HELP, Am I making a mistake with Baby Cockatiel??

Question

I bought a baby on October 3. He was about 2.5 weeks old when I brought him home. He is fully feathered and pecks at seed and eats pleanty of mellet spray. I offer carrots, corn, lettus etc.. He still screams to be hand fed. Is this normal? I am afraid he isnt getting water. He climbs, perches and flaps his wings happily. But ever time he seems me, he starts screatching for food. What do I do, is it to early to stop handfeeding? Am I spoiling him? How can I be sure he is eating and drinking properly? If I continue to fed at his becking call, will he eat on his own? If I discontinue food, will he starve or dehydrate? He is in a cage with my older tiel, he is doing great, seems to know how to climb all over the cage and reaches tall perches. I have fed Kaytee Exact. He appears healthy, I just dont want to loose him, or spoil him. Please any advice would be appreciated.

Answer 1

I know a woman with a 10 year old cockatoo who will not eat anything that's not offered from between the woman's lips.

Cockatiels ought to be weaned by 8 weeks old. Here is an article that details timelines and tricks for weaning tiels.

http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww50eii.htm

Answer 2

My Mom raises Cockatiels and at one point we had over 60 birds in our home...no joke.

It's way way WAY too early to ween your Tiel! Keep seeds and water available at all times. When your tiel begs for the goods please provide and don't ween your tiel too early. Your baby still needs the nutrients and diet from the formula.

I remember my hand feeding dayz. My Mom made me care for the sick babes that the Momma bird woudn't go near. It was a fun hobby of mine and my Momma's business.

Your Birdie will know when he/she doesn't need the formula anymore. Usually around 8-10 weeks old.

You're going to have fun teaching your new birdie to whistle and talk! Start soon though with the training and they will never forget.

My first baby is about 14 years old now...Blind as a bat but still talks and whistles a storm! Incredible...Have a great time!

Answer 3

Where did you get a bird so young? And is this the first time you have hand-raised one? It sounds like it might be, and that you have plenty of unanswered questions. If you got it from a breeder, call them. They should have given you pretty explicit instructions on feeding.
If you got it from a pet store, you should still try to contact them, although some places may not be as reliable as they should be, especially if they are letting people take home such young birds, and not educating them.

You should contact an avian veterinarian in your area, for a better idea on how to hand raise a bird, and what is normal and healthy for your bird.

Try these sites as a basic guide on what you should be doing.

Good luck.
http://www.cockatiel.org/articles/handfeeding.html
http://members.tripod.com/~Cockatiels4U/handfeeding.htm

Answer 4

Yes is it way to early to stop hand feeding. I feed mine every time they beg for food. Always offer regular food and as they eat more and more seed they will eventually stop begging. Mine usually at 6 -7 weeks old.

He will get the water he needs from the formula. But do keep a shallow dish of water so he can learn to drink from a dish.

Nothing wrong with spoiling your bird.

Answer 5

At 5 weeks baby tire is still to young to eat completely on its own. Some of them that i have hand raised did not stop wanting hand feed until 8 weeks. You can tell when it is ready to stop hand feeding it will start to reject the hand feeding formula and stop altogether. You are doing a great job keep up the good work.

Answer 6

When I got my baby tiel, she used to do the same - scream and make all kinds of noises - and wouldn't shut up until I gave her pablum. She eventually ate on her own (seeds, fruits, veggies, etc) ... so I think you are ok with feeding her until she eats seeds on her own. (If you can - try to get her on a pellet diet). I have been told by vets and breeders that tiels (and other birds?) can starve themselves ... so make sure she is eating enough. I used to weigh mine when she was younger, to make sure she wasn't losing weight. However, my one before this never really liked being hand-fed and started eating seed right away.

Answer 7

Yuor bird is too young to wean off of formula. Keep hand feeing it, and offer it some water from the feeding spoon.
The bird will be ready to start weaning in another 6 weeks or so.
Here is the link to a site that might be of some help for you.

http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html

Good luck.

Answer 8

Are you sure you don't mean 2.5 MONTHS old? A 2.5 WEEK old cannot eat on it's own, and does not have all it's feathers. My cockatiel babies fully weaned at around 11 weeks old. Please go to www.cockatielcottage.net for full info on feeding/handfeeding cockatiels.

Answer 9

If you cannot afford to take it to the vet id say go to a local pet store and see if you can find somthing that will clean off the infected area (MAKE SURE THAT ITS SAFE FOR BABY BIRDS) kEEP A CLOSE eye on the baby a dogs or cats Spit (saliva) can be fatal) but not nessary! If things get worse (within 24 hours if the bird makes it then you know the bird will be ok but id still if you can afford to take it to the vet id say take it to the vet ASAP!)

Answer 10

. usually there are weened at 6 weeks .some birds you to feed until they ready. keep feeding him. if you know how to hand feed [really] you can give Little water in what you feed him with. i had a tiel i feed for 4 months he would not ween. it sound like he OK??????????????? if you need anymore help e-mail me