Was wondering if anyone can provide some good books, literature, links, even advice on hand raising a baby african Gray. I am well aware that it is best to get them when they are fully weaned. I am getting the baby (not yet hatched) from a friend's father who breeds them. I already have a massive cage set up at home but I know I cannot handfeed him for the first few weeks in that cage. I will be getting the baby @ 5-6 weeks old. I am already aware that it is a very young age to get a baby congo. Now, for those of you that do breed or handraise birds, ANY and all advice will be much appreciated. I want to be ready when the baby comes in and would love to know everything there is to know in order to make sure I do a great job at handfeeding my new baby. Please offer any advice you can. Thank you much!
I've only hand raised two birds, but I'll take a stab at it. It's really hard to learn from books, tapes, or videos. The best thing to do is have someone who has experience around and ask lots of questions. I would consult a vet before, and during, the process of hand raising this baby. And be obsessive about the details. Temperature of both the bird's environment, the food, and even the tools needs to be just right. Be obsessive about sterilizing your equipment. If you even get the idea that something may be wrong with the bird, consult a vet immediately. Also, make sure your schedule is open to a hand feeding schedule. And make sure you're ok with losing a LOT of sleep.
