When you see the price of a hand-raised bird, it’s easy to focus on the number. But behind that price is something far more meaningful: time, precision, care, and an incredible level of commitment from day one.

At Nurtured Nests, hand raising isn’t just a process it’s a responsibility. Here’s a transparent look at what actually goes into raising a healthy, well socialised bird

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AROUND THE CLOCK FEEDING

One of the most demanding parts of hand raising birds is the relentless feeding schedule, especially in the early stages. Young chicks require feeding as often as every 2–3 hours, including throughout the night, meaning care is truly around the clock. There are no long breaks or uninterrupted sleep feeds must happen on time, every time, to ensure proper growth and prevent serious health risks. Each feeding also involves preparing fresh formula, checking temperature and consistency, and carefully monitoring the chick’s response, digestion, and crop function.

This level of care is both physically and mentally exhausting, requiring constant availability and strict routine for days and weeks at a time. Missing or delaying a feed isn’t an option, and even small mistakes can have serious consequences. As the chicks grow, feeding frequency gradually decreases, but the workload remains high as portion sizes, feeding techniques, and developmental needs continue to change. This intensive schedule is one of the biggest contributors to the time and effort involved in hand raising birds and a major factor reflected in their overall cost.

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EQUIPMENT & SET UP

Brooders to maintain stable warmth and humidity - Being on 24/7 can be a high expence for our electricity bills! Those bad boys pump through some serious power!

Digital thermometers & hygrometers for accuracy

Feeding equipment (syringes, spoons, containers) We need to ensure we have all sizes at all times! You never know when you may need a certain size. We also use disposable syringes for each feed. This can be quiet pricey but our birds health is the most important.

Backup systems in case of power or temperature fluctuations. We need to make sure that we always have back up heat bulbs at all times. If a bulb blows and we do not have aback up bulb it can become detrimental to new babies very quickly.

Hand raising birds requires a carefully controlled environment, supported by specialised equipment that is both essential and costly. Young chicks are unable to regulate their own body temperature, which means they rely entirely on external heat sources. This is where brooders come in designed to maintain precise temperature and humidity levels. These conditions must be constantly monitored and adjusted, often using digital thermometers and hygrometers, because even slight fluctuations can negatively impact a chick’s health or development.

Beyond the brooder itself, there is a need for reliable, high-quality equipment to ensure consistency and safety. This includes multiple feeding tools (such as syringes and utensils), backup supplies, and sanitation setups to keep everything sterile. Many breeders also invest in redundant systems or backups in case of power outages or equipment failure, as even a short disruption can be dangerous. Setting all of this up and maintaining it daily requires both financial investment and ongoing attention, making it a significant part of the overall cost involved in properly hand raising birds.

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HYGIENE & HEALTH MANAGEMENT

Maintaining proper hygiene when hand raising birds is non-negotiable and highly time intensive. Chicks are extremely vulnerable in their early stages, which means their environment must be kept consistently clean, dry, and free from bacteria at all times. Bedding needs to be changed daily often multiple times a day to prevent the build-up of droppings, moisture, and harmful pathogens. This isn’t just a quick clean; it involves fully removing soiled materials, sanitising surfaces, and ensuring the brooder is reset to a safe, hygienic standard.

In addition to their environment, all feeding equipment must be thoroughly cleaned and sterilised after every single use to avoid contamination. Chicks are also weighed daily and closely monitored to track growth and detect any early signs of health issues. Even small changes in behaviour, appetite, or digestion require immediate attention. This level of hygiene and health management takes significant time, consistency, and attention to detail, but it is essential in giving each bird the safest and healthiest possible start in life.

We ensure that we have all medications, supplements and vitamins at all time for our birds. Things can go wrong and sickness can occur, we work closely with our avian vet to ensure we have a constant supply of medications for the majority of hiccup situations hand raisers come across. Making sure that all expiration dates are constantly checked and being stocked up of everything we need. We supply all babies and adult birds/breeders with weekly supplements to ensure they have a strong immune system and health.

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SOCIALISATION & DEVELOPMENT

Socialisation isn’t something that “just happens” it is one of the most time-intensive and hands on parts of hand raising a bird. Every single day, multiple times a day, chicks are handled, observed, and gently guided through new experiences. This means hours of direct interaction, not just feeding and cleaning, but actively working with each bird to build trust, confidence, and positive associations with people. It involves carefully reading body language, responding appropriately, and adjusting the approach for each individual bird because no two birds develop exactly the same.

This process cannot be rushed or skipped. It requires consistency, patience, and a significant time investment over weeks of development. From early handling to introducing basic behaviours like stepping up, recall, and calm interaction, every moment is intentional. Done properly, this level of effort creates a bird that is not only tame, but emotionally secure, well-adjusted, and comfortable in a home environment. It’s this behind-the-scenes work often unseen that plays a huge role in the value of a truly well hand-raised bird

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NUTRITION & QUALITY FEED

Proper nutrition is one of the most critical and costly parts of hand raising a bird. From the very beginning, chicks require high-quality hand-rearing formula, which must be freshly prepared for every single feed. This isn’t something that can be bulk-made or reused; each feeding involves measuring, mixing, and ensuring the formula is at the exact correct temperature and consistency. Premium formulas themselves come at a high cost, and because chicks are fed so frequently, supplies are used quickly and constantly replenished.

As the bird grows, the focus shifts into the weaning stage, which is just as time-intensive and important. This involves gradually introducing a variety of foods, including quality pellets, fresh vegetables, and other nutritious options, while closely monitoring what the bird is actually eating. A significant amount of food is often wasted during this learning phase, as young birds explore, drop, and reject new items before fully accepting them. On top of this, providing a well-balanced diet means sourcing fresh produce regularly and maintaining high standards of quality because early nutrition plays a huge role in long-term health. All of this adds up to a substantial investment in both time and cost, ensuring each bird is set up for a healthy life.


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TIME, EXPERIENCE & EMOTIONAL INVESTMENT

Hand raising a bird is not just a routine it is a full-time, hands-on commitment that spans weeks of constant care. From early morning feeds to late-night checks, every day revolves around the needs of the chicks. There are no shortcuts or days off; their development depends on consistent, attentive care at every stage. Beyond the physical time involved, it also requires years of experience and knowledge to recognise subtle changes in behaviour, feeding response, or health often before any obvious signs appear.

There is also a significant emotional investment that comes with raising each bird. Every chick is closely monitored, handled, and nurtured as an individual, which naturally creates a level of attachment and responsibility. Decisions made during this time can directly impact the bird’s long-term wellbeing, and that pressure requires confidence, patience, and care. This combination of time, skill, and emotional energy is one of the biggest factors behind the value of a well handraised bird it’s not just about raising them, but raising them properly.


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WEANING SUPPLIES & ENRICHMENT

As chicks move into the weaning stage, the costs don’t decrease they often increase in variety and ongoing supply. At this point, birds are introduced to a wide range of foods including quality seed mixes, pellets, and fresh vegetables, all of which must be offered daily to encourage healthy eating habits. A large portion of this food is wasted during the learning process, as young birds explore, drop, and reject unfamiliar items before they begin eating confidently. This means fresh produce is constantly being purchased and replaced to ensure variety and nutritional balance.

Alongside diet, there is also the cost of setting up a proper weaning environment. This includes additional dishes, shallow feeding trays, and safe setups that allow chicks to explore food independently. At the same time, birds are introduced to perches of varying sizes, toys, and enrichment items to support both physical development and confidence. These items need to be safe, appropriate for young birds, and often replaced as they wear out or as the birds grow. All of this contributes to a significant ongoing investment, ensuring each bird transitions successfully from hand feeding to independence with the right nutrition and environment.


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ADVERTISING COSTS

Behind every hand-raised bird is not just the care of raising them, but also the cost of connecting them with the right homes. Advertising is an ongoing investment that ensures each bird reaches responsible, informed owners. This can include website development and maintenance, social media marketing, professional photography, and listing fees on selling platforms. Creating high-quality content photos, videos, and educational posts also takes time, effort, and consistency to build trust and credibility with potential buyers.

In addition to paid advertising, there is also the time spent communicating with enquiries, answering questions, and guiding potential owners to make the right decision. Not every enquiry results in a sale, but each one still requires attention and care. These behind the scenes efforts are essential in placing birds into suitable homes, and they form part of the overall cost involved in responsibly breeding and hand raising birds.


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OUR BREEDERS WHO PROVIDE US WITH YOUR BABIES

Before a bird is ever hand raised, there is a significant investment in establishing and maintaining healthy breeding pairs. This includes sourcing high-quality, well-bred birds with good genetics, which can be costly on its own. Ongoing care involves premium diet, supplements, spacious housing, and enrichment, all of which are essential to ensure breeding birds remain in optimal condition. Healthy parents are the foundation of healthy chicks, so their care is never compromised.

There are also additional costs in nesting setups, breeding equipment, and monitoring throughout the breeding process. Breeding birds require close observation to ensure eggs are viable, chicks are developing properly, and parents are thriving. Not every pairing is successful, and not every egg results in a chick, meaning there is both time and financial investment with no guaranteed return. This stage is often unseen, but it plays a critical role in producing strong, healthy babies suitable for hand raising, and is an important factor reflected in the overall cost.