# Raising Young Birds: From Nest to Independent Eating

> Young birds should move only when fully independent. Learn why weaning, parent rearing and careful handling matter.

- URL: https://nestjes.nl/en/knowledge-center/raising-young-birds
- Category: Birds
- Published: 2026-06-26
- Author: Redactie Nestjes

Young birds need correct feeding, warmth, hygiene and time to become independent. Moving a bird before it eats reliably on its own is risky and often unfair to the buyer and the bird.

## Independence first

A young bird should be eating independently, maintaining weight and behaving confidently before transfer. "Almost weaned" is not good enough for most buyers. Hand-feeding requires skill and mistakes can be fatal.

## Parent rearing and handling

Parent-reared birds can still become tame when handled gently and consistently. Hand-rearing should not be used as a marketing trick. Welfare, correct nutrition and social development come first.

## Buyer questions

Ask hatch date, ring information where relevant, diet, weight development, health history and whether the bird is fully self-feeding. A responsible breeder will not rush the bird out of the nest for convenience.