a dispenser


Housing

100% Weaning Granules is Instrumental to Weaning Success

Feeding Strategy


Feeding Strategy

• Chicks are offered soaked warm weaning granules at every feeding during the day in their weaning cage.

• Hand feeding formula is offered in the morning if fledglings are too hungry to eat from the soaked granules on their own or when spoon fed, and once again at the last feeding at night


Feeding Strategy

• The fledgling cage can be covered with the night cover to keep the fledglings concentrated on eating while the soaked granules are warm as they will need to be discarded once they have cooled to prevent spoiling. This will also provide a quieter retreat as they still need to nap at this age

• Chicks are encouraged to drink

more water as they are consuming more dry granules

Fledglings are exposed to other fledglings that have reached more advanced stages of weaning and training exercises for guidance. They are merely observers at this stage, and will become intrigued with the educational sessions as the older fledglings engage in this classroom atmosphere.


Primary Lessons


Primary LessonsForaging through exploration:

foraging activities still take place mainly inside the fledgling cage, although training sessions to further educate and desensitize them to slightly more dissimulated food morsels found in accessories of various textures & colors can be performed outside the cage ideally after their exercise time, and most importantly when they are not too hungry…as this activity is not to lure them , it is to make them proud of their discoveries, and reward their gregarious achievements. These foraging items will return with them in their weaning cages were they spend most of the day still at this stage, focusing on eating, preening, toning &conditioning their bodies & sleeping

Feeding Strategy



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2

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4

Primary Lessons

Towel Cradling Exercises Are More Advanced Due to Regression Of Crop


Misting and the provision of a basking light will naturally encourage preening activity and exercise through flapping. The light is essential (in cooler weather) to prevent the fledglings from becoming chilled when wet.

Exercise is crucial at this stage prior to any feeding or interaction in order to expend excess energy. This activity also promotes development of pectoral muscles. Ideally exercise sessions should be offered a minimum of 2x/day.


Primary Lessons

Misting Activity


Primary Lessons

Further desensitization to the nail manicure rotary tool or nail file continues in order to prepare the chicks for slight grooming when they are able to

perch confidently

Step 1: the fledgling is now perched on the caretaker’s finger, while the manicure rotary tool is used on the caretakers nails


Primary Lessons

Step 2: the manicure rotary tool is then used on the nails of the bird, to slightly blunt the tips as nails must remain sharp in this stage


Primary Lessons

• The clumsy-awkward flight of the fledgling must be supervised & guided when encouraged in a flight or indoor bird room.

• A flight harness can be worn more safely at this stage for supervised flight outdoors as the crop has regressed considerably for most individuals , although caution must be used not to encourage flight with the harness following feeding of large quantities of food .



Primary Lessons

Fledglings can be desensitized to the transport carrier while the fledgling cage is being cleaned



Nurturing but not over indulgence

Primary Lessons

Regrettably this is often when mentor caretakers overindulge in cuddling too much instead of encouraging independence. Fledglings become clingers at this stage if held too close and preened too close to body of caretakers; they then fear everything around them and fail to become independent and successfully find their place within a flock ©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved

early parrot education - stage 3 - fledgling

Education

fledgling cage fledglings

adult birds stage

body body weight

scale perch weight

agility chicks

nail file

older fledglings

selfpreening education