{"product_id":"lafeber-instant-nutri-start-baby-bird-food","title":"Lafeber Instant Nutri-Start Hand-Feeding Formula 1 lb","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn instant hand-feeding powder for baby conures and cockatiels. It reconstitutes with hot water — no cooking, no cooling period — into a creamy pudding consistency, built on rice flour for digestibility with hydrolysed soy protein and dried whole egg for protein, plus chelated minerals, stabilised vitamins and balanced omega-3 and omega-6.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot for insectivorous birds or raptors.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eRead this before you feed a chick\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHand-feeding kills more baby birds than it saves in inexperienced hands. The two ways it goes wrong are formula that is too hot, which burns a hole through the crop, and formula that goes down the windpipe, which drowns the chick. Both are quick and both are avoidable. If you have not done this before, do not learn on a live chick — get an experienced breeder or an avian vet to show you first.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eMixing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRatio\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2¼ parts hot water to 1 part powder\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWater\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDistilled, or previously boiled\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWater temperature\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout \u003cstrong\u003e122°F\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eServing temperature\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e104°F to 106°F — warm, never hot\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eConsistency\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCreamy pudding; thicker for older chicks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdd the water gradually while stirring. \u003cstrong\u003eUse a thermometer\u003c\/strong\u003e — \"feels about right\" is how crops get burned. Lafeber state plainly that excess heat may damage the digestive tract.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNever microwave it.\u003c\/strong\u003e Microwaves make hot spots: the spoon reads 104°F and the mouthful behind it is 160°F. A double boiler is the safe way to hold temperature through a feeding session.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDo not reuse mixed formula — mix fresh at every feed. If you prepare a 24-hour batch, cover and refrigerate it immediately and reheat only what you need.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCrop safety\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCheck the crop before every single feed. It should empty in about four hours; a crop that stays full or empties slowly means something is wrong and needs a vet. Lafeber's own warning is worth quoting in full force: overfilling the crop can push food back up the oesophagus, into the throat and down the windpipe, \u003cstrong\u003ewhich can kill the chick\u003c\/strong\u003e. Underfilling starves it. If food backs up into the mouth, stop immediately and clear it before doing anything else.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eFeeding schedule by age\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHatch to 1 week\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNothing for at least 12 hours after hatching. First feed at 12 hours is one drop of water. Then a few drops of thin formula every 2 hours, round the clock.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003e1–2 weeks\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEvery 2–3 hours round the clock. Night feeds after midnight may be dropped if the chick is kept warm, resuming at 6am.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003e2–3 weeks\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEvery 3–4 hours, 6am to midnight.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003e3–4 weeks\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEvery 4 hours, thickening the formula as frequency drops. At 4 weeks move to a cage with low perches and water bowls.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003e5–6 weeks\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTwice daily. Introduce Lafeber pellets and Nutri-Berries in the cage.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003e7 weeks\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarge cage, food in cups and scattered on the floor. Fresh fruit and vegetables at no more than 20% of the diet.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWeaning\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDo not wean before 7 weeks; 8 is more usual. Up to 10% body weight loss during weaning is normal — more than that is a problem. Confirm the bird is eating properly on its own before you stop hand-feeding. Weigh daily on an accurate gram scale throughout; the scale will tell you what is happening days before your eyes will.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eBrooder and hygiene\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e85–90°F for unfeathered chicks, reduced gradually toward room temperature as feathers come in. Clean formula off the skin, beak and feathers with warm water after every feed — dried formula on skin causes real damage. Clean utensils immediately. Check the vent for build-up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGuaranteed analysis\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCrude protein (min.)\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e17.2%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCrude fat (min.)\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCrude fibre (max.)\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.5%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eMoisture (max.)\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10.0%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIngredients\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRice flour, hydrolysed soy protein, corn flour, oat flour, corn oil, dried whole egg, dicalcium phosphate, ground limestone, iodised salt, DL-methionine, potassium chloride, L-lysine, choline chloride, copper lysine, and a full stabilised vitamin and mineral pack.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get asked\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I hand-feed a chick I bought at the pet shop?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePlease do not, unless you have been taught. Buy a weaned bird. It is better for you and far better for the bird.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat if the crop is still full at the next feed?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDo not feed on top of it. Slow crop has several causes, some serious, and it needs an avian vet the same day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I use it for a wild baby bird I found?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo — this formula is not for insectivorous species, which is what most garden fledglings are. Call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lafeber","offers":[{"title":"1 lb","offer_id":50522021822683,"sku":"LFB84040","price":22.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0058\/6733\/9846\/files\/84040-front-web-nutri-start-baby-bird-formula-usa-apr20.jpg?v=1790461194","url":"https:\/\/farooze.com\/products\/lafeber-instant-nutri-start-baby-bird-food","provider":"FAROOZE","version":"1.0","type":"link"}