Need advise Please serious answers only!!!?

Question

I purchased a hand raised cockatiel 5 days ago, she is 8 weeks old. She (i dont acctually know the sex) is very sweet, and still getting used to me and my 6 year old son. This is my first cockatiel, she was raised on a seed diet, after alot of research i have decided to introduce pellets into her diet. Should i change her diet immediatly? Do i need to wait untill she settles in? Does anyone have any advise or hints for me?

Ok one more question, I know every bird is different, but can anyone give me an idea of how long it takes to build a trust, or bond with her. And does anyone have any helpful hints or suggestions so i dont do anything that will cause her to fear me.

Great info so far thanks guys! The lady that raised her is very old, all of her birds are healthy but they are only taken out of their cages to be fed. So when i put my hands in the cage she is fine, got her to perch on my finger today! That was exciting. I dont know if this will make a difference with her markings but her momma is pied, and her pappa is an albino. She is beautiful, yellow with "lace" feathers on her wings, and peach colored cheeks.

Answer 1

Please take note!!! You may immediately INTRODUCE pellets, but do NOT take her completely off of seed. She will more than likely not recognize pellets as food at first and it is quite possible she could starve. ( I hate to put it that way, but it can happen) Since you sound like a very caring, worried 'parent' I will tell you what i have told countless others...

First, please get a digital scale. They are not expensive, you can get them at WalMart in the kitchen section. They should weigh in grams, not just ounces. Grams are smaller units of measure and will provide better accuracy for your records. Weigh your 'tiel everyday, twice daily for several days while she is on the old diet. This way, you will know the natural day-to-day fluctuations in her weight. (just like people do) Get an average weight from these measures. When you begin to introduce pellets (this should be a gradual process taking 7-10 days or so...pellets should eventually take up from 25-50% of a 'tiels diet)
weigh her every day, twice a day as you have been. If she has lost more than 10% of her beginning weight (pre-new diet weight), STOP. Anything over 10% is too great a loss in weight and you will need to put her back on the old diet until she has gained weight. Then you can begin the new diet transition again. I will say that I have done 'cold turkey' with some adult birds, but i worked for an exotic vet and they begin eating the pellets within a day, anyway. After i knew they would eat pellets, i would give them a quality seed mix, mixed in with the pellets as well as their veggies/treats.

But this is a baby and they are different :) Stick to the 10% rule, do it gradually, and i think everyone will come out a winner. Also, here's another tip. I found that the tiels were more inclined to eat a fruity pellet first rather than the non-colored type. I used Zupreem rainbow diet first, then I eventually switched them to Harrison's or Lafeber diets. Birds really don't need the added colors and i liked the organic options given by Harrison's and now Kaytee.

best of luck, don't forget to find a good avian vet! :)

oops...also forgot to say that tiels and smaller parrots do better on a seed/pellet mix, not 100% pellets. Not sure exactly why, but may have to do with the higher metabolisms. My tiels were not as perky/didn't look as good when on all pellet diet until i changed them to a 50/50 mix...I was VERY pleased with Goldenfeast seed and i think you will be too. Human grade ingredients. Get it at Flyingsouth.com----Petite Hookbill mix is awesome. You will have to introduce this gradually as well.

Answer 2

I would gradually add in the pellets, a few at a time, why not the seeds though? It gives a nice variety.

The hardest thing for a first time bird owner, is to NOT jump when removing her from the cage. This sets up a "game" for the future. Wear a pair of thin leather gloves if you think this will bother you at first, and long sleeve shirts. If she was hand raised as you say, you should continue holding her as often as possible.

As you say all birds are different, but I've never met a cockatiel yet that didn't love earrings and jewelry, So you may want to consider removing them.
Do a search on Google images to find out what the sex is. Usually the male is marked with a much brighter orange

Have fun with your birds

Answer 3

You can start to introduce the pellets to her diet right away, mixed into her usual seed mix. We always have. Just don't do it cold turkey. You may end up with a very angry bird!

Try to keep her above chest level when you're together. Sometimes it helps to crouch down under the height of the bird, in front of its cage, when you talk to it. It makes the bird think "Right. I'm higher than you."

Put new toys beside her cage to see how she reacts to them, and move them closer every day, until you put them in. That ought to keep her from getting too nervous in her cage and seeing you as a threat. Offering her snacks that you're eating when she settles a little will bring her around, too, and it's a good way to get her to start stepping up: "Oh, you want this? Well, this time you have to use my finger to reach it."

Answer 4

An 8 week old cockatiel should still be receiving formula. She was too young to be weaned. Most breeders will not sell a bird unless it is weaned already (3-4 months old). Take your bird to a licensed AVIAN vet and get their adivce on how to convert to pellets or visit the site below.

Answer 5

I have a cockatiel,I dont think it would really matter if you changed his diet immediatly,Try mixing them(the seed,and pellets.) We do a lot of stuff like that with our birds.

Also taming a cockateil will take a while (depends on how much time you spend with him.If you spend a lot of time with him then mabye like a month or so,If you dont spend any time with him at all ,he may not get tame.
Good Luck

Answer 6

as a owner of two birds i can tell you ,that they are slow to
ajust to new things. in reference to there food',any change
in diet hase to be gradule,offer the second food as a option
slowly reduce seed if bird ,start to eat other food. if they dont
eat the pellets you will have to stay with seed.as far as trust
issue ,when you can intro duce your hand without panic from bird
then you can start from there

Answer 7

Spend at least one hour daily with your parrot, touch it constantly and build confidence. About the diet, you can feed them also with lettuce and small pieces of carrots (they love them) I have one for almost 16 years (can live 30) and it's an adorable pet

Answer 8

look at her/he beek the males peak is blue and female brown beek some birds take a few months to know there sex and give her a partner or she will be lonely


well monkeyboy that bird is a living creature take things seriously or dont answear she needs answers not jokes

Answer 9

well for one thing....the cock loves a steady diet.....lots of hard push ups.....and since this is your first cock.....you do not need to build trust with your first cock....if it spits at you...you two are made for each other

Answer 10

kill that cockatiel