Early Parrot Education - Stage 6 - Feeding enrichment

Stage 6:
Feeding and
Environmental Enrichment
©2005-2015 HARI, all rights reserved

Educational FocusStage 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
Monitoring
Socialization
Desensitization
Modeling
Mentoring
Play
Stage 6 of Early Parrot Education
Enrichment

Weighing Recommendations
Fledglings 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
Enrichment

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
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!
Enrichment

Enrichment
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

Enrichment

Enrichment
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
Enrichment
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 LessonsStage 6 of Early Parrot Education
Enrichment
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.
Enrichment
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.
Enrichment

Nursery caretakers must be creative and intuitive by offering enriching
environmental stimuli while at the same time providing gratifying and
challenging occupational activity.
Enrichment

Enrichment
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

Enrichment
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

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

Enrichment
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

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

Enrichment
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
Enrichment

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
Enrichment

Nurturing, guidance and
continued mentoring is
crucial to reinforce the
prior education introduced
throughout the previous
stages.
Enrichment
Primary Lessons

Early Parrot Education - Stage 6 - Feeding enrichment

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