Kaytee Exact Handfeeding Formula for Baby Birds 7.5-oz

Give your baby bird the best nutritious start they could ever get with the Kaytee Exact Hand Feeding Formula. This trusted formula is one of the food for pet birds among the crowd of so many other brands that your baby birds need to grow strong, healthy, and vibrant. Plus it is used by professional breeders, veterinarians, and conservationists worldwide. So, your little chickling will now thank you for giving them such a good food option. With probiotics for digestion and high-quality ingredients for nourishment, Kaytee Bird Handfeeding Formula makes feeding and digestion a breeze.

Ground Corn, Ground Wheat, Corn Gluten Meal, Ground Oat Groats, Wheat Middlings, Soybean Oil, Dried Whole Egg, Soy Protein Isolate, Dried Molasses Beet Pulp, Soybean Meal, Ground Flax Seed (Source of Omega-3), Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, L-Lysine, Wheat Germ Meal, Brewers Dried Yeast, Vitamin A Supplement, Salt, L-Arginine, Fructooligosaccharide, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, Potassium Chloride, Yeast Extract, Propionic Acid (Preservative), Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Source of Vitamin C), Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K activity), Niacin, Rosemary Extract, Citric Acid, Ethoxyquin (Preservative), Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Cholecalciferol (Source of Vitamin D3), Folic Acid, Beta-Carotene, Calcium Iodate, Biotin, Cobalt Carbonate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus licheniformis Fermentation Product, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Product.

Guaranteed Analysis

• Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts and tree nuts. 
• Not intended for human consumption.
• After opening the bag, remove air from the package and reseal tightly. 
• Use food within 30 - 45 days. 
• Store in a cool, dry location. 
• Refrigerate or freeze for extended storage.

Feed on a Routine Schedule:

• Always feed baby birds on a set schedule. This ensures their crop empties between feedings.
• Administer if the bird is getting the proper portion of food. This stops food from staying too long in the crop. Again this could lead to spoilage.

Observe the Crop:

• Watch the chick cautiously if the crop empties slower or takes longer. This could indicate a problem. This problem can be crop slow-down.

Use Clean Feeding Tools:

• Feed the chick using a clean syringe, spoon, tube, or any method that works best for both you and the bird.
• Make sure to use separate tools for each baby bird. This way you can avoid spreading disease.

Feed According to the Bird’s Response:

• Look for the bird's feeding response to know when to feed. One such example is the rhythmic bobbing motion.
• This mimics the natural feeding process and lowers the risk of inhaling the formula.

How Much to Feed:

• Make sure you feed the chick until its crop is nicely rounded or it refuses more food.
• Don’t try to feed too much as this could lead to regurgitation.
• Each meal should be more or less equal to 10-12% of the bird's body weight.

Clean Equipment After Each Feeding:

• Washing and sanitizing your tools after giving them food is mandatory to maintain hygiene.
• Wipe off any spilled food from the chick. Also, you must place new bedding after each feeding to keep the area clean.

Hand Feeding Formulas:

• Exact Hand Feeding Formulas are the primary food for baby birds.
• You can also give them small portions of fruits and vegetables. However, they should not make up more than 20% of the diet.
• Stop adding any extra vitamins or minerals to the formula.

Encouraging Weaning:

• Once the baby bird begins exploring, offer Conversion diets to help with the weaning process.
• Keep an eye on when they become fully feathered. At that time provide an adult daily diet like Exact Natural or Rainbow food alongside routine hand feeding.
• Fresh water should be accessible and kept near their food bowl at all times.

Monitor Weight and Health:

• Weigh the chick every morning before feeding. This is because you need to keep a track on its weight.
• Remember that a healthy bird should gain weight daily until it starts weaning.
• If weight gain stops but the bird maintains its weight, administer it intensely for any health issues.

Address Weight Loss Immediately:

• If the chick loses weight, investigate the cause immediately.
• Have a chat with an avian veterinarian if it’s an emergency.

Nutrient Intake:

• The reason for a chick not gaining weight may be getting enough nutrients.
• This can happen if the formula is too diluted,or mixed incorrectly. Also, it can happen if the chick isn’t given enough food.

Dietary Changes:

• If you are shifting to a new hand-feeding formula, give enough time i.e. 24-48 hours for the transition.
• Combine the old food with the new food in a slow way. Try increasing the new formula’s proportion until the old one completely vanishes.
• A sudden diet shift can cause crop slowdown. So, it’s important to ease into it.

Crop Slow-Down:

• If crop slow-down occurs, first take a look at the bird’s environment temperature. Incorrect temperature is one of the root causes of crop problems.
• Try combining the formula with infant applesauce. Also, you can dilute the formula with water (one part formula to two or three parts water).
• Use this mixture for 24 hours. Then in a slow way get back to the regular formula concentration over another 24 hours.
• Massage the chick’s crop gently to break up any food lumps. Do this only when the crop is less than half full.

Monitor Droppings:

• Dark green droppings in a hand-fed bird are an indicator that the crop isn’t emptying properly.
• If the crop has food, check the rate of crop emptying.
• Suppose there is no improvement within the period of 36 hours, then it’s time to call for professional help.

Important Notes for Crop Care:

• An important point to note is that you should never massage a bird’s crop when it’s more than half full. Wait until it has emptied.
• Always have a chat with a professional if the chick’s health doesn’t get better after 36 hours of observation.