Tips for Hand Feeding Baby Finches

A hand-feeding baby finch is a risky job due to their extreme fragility. It requires a large commitment of time and dedication, but is very rewarding when successful. If you can feed hatching finches every few hours day and night for the first seven days, your success rate will increase exponentially. After a week the feedings should be reduced to just once a day.

• Don't be alarmed if the babies latch onto the feeding instruments, this is a good sign of a strong and eager baby.
• Birds do not breathe while being hand fed, so pause briefly after a few seconds of feeding.
• Do not get formula on top of a bird's beak where the nostrils are located. If this happens, wipe immediately.
• Wipe all wet or dried hand feeding formula or fecal matter off the finches after each feeding.
• Change the paper towel under the birds after every feeding or as needed.
• Dehydrated finches can be recognized by their dark red skin and should be given liquid immediately!
• 0.5-1% Spirulina may be added to hand feeding formula up to 3 times a day.
• You can take the brooder with you, especially on short trips. I have known many handfeeding owners of parrots even take their birds to work during the day!
• Unlike baby parrots, which you have to point the syringe a certain direction down their throats, finches can be fed straight down towards the back of the mouth.
• Only give enough formula that the finch can swallow. Slower is better.
• Some finch species, or even clutchmates, beg quieter than others. Feed these first.
• The begging sounds of the others can stimulate the quiet ones into begging. If they won't open their beaks, gently stroke their backs and tap slightly on their beaks.
• Sometimes just a small watery drop of formula at the side of their beak can trigger begging!
• Only in emergencies should you force a beak open for feeding. If a bird refuses food and has an empty crop, try feeding more often.
• Feeding intervals depend on how long it takes the baby's crops to empty.
• Make fresh handfeeding formula at each feeding.
• Do not press on the crop or hold the finches too tight. Sometimes air bubbles can be seen in the crops, which usually is normal.
• Avoid switching handfeeding formula brands. If necessary, mix normal formula with new over a 48 hour period.
• Weaning is usually instinctive. Once birds are feathered out, offer "adult" foods such as pellet food moistened with apple juice, vegetables, fortified seed, millet sprays, egg food and a shallow dish of fresh water.