early parrot education - stage 6 - feeding enrichment

Stage 6: Feeding and

Environmental Enrichment

©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved

Educational Focus

Stage 6 of Early Parrot Education Feeding and Environmental Enrichment

• Successfully weaned fledgling has been maintaining a stable healthy weight without regressing to prior stages for past week, despite being desensitized to further independence away from flock mates.

• This last educational stage of EPE is often carried out after the fledgling has left the breeder… unless the individual will be kept for future breeding.

• The Primary Lessons progress charts as well as the Companion Parrot Weight monitoring forms should be given to the new caretakers in the hopes the fledgling maintains all that he has learned to help his journey to companionship with his new human & feathered flock

TOOLS

Nurturing MonitoringSocialization DesensitizationModelingMentoringPlay


Weighing RecommendationsFledglings should be weighed as frequently as possible since regression is common at this stage. We believe daily weighing is fundamental to ensure proper monitoring when matured fledgling leaves for a new home. The routine learnt in the earlier stages to step out of the sleeping cage onto a scale perch to be weighed in the morning will also reassure the fledgling with a familiar activity



The matured fledgling has maintained its weaning independence on weaning extruded diet and occasional millet for the smaller psittacine species. Enrichment foods can now be introduced as well as the extruded morsels in the foraging accessories . Feeding dishes should only offer the extruded diet

Feeding StrategyStage 6 of Early Parrot Education Feeding and Environmental Enrichment

Feeding Strategy

Fresh fruits and veggies, hulled seeds and nuts, as well as healthy table food can be gradually introduced in small quantities to allow the fledgling to discover and savour new textures.

Be careful, however; balanced nutrition must be ensured!



Introductory foods should be offered in the late afternoon or at supper time while enjoying flock foraging with the family caretakers or other birds.

. They have learnt to forage and play with toys and so this education must be conserved.

Small morsels of enrichment foods should be offered to prevent the birds from playing with their food

Offering a whole apple to a large macaw could potentially contribute to too much sugar, be wasteful and perhaps destroy the balanced diet this fledgling was educated to maintain©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved


Nest cavity exploration is encourage for the fledglings that have been selected for future breeding .Although they will soon mature to their juvenile life stage and for some of the larger species , may not start to breed for several years, they can nonetheless become familiar with nesting sites.

Education for Future Breeding Individuals

Compatibility within the new flock must be ensured . Regression to a previous stage can have dramatical consequences should the matured fledging not be well integrated and closely monitored. As clearly visible in this photograph the macaw perched at the bottom of the flight displays an concerning posture, has secluded itself (or been forced to ) from the macaws at the top of the flight. His facial expression and lack of vigor in his eyes


As clearly visible in this photograph the macaw perched at the bottom of the flight displays an concerning posture, has secluded itself or has been secluded from the macaws at the top of the flight. His facial expression and lack of vigor in his eyes, is undoubtedly associated with a fledgling that is in need of immediate attention.©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved

Primary Lessons


The matured well educated fledgling is comfortable to have the harness placed and adjusted ideally by more than 1 caretaker. This harness can also leave with the fledgling when it leaves for its new home


Primary Lessons

Encourage yet monitor time away from the flock or cage mates.


Caretaker should continue to be opportunistic with foraging opportunities


Continue to be opportunistic with foraging opportunities

Primary Lessons

More toys can now be introduced into the day cage, after desensitization.


Nursery caretakers must be creative and intuitive by offering enriching environmental stimuli while at the same time providing

gratifying and challenging occupational activity.

Primary Lessons



Primary Lessons


The matures well educated fledgling is comfortable with a towel. This comfy blanket can also be included in the bird’s departure kit when it leaves for its new home


Primary Lessons


The fledgling is now completely desensitized to the physical exam and ready for the “new bird exam” that will be performed by an avian veterinarian

Primary Lessons


The fledgling is also comfortable having its nails, and flight feathers groomed.

Primary Lessons


Primary lessons in the previous educational stages has desensitized the fledgling to nail grooming using a manicure rotary tool or a nail file, therefore the use of grooming utility perches have no purpose for the well educated companion bird. Should a caretaker choose to place an abrasive perch in the birds living quarters , they should not be placed in the sleeping cage , nor be positioned as the highest perch in a day cage, as they can lead to pododermatitis when used excessively

Primary Lessons


Regular inspection of the feet to detect the slightest onset of pododermatitis.

Primary Lessons


Training stands should always have a water and feeding dish, to ensure birds are not hungry nor thirsty during training sessions. The EPE philosophy firmly believes fledgling must not be trained with food as a reward. Mentors must respect their intelligence and capacity to learn without luring them. Rules of conduct have been established in previous stages.

Awareness of Self

Primary Lessons


Primary Lessons

Traveling experience will help the matured fledgling and new caretaker ensure a versatile lifestyle , it will also make the transport to the new home, the first veterinarian exam, a long drive to the cottage, bird club activities more enjoyable

Desensitization to Other Aspects of Companion Life


Nurturing, guidance and continued

mentoring is crucial to reinforce the prior

education introduced throughout the previous stages.


Primary Lessons