Early Parrot Education - Stage 3 - Fledgling

Stage 3:
Fledgling
Stage
©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved

Educational FocusStage Three of Early Parrot Education
Fledgling 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©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved

Educational FocusStage Three of Early Parrot Education
Fledgling Stage
• 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
Nurturing
Monitoring
Socialization
Desensitization
Modeling
Mentoring
Stage Three of Early Parrot Education
Fledgling Stage

• Feathers have emerged on
approximately 95% of body
• Body weight now resting off
hocks
• To the inexperienced eye
chicks may even resemble
adult birds
Fledgling Stage
Characteristics of this Stage

Fledgling 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.
Fledgling Stage
Primary Lessons

Fledgling Stage
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

Fledgling Stage
•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

Fledgling Stage
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.
Fledgling Stage
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
Fledgling Stage
Housing
100% Weaning Granules is
Instrumental to Weaning Success
Feeding Strategy

Fledgling Stage
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

Fledgling Stage
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.
Fledgling Stage
Primary Lessons

Fledgling Stage
Primary Lessons
Foraging 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

Fledgling Stage
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.
Fledgling Stage
Primary Lessons
Misting Activity

Fledgling Stage
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

Fledgling Stage
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

Fledgling 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 .©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved

Fledgling Stage
Primary Lessons
Fledglings can be desensitized to the transport carrier while the
fledgling cage is being cleaned

Fledgling Stage
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

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Early Parrot Education - Stage 3 - Fledgling