how to and how long do u hand feed cockatiels?

Question

I just got a 6wk old cockatiel the nice man just it is just about to eat completely on its own. I have had him since last night and it is now 4pm and he hasnt eaten i have tried he has evenstarted squaking like he is hungry, we have handled him and he has been fine but the last time he was really nippy and didnt want to be bothered. he is now sleeping, he isnt plucking or really making any noise he whistles ever now and again. tried feeding him 2x's the man i got him from used tube feeding so i am now gonna try so question i kinda know how to tube feed but any suggestions would be great and second how long do you hand feed before he starts eating on his own.
I also did email the nice man and waiting for reply on his suggestions. please no comments on if you didnt know how you shouldnt have gotton i am a animal lover and i will take him back before i let him get sick

Answer 1

Feeding a baby is tough. You need the food at exactly the right temp..too hot and it burns the crop...too cold and it can make the bird sick. The same with the consistency of the food, has to be just right.

If you do feed him, look for photos online and follow them.

If he does eat pellet food or other food, give him lots of choices and let him stick with that. Keep an eye on his weight and poo...if he does well, and drinks water, then I would pass on feeding him with a syringe. I dont know about tube feeding, we use a large plastic syringe (no needle, look them up) from the pet store.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, you may not know he's sick before it's too late. If he's gone almost 24 hours without eating - he's in trouble. Shame on that breeder for letting this baby go before it was weaned.
Never attempt to tube feed - it's dangerous. Use a syringe or dropper. Feed a baby bird formula like 'Kaytee' about three times per day.
If all you have right now is a tube, then put the tube at the corner of his beak and let him eat. You could try a spoon if that's easier. You'll notice his crop become full - that's the sac under his neck. Don't let it get too tight. But Feed him Right Away! If he's sleeping a lot, he may be getting weak. In my experience handfeeding, if a baby is suddenly denied formula when they're not ready, they may not even attempt to feed themselves. If he won't eat put a little sugar water on your finger and put that at the corner of his beak.

When you try to feed him formula, try to get a feeding response (head bobbing) by touching both sides of his beak. Make sure he's swallowing or he could aspirate (inhale) his formula.
It may take up to 8 weeks of age for him to be weaned. If you have any problems call a vet.

Answer 3

Like any animal, especially babies, moving to a new home can be rather traumatic. But in this case, it sounds like your baby isn't weaned yet.

Provide him with a variety of food choices like rice krispies, cheerios, or whole wheat bread. And don't forget the fresh water. When he opens his beak to beg, set a tiny piece of moistened bread in his mouth. Don't choke him, or force feed him, just give him enough to taste it.

It takes babies awhile to master cracking seeds, and seeds should only be a small part of the whole diet.

If you have a Petsmart or Petco nearby you could pick up a bag of Kaytee Conversion for cockatiels. It's essentially toddler food for birds - also good for converting seed-only eaters to pellets.

I recommend feeding your bird a high quality pellet food like Avian, Kaytee or similar.

In addition, they should have fresh veggies and fruit. They are picky, and some things are toxic, so keep it simple. Most cockatiels love corn fresh, frozen or cooked (no butter), peas, carrots, romaine lettuce and apples.

They are grain eaters, so any low-salt, unsweetened cereal or whole grain bread is fine for treats.

Sounds gross, but, they also like to eat hard-boiled eggs, and it's good for them.

As for bird supplies and information as well as my other pet's needs, I use Drs Foster and Smith on-line. They have a great selection, and reasonable prices - much cheaper than retail stores and Petsmart.

If he won't eat, please bring him back to the nice man, who can feed him until he's completely weaned. While he's away you could do a little research on complete care, so you and your new cockatiel can have a great long life together.

Good luck!

Answer 4

i'm getting my syringes from Avitec. they have the small syringes to boot as pipettes and small attachments to greater healthful the dimensions of the little ones mouth. as quickly as the little ones attain 2 weeks I only use a much bigger hand feeding syringe. making use of syringes is often favourite over pipettes and not in any respect use a straw considering so you might scratch the interior the little ones mouth. With the handfeeding syringes you will locate only how plenty the toddler is ingesting (cc's). attempt PetCo or Petsmart.

Answer 5

Go to www.cockatielcottage.net. There is a lot about handfeeding and nutrition in general. The breeder should never have let the baby go until it was completely weaned--this is how most baby birds die.