For those who are interested ... the Opaline Fallow with yellow on her wings in this video is our PEACHES hen. She's featured in several later videos with her mate, STORMY, feeding clutches of their own. She's a truly sweet, sweet bird! Click on Rosie Bird by my picture and it will take you to several more videos of mine. If you follow it all the way to the end, it will say, "view all," to see many more. Peace & Blessings!
Rosie Bird no Thank You ! I learned so much you should plug your book here ... what's super cool is I noticed tonight your video follows mine. My Bourkes who are my brightest Brinx and Roxy feeding a clutch outside the nesting box .Have built a strong bond wi them through the years ♡♡♡
Hi Cynthia, Nice to know You Tube plugs my older videos, smile. The newer ones do have an ad for my book, but this one was done before the book was published. Hopefully, people will click "Rosie Bird" and see them all. Same with yours! Would like to talk to you sometime about shipping ... haven't done it and worry about Bourkes, that like veggies and not fruit. Do you ship Bourkes too? I know you do Splendids. Would be nice to swap some of our sweet Bourkes for a pair of your sweet Splendids ... like to dream about doing that. Had Splendids in the past, but got talked out of my last few. Bourkes remain my favorites, but Splendids come in second place. So pretty.
You are so beautifully gentle with these little birds. It's really refreshing to see, so much compassion, post my previous you tube search about clipping birds wings... some of the videos i watched about that were... really heartbreaking.. but... some were also incredibly tender, and considerate concerning the treatment of the birds and method of trimming. It made me so sick to see people, at times, so roughly and ruthlessly manhandling these delicate little creatures.. whereas here.. You, are so gentle and kind. it eases my heart so much. The more detailed info that is out there, the better, and Your videos are very succinct. I might only have two little budgies.. but.. they have so very much endeared me to bird care in general.
We use several sizes, some open in front and some at the top. Budgie or cockatiel sizes are fine. Hand fed babies go into a cardboard box that's of appropriate size until they're moved to a cage. At that time, we use tissue boxes that they can hide in, or come out of at their will. If you want to see our nest boxes, they are featured in several other videos. Click on Rosie Bird to see all, or here are some: ua-cam.com/video/NON8yUeBSvA/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/ZgawRE1F9d0/v-deo.html
That’s a very pleasant sound they are making 😍 nothing like a baby cockatiel lol I’m just about to start breeding bourkes and grass parakeets so this is going to be quite a change from breeding cockatiels 👍🏻 excellent video
Thanks! Lots of information in my recently published book, "Rosie Bird's Guide to Small Exotic Birds" by Gail A. Lewis. Hope you will get a copy. Available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon and others. Here's a link to it on Amazon in the USA: www.amazon.com/dp/198676348X/
Hi I love your videos _ gives me hope ! I have two chicks and mummy has died so dad is feeding both , I want to help him but the smallest one is reluctant to take food , any advice please??
Thank you for the kind words, and good luck with your little ones. If you are using an eye dropper like I use, sometimes it is necessary to inch the beak open with the tip of the dropper and put food in their mouth even when they don't want it. Is it possible that the baby is already full enough from dad feeding him? Or, has the food cooled too much? They like it very warm, and I'd start out with a very thin food that you can get into the baby's beak and watch to see it swallow. Summary: 1) is the crop nearly empty? 2) Is the formula temp very, very warm, but not hot? 3) Can you GENTLY force open the beak to drop in some THIN formula to get the baby started? Clean off any excess with a very warm rag or tissue. Sending prayers your way!
You are such a patient and loving breeder. It shows how much you love raising these sweet birds. I was curious, Is this formula something you make or buy?
+Beth Thornton If I missed seeing this, Beth, I apologize. I buy Exact Hand Feeding formula. Some people make theirs, but the Exact works well for me. Directions are on the package. I do make egg food for them when they are laying or raising young, however. I've made video's preparing it, but haven't put one up yet.
Added note: The first baby being hand fed in this video is Peaches, who is now the mother of five babies in the Sept. 14, 2015 video "Rosy Bourke Parakeets, Some Newly Hatched Being Fed." Can't seem to add a link to it from here.
my baby is 7 wks old and being hand fed.the breeder introduced him /her to taking the formula from the bowl of a spoon. ibrought him /her home yesterday (sunday ) little one is doing well. the most favorite place for this baby to sleep after eating is snuggled under my chin. I have put a bit of seed down and noticed today he was eating some of it.wheni do start weaning do I cut back on formula and gradually increase the seed ? also , right now he is in a small cage right beside my 4 mos old rosey. leave him there for a couple of weeks or put him in with her shortly. thanks for your videos, looking forward to your advise.
Adult Bourkes get a Budgie seed mix enhanced with vitamins & minerals. I buy Hagen Budgie Supreme. They also get fresh vegies almost every day. Usually it's what we are having for lunch or dinner. Can be cooked corn, peas, green beans or carrots. Also, we often offer fresh chopped kale or broccoli. Lately, at breakfast we've offered rice chex cereal from our hands and they love it. Hand fed baby Bourkes get Kaytee Hand Feeding Formula, typically pulling them from their parents at two weeks of age. Follow directions... I boil the water before mixing it and let it cool until warm, neither hot nor cold.
This depends on their age. After two weeks of age, feed five times a day. Later, about four or five weeks of age they can be fed four times a day. But, if they are newly hatched, they need to be fed every two to three hours, even twice during the night. When two weeks old they don't need feeding at night any longer, but still five times a day, once early in the morning and before you go to bed at night.
Hi Penny, Sure, go ahead. It would be appreciated if you'd add something like, "to contact Rosie Birds with questions on small exotic birds, you can reach her at rosie.birds@gmail.com. " Thanks!
Penny, I think I found your website and it looks like you will just link to the You Tube video. That's fine with me, so if the comment doesn't fit, you don't have to use it.
Thank you so much. I did use your comment and video. Here is the page I posted it on. petcentralhotnewsaboutanimalbird.weebly.com/baby-parakeet-budgie-care-tips.html
Hi, how many times a day do you feed your baby Journeys ? When they go off hand feeding do they start eating seed ?? I'm considering a baby but I want to know what I'm doing. I've had budgies, parrots, cockatiels, and lots of different finches but its been a few Yeats and I've never hand fed.
If Bourkes are 2 weeks old then feeding 5 times a day is the right amount. Any younger than that and they need to be fed at night too. Feed just before going to bed and upon rising in the morning. Bourkes need hand feeding longer than other birds. Even after fledging their parents continue to feed them for another week or two. The best thing to offer fully feathered birds is spray millet in addition to their seed mix. Even if they are eating some seed, continue hand feeding until 7 to 8 weeks of age for a Bourke Parakeet. Every variety of bird requirements will differ.
Hi Laura Elrod Bourke Parakeets are the the most quiet Parakeet variety. A few finches might be quieter...although my Lady Gouldian finch babies in the nest are loud, even though their parents aren't. Baby Bourkes in the nest are very quiet. Male Bourkes have a sweet song and can wolf whistle naturally. Not good at imitation, but they love trying to talk to their owner. Please see my blog, The Splendid Bourke Bird Blog on BlogSpot for lots more information.
My Rosa Bourke goes mad listening to this video lol. I think he finds it very intriguing and therapeutic. May i ask what you feed you adult Bourkes on??
Our Bourkes always have Budgie seed available. We buy Hagen that's fortified with extra vitamins. They also always have cuttle bone (important), mineral block, oyster shell and a brown rabbit salt block. Every other day or so they get extra veggies, usually what we're having for dinner. They love cooked corn, peas, green beans. They get fresh kale or fresh broccoli two or three times a week. Bourkes love veggies, but mine won't touch any kind of fruit...it's for other kinds of birds.
Whoever told you that was not very familiar with Bourke Parakeets. All others like fruit, but Bourkes are a classification all their own and very different: Neosephotus bourkii ... Yes, they're a Grasskeet, but still different from the Neophemas that they're no longer classified with. Try giving yours fresh broccoli and I bet he loves it. They simply are not fruit eaters, not even apples.
Rosie Bird well it does say on the internet that they apparently love apples.. green ones only. However bird has never gone for it. I have tried broccoli... still hasn't gone for it. He just loved fresh boiled egg and budgie seed. And millet. Tried him on other fruit and veg and hr doesnt go for it. Not even salary.
Mine aren't fond of celery either. But, they love fresh chopped kale or broccoli. Cooked corn is their favorite, although they like peas and green beans too. But, I buy the petite, sweet frozen kind because it's what we like. It's always freshly cooked and allowed to cool. Maybe mine all learn what to like from each other. I recently discovered that they love Rice Chex cereal ... RICE though, not any of the other chex mixes. :-)
Hi there! I keep referencing this video as I'm about to pull my first three Bourkes babies to hand feed. Have had experience with many other species, all of them being at least a little larger (or at least their beaks are). So I feel like I'm headed into new territory with these! I normally use a bent spoon for feeding, but I see you're using what I assume to be a glass eye dropper with a bent tip. Is this because they're small? Will they do okay with the same bent spoon size I use for lovebirds, cockatiels, etc? I notice these guys don't seem to bob their heads like other birds I've fed but just seen to lap it up.
I pull Bourke babies between two and three weeks of age. The first time they are to be hand fed, they may resist it. The eye dropper allows me to put it into the side of their bills and open them so they taste the food and then want it. I don't think a spoon would work well for that. An eye dropper simply works best. They come in two-packs, one with a bent tip and one without. Either one works. I prefer the bent tip, but have often used the straight tip. I recommend using them instead of a spoon. You can see what the bird is getting and control how much is released. Be sure to wash off any excess left on the bird, especially hidden under cheek patches. Best of luck.
@@RosieBirds Thanks for the quick response and great advice! I'll get some right away. One other question... how did you end up feeling about co-feeding with the parents as far as final tameness goes? I've seen you reference it in other videos.
@@shawnaellis9059 This works fine if you have the discipline to be sure you hand feed at least once a day. I found it easy to "forget" to bother ... not a good idea. However, the babies tame down fine ... but, my parents are tame too and that is probably a vital component.
@@RosieBirds Thanks again. My parents aren't finger tame but are fine with me handling the babies. I may just pull the babies soon since I have time to commit to fully feeding them and they seem like such enjoyable, sweet babies to care for. I don't have any other babies right now so I will focus fully on the Bourkes so their future owners can have very tame birds. Thanks again! You are a wonderful resource and your love for these birds shines through in your voice, demeanor and your willingness to share your knowledge!
@@shawnaellis9059 Thank you. Where are you located? I know people searching for Bourkes who aren't close enough to me to come get any. Possibly could direct them to you.
Hello Bowie the bird ... You can contact me at rosie.birds@gmail.com We are located on the southern Oregon coast. I don't ship, but winter is the worst time to ship a bird anyway. Hot summer is not good either, so if you find one that can be shipped, I suggest Spring or Fall. If you are anywhere in Oregon or Northern Calif., contact me through the email above. Peace & Blessings.
Do they a have to be kept warm, should I put a hot water bottle with them? I'm planning on getting one baby and hand rearing it myself cause an aviary breeder I'm getting one off won't hand rear one so I was planning on doing it myself.
You will have better success with two birds. They help keep each other warm. And, wait until they are two weeks old to begin hand feeding. We used a nearby heater, but once the birds start to feather, if your house is heated, they should be okay. I'd worry about a hot water bottle ... it cools over time and could start out too hot. Don't put it under the birds ... they need to be able to move toward, or away, from the heat source. The same thing for a heating pad ... too risky. Pages 67 to 73 cover hand feeding in my book, "Rosie Bird's Guide to Small Exotic Birds." It's available in most countries through Amazon. Here is a link for the USA: www.amazon.com/dp/198676348X/
I didn't see this right away. You can always write to rosie.birds@gmail.com to get a quicker response. I would have recommended four to five times a day with formula, allowing him to eat all he wants to.
+rinaldi ponto I order Kaytee Exact Hand Feeding Formula from seller's online. Be sure you don't get the kind for macaws and parrots, but formula for small birds and follow the directions on the package.
+rinaldi ponto Adult Bourkes can eat cooked corn, peas, green beans and carrots ... mixed vegetables are good. They also love fresh kale and broccoli. They don't care much for fruit. Egg food with ground shells is good (after they've been boiled). Visit The Splendid Bourke Bird Blog on BlogSpot for details on making egg food and more on their diet.
Hello, sorry this isn't about the video but I have a couple of bourkes and their baby just hatched but they stopped going in their nest. Idk what to do bc it's only a few days old but the baby is getting colder and isn't fed. I want to try to help it survive but I don't have to adequate tools to do that, I don't have anything to warm it or the right food to give it. Please anyone answer quickly bc i feel sorry for it and I don't know what to do 😰😰😰😰😰. HELP
Sorry if I missed seeing this right away. I boil the water in a glass measuring cup in a microwave. Then put the right amount in a glass bowl before adding measured powdered formula and stirring until mixed. Then test it against my wrist until it's very warm, but not hot. Temp. tests like a baby's formula would be. It shouldn't be cold or too hot, but better too cool then too hot. As the babies feather out, they can eat it less warm, so as it cools it's still okay. Older babies actually begin to eat less then while they are still growing.
any tips on how to wean off of formula to seed. i have a about 7 week old blue budgie. the mother died a month ago we dont know what from and i have been hand feeding daily we lost 2 of the 3 that hatched very sad but atleast one survived
+SjCFIVE Spray millet is our favorite thing to offer young parakeets of any variety. It's easy for them to eat. There are also mixes of nestling food that are easy, some seed and powder together. You may have to feed him a couple of weeks longer even after he begins to eat the spray millet. Hope you're feeding him 3 or 4 times a day. Leave spray millet where he can "play" with it and learn to eat it. Keep him warm, but once feathered they can go into a cage with a small box or place to hide. Leave water, seed and millet there for him. Good luck. Sorry about the hen. I'd suggest looking at The Splendid Bourke Bird Blog on BlogSpot and check out the Label List for topics that will help you.
Bowie The bird Wondering if you ever got your Bourke Parakeet. They are sweethearts. I've several to choose from right now, but still can't ship. We're on the beautiful south coast of Oregon. Peace & Blessings.
+Gina PhelpsHello Gina, My parent birds stuff their babies so full that they look like they could explode. So, I don't think you could possibly over feed a baby Bourke. There is more risk of not feeding them enough. I feed the Bourke babies until they don't want to eat any longer. However, with Linnies it's different...I think they would eat until they explode. Hah! So, I fed them until they looked good and full. That works for Bourkes too ... make sure the crops are very extended. Don't force food, or they might choke. Let them swallow as they need to. I have photos of full babies on some videos and on The Splendid Bourke Bird Blog on BlogSpot.
+Rosie Bird THANKS we have recently had an unexpected baby in our little flock. We are going to start hand feeding some this week just to make sure he/she is not afraid of us. Its parents are terrified of people (they are rescue parakeets)
For those who are interested ... the Opaline Fallow with yellow on her wings in this video is our PEACHES hen. She's featured in several later videos with her mate, STORMY, feeding clutches of their own. She's a truly sweet, sweet bird! Click on Rosie Bird by my picture and it will take you to several more videos of mine. If you follow it all the way to the end, it will say, "view all," to see many more. Peace & Blessings!
Love this woman she is the main reason I got into Bourkes. Wonderful loving gentle and so knowledgeable she has even wrote a book !!!
How sweet. Thank you!
Rosie Bird no Thank You ! I learned so much you should plug your book here
... what's super cool is I noticed tonight your video follows mine. My Bourkes who are my brightest Brinx and Roxy feeding a clutch outside the nesting box
.Have built a strong bond wi them through the years ♡♡♡
Hi Cynthia, Nice to know You Tube plugs my older videos, smile. The newer ones do have an ad for my book, but this one was done before the book was published. Hopefully, people will click "Rosie Bird" and see them all. Same with yours! Would like to talk to you sometime about shipping ... haven't done it and worry about Bourkes, that like veggies and not fruit. Do you ship Bourkes too? I know you do Splendids. Would be nice to swap some of our sweet Bourkes for a pair of your sweet Splendids ... like to dream about doing that. Had Splendids in the past, but got talked out of my last few. Bourkes remain my favorites, but Splendids come in second place. So pretty.
i love ur voice!! i found 5 parrots today and donated 2 to the local breeding zoo
You are so beautifully gentle with these little birds. It's really refreshing to see, so much compassion, post my previous you tube search about clipping birds wings... some of the videos i watched about that were... really heartbreaking.. but... some were also incredibly tender, and considerate concerning the treatment of the birds and method of trimming. It made me so sick to see people, at times, so roughly and ruthlessly manhandling these delicate little creatures.. whereas here.. You, are so gentle and kind. it eases my heart so much. The more detailed info that is out there, the better, and Your videos are very succinct. I might only have two little budgies.. but.. they have so very much endeared me to bird care in general.
Thank you. Birds are very intelligent creatures and, like all animals, deserve kind treatment.
love your videos. such peace and calm.
Thank you. Peace & Blessings to you...
what is the size of your nestbox
We use several sizes, some open in front and some at the top. Budgie or cockatiel sizes are fine. Hand fed babies go into a cardboard box that's of appropriate size until they're moved to a cage. At that time, we use tissue boxes that they can hide in, or come out of at their will. If you want to see our nest boxes, they are featured in several other videos. Click on Rosie Bird to see all, or here are some:
ua-cam.com/video/NON8yUeBSvA/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/ZgawRE1F9d0/v-deo.html
Love your kitty, looks very well behaved haha
This is my favorite video:)
That’s a very pleasant sound they are making 😍 nothing like a baby cockatiel lol I’m just about to start breeding bourkes and grass parakeets so this is going to be quite a change from breeding cockatiels 👍🏻 excellent video
Thanks! Lots of information in my recently published book, "Rosie Bird's Guide to Small Exotic Birds" by Gail A. Lewis. Hope you will get a copy. Available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon and others. Here's a link to it on Amazon in the USA: www.amazon.com/dp/198676348X/
your being very patient feeding them that's the best way to do that I can't stand it when someone is being rough with their baby birds
she reminds me of the narrator in the cartoon franklin
You caught me, that was supposed to be a secret ... Just kidding!
Hi I love your videos _ gives me hope ! I have two chicks and mummy has died so dad is feeding both , I want to help him but the smallest one is reluctant to take food , any advice please??
Thank you for the kind words, and good luck with your little ones. If you are using an eye dropper like I use, sometimes it is necessary to inch the beak open with the tip of the dropper and put food in their mouth even when they don't want it. Is it possible that the baby is already full enough from dad feeding him? Or, has the food cooled too much? They like it very warm, and I'd start out with a very thin food that you can get into the baby's beak and watch to see it swallow. Summary: 1) is the crop nearly empty? 2) Is the formula temp very, very warm, but not hot? 3) Can you GENTLY force open the beak to drop in some THIN formula to get the baby started?
Clean off any excess with a very warm rag or tissue. Sending prayers your way!
You are such a patient and loving breeder. It shows how much you love raising these sweet birds. I was curious, Is this formula something you make or buy?
+Beth Thornton If I missed seeing this, Beth, I apologize. I buy Exact Hand Feeding formula. Some people make theirs, but the Exact works well for me. Directions are on the package. I do make egg food for them when they are laying or raising young, however. I've made video's preparing it, but haven't put one up yet.
Added note: The first baby being hand fed in this video is Peaches, who is now the mother of five babies in the Sept. 14, 2015 video "Rosy Bourke Parakeets, Some Newly Hatched Being Fed." Can't seem to add a link to it from here.
my baby is 7 wks old and being hand fed.the breeder introduced him /her to taking the formula from the bowl of a spoon. ibrought him /her home yesterday (sunday ) little one is doing well. the most favorite place for this baby to sleep after eating is snuggled under my chin. I have put a bit of seed down and noticed today he was eating some of it.wheni do start weaning do I cut back on formula and gradually increase the seed ? also , right now he is in a small cage right beside my 4 mos old rosey. leave him there for a couple of weeks or put him in with her shortly. thanks for your videos, looking forward to your advise.
what do you feed your bourkes.
Adult Bourkes get a Budgie seed mix enhanced with vitamins & minerals. I buy Hagen Budgie Supreme. They also get fresh vegies almost every day. Usually it's what we are having for lunch or dinner. Can be cooked corn, peas, green beans or carrots. Also, we often offer fresh chopped kale or broccoli. Lately, at breakfast we've offered rice chex cereal from our hands and they love it. Hand fed baby Bourkes get Kaytee Hand Feeding Formula, typically pulling them from their parents at two weeks of age. Follow directions... I boil the water before mixing it and let it cool until warm, neither hot nor cold.
how many times a day you should feed the babied
This depends on their age. After two weeks of age, feed five times a day. Later, about four or five weeks of age they can be fed four times a day. But, if they are newly hatched, they need to be fed every two to three hours, even twice during the night. When two weeks old they don't need feeding at night any longer, but still five times a day, once early in the morning and before you go to bed at night.
I like your video and would like to feature it on my website Pet Central Supply, if that is okay with you??
Hi Penny, Sure, go ahead. It would be appreciated if you'd add something like, "to contact Rosie Birds with questions on small exotic birds, you can reach her at rosie.birds@gmail.com. " Thanks!
Penny, I think I found your website and it looks like you will just link to the You Tube video. That's fine with me, so if the comment doesn't fit, you don't have to use it.
Thank you so much. I did use your comment and video. Here is the page I posted it on. petcentralhotnewsaboutanimalbird.weebly.com/baby-parakeet-budgie-care-tips.html
Hi, how many times a day do you feed your baby Journeys ? When they go off hand feeding do they start eating seed ??
I'm considering a baby but I want to know what I'm doing. I've had budgies, parrots, cockatiels, and lots of different finches but its been a few Yeats and I've never hand fed.
If Bourkes are 2 weeks old then feeding 5 times a day is the right amount. Any younger than that and they need to be fed at night too. Feed just before going to bed and upon rising in the morning. Bourkes need hand feeding longer than other birds. Even after fledging their parents continue to feed them for another week or two. The best thing to offer fully feathered birds is spray millet in addition to their seed mix. Even if they are eating some seed, continue hand feeding until 7 to 8 weeks of age for a Bourke Parakeet. Every variety of bird requirements will differ.
oh my goodness i just love them i just trying to learn about these birds i just lost my cockatiel and looking for something that isn't loud
Hi Laura Elrod Bourke Parakeets are the the most quiet Parakeet variety. A few finches might be quieter...although my Lady Gouldian finch babies in the nest are loud, even though their parents aren't. Baby Bourkes in the nest are very quiet. Male Bourkes have a sweet song and can wolf whistle naturally. Not good at imitation, but they love trying to talk to their owner. Please see my blog, The Splendid Bourke Bird Blog on BlogSpot for lots more information.
My Rosa Bourke goes mad listening to this video lol. I think he finds it very intriguing and therapeutic. May i ask what you feed you adult Bourkes on??
Our Bourkes always have Budgie seed available. We buy Hagen that's fortified with extra vitamins. They also always have cuttle bone (important), mineral block, oyster shell and a brown rabbit salt block. Every other day or so they get extra veggies, usually what we're having for dinner. They love cooked corn, peas, green beans. They get fresh kale or fresh broccoli two or three times a week. Bourkes love veggies, but mine won't touch any kind of fruit...it's for other kinds of birds.
Rosie Bird thanks for the response. I will try corn. Hes very picky on fruit himself. I was told they love apples but mine dont
Whoever told you that was not very familiar with Bourke Parakeets. All others like fruit, but Bourkes are a classification all their own and very different: Neosephotus bourkii ... Yes, they're a Grasskeet, but still different from the Neophemas that they're no longer classified with. Try giving yours fresh broccoli and I bet he loves it. They simply are not fruit eaters, not even apples.
Rosie Bird well it does say on the internet that they apparently love apples.. green ones only. However bird has never gone for it. I have tried broccoli... still hasn't gone for it. He just loved fresh boiled egg and budgie seed. And millet. Tried him on other fruit and veg and hr doesnt go for it. Not even salary.
Mine aren't fond of celery either. But, they love fresh chopped kale or broccoli. Cooked corn is their favorite, although they like peas and green beans too. But, I buy the petite, sweet frozen kind because it's what we like. It's always freshly cooked and allowed to cool. Maybe mine all learn what to like from each other. I recently discovered that they love Rice Chex cereal ... RICE though, not any of the other chex mixes. :-)
Hi there! I keep referencing this video as I'm about to pull my first three Bourkes babies to hand feed. Have had experience with many other species, all of them being at least a little larger (or at least their beaks are). So I feel like I'm headed into new territory with these! I normally use a bent spoon for feeding, but I see you're using what I assume to be a glass eye dropper with a bent tip. Is this because they're small? Will they do okay with the same bent spoon size I use for lovebirds, cockatiels, etc? I notice these guys don't seem to bob their heads like other birds I've fed but just seen to lap it up.
I pull Bourke babies between two and three weeks of age. The first time they are to be hand fed, they may resist it. The eye dropper allows me to put it into the side of their bills and open them so they taste the food and then want it. I don't think a spoon would work well for that. An eye dropper simply works best. They come in two-packs, one with a bent tip and one without. Either one works. I prefer the bent tip, but have often used the straight tip. I recommend using them instead of a spoon. You can see what the bird is getting and control how much is released. Be sure to wash off any excess left on the bird, especially hidden under cheek patches. Best of luck.
@@RosieBirds Thanks for the quick response and great advice! I'll get some right away. One other question... how did you end up feeling about co-feeding with the parents as far as final tameness goes? I've seen you reference it in other videos.
@@shawnaellis9059 This works fine if you have the discipline to be sure you hand feed at least once a day. I found it easy to "forget" to bother ... not a good idea. However, the babies tame down fine ... but, my parents are tame too and that is probably a vital component.
@@RosieBirds Thanks again. My parents aren't finger tame but are fine with me handling the babies. I may just pull the babies soon since I have time to commit to fully feeding them and they seem like such enjoyable, sweet babies to care for. I don't have any other babies right now so I will focus fully on the Bourkes so their future owners can have very tame birds. Thanks again! You are a wonderful resource and your love for these birds shines through in your voice, demeanor and your willingness to share your knowledge!
@@shawnaellis9059 Thank you. Where are you located? I know people searching for Bourkes who aren't close enough to me to come get any. Possibly could direct them to you.
Hello Bowie the bird ... You can contact me at rosie.birds@gmail.com We are located on the southern Oregon coast. I don't ship, but winter is the worst time to ship a bird anyway. Hot summer is not good either, so if you find one that can be shipped, I suggest Spring or Fall. If you are anywhere in Oregon or Northern Calif., contact me through the email above. Peace & Blessings.
Do they a have to be kept warm, should I put a hot water bottle with them? I'm planning on getting one baby and hand rearing it myself cause an aviary breeder I'm getting one off won't hand rear one so I was planning on doing it myself.
You will have better success with two birds. They help keep each other warm. And, wait until they are two weeks old to begin hand feeding. We used a nearby heater, but once the birds start to feather, if your house is heated, they should be okay. I'd worry about a hot water bottle ... it cools over time and could start out too hot. Don't put it under the birds ... they need to be able to move toward, or away, from the heat source. The same thing for a heating pad ... too risky. Pages 67 to 73 cover hand feeding in my book, "Rosie Bird's Guide to Small Exotic Birds." It's available in most countries through Amazon. Here is a link for the USA: www.amazon.com/dp/198676348X/
my cockatiel is about 25 days how many times should I feed him I have no Idea can you please help me
I didn't see this right away. You can always write to rosie.birds@gmail.com to get a quicker response. I would have recommended four to five times a day with formula, allowing him to eat all he wants to.
what are you feed to them?
+rinaldi ponto I order Kaytee Exact Hand Feeding Formula from seller's online. Be sure you don't get the kind for macaws and parrots, but formula for small birds and follow the directions on the package.
any recommended homemade food? like vegetables or something?
+rinaldi ponto Adult Bourkes can eat cooked corn, peas, green beans and carrots ... mixed vegetables are good. They also love fresh kale and broccoli. They don't care much for fruit. Egg food with ground shells is good (after they've been boiled). Visit The Splendid Bourke Bird Blog on BlogSpot for details on making egg food and more on their diet.
Hello, sorry this isn't about the video but I have a couple of bourkes and their baby just hatched but they stopped going in their nest. Idk what to do bc it's only a few days old but the baby is getting colder and isn't fed. I want to try to help it survive but I don't have to adequate tools to do that, I don't have anything to warm it or the right food to give it. Please anyone answer quickly bc i feel sorry for it and I don't know what to do 😰😰😰😰😰. HELP
Write to: rosie.birds@gmail.com
I have the formula but I do not know how to make it. Either my water was too cold or I'm doing something wrong. Can you help me or make a video?
Sorry if I missed seeing this right away. I boil the water in a glass measuring cup in a microwave. Then put the right amount in a glass bowl before adding measured powdered formula and stirring until mixed. Then test it against my wrist until it's very warm, but not hot. Temp. tests like a baby's formula would be. It shouldn't be cold or too hot, but better too cool then too hot. As the babies feather out, they can eat it less warm, so as it cools it's still okay. Older babies actually begin to eat less then while they are still growing.
any tips on how to wean off of formula to seed. i have a about 7 week old blue budgie. the mother died a month ago we dont know what from and i have been hand feeding daily we lost 2 of the 3 that hatched very sad but atleast one survived
+SjCFIVE Spray millet is our favorite thing to offer young parakeets of any variety. It's easy for them to eat. There are also mixes of nestling food that are easy, some seed and powder together. You may have to feed him a couple of weeks longer even after he begins to eat the spray millet. Hope you're feeding him 3 or 4 times a day. Leave spray millet where he can "play" with it and learn to eat it. Keep him warm, but once feathered they can go into a cage with a small box or place to hide. Leave water, seed and millet there for him. Good luck. Sorry about the hen. I'd suggest looking at The Splendid Bourke Bird Blog on BlogSpot and check out the Label List for topics that will help you.
Do you sell them? I really want one and they're really hard to find. If you do, would you do shipping if I contacted you somehow? :)
Bowie The bird Wondering if you ever got your Bourke Parakeet. They are sweethearts. I've several to choose from right now, but still can't ship. We're on the beautiful south coast of Oregon. Peace & Blessings.
Sadly have not yet :(
But I live over in BC and they are very hard to find. Thankyou for your reply :)
how do you know how much to feed them?
+Gina PhelpsHello Gina, My parent birds stuff their babies so full that they look like they could explode. So, I don't think you could possibly over feed a baby Bourke. There is more risk of not feeding them enough. I feed the Bourke babies until they don't want to eat any longer. However, with Linnies it's different...I think they would eat until they explode. Hah! So, I fed them until they looked good and full. That works for Bourkes too ... make sure the crops are very extended. Don't force food, or they might choke. Let them swallow as they need to. I have photos of full babies on some videos and on The Splendid Bourke Bird Blog on BlogSpot.
+Rosie Bird THANKS we have recently had an unexpected baby in our little flock. We are going to start hand feeding some this week just to make sure he/she is not afraid of us. Its parents are terrified of people (they are rescue parakeets)