Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just brought home my cockateil from the pet store last night. I spent over a month going there everyday to see him as he was a baby and they handfed him. He had been eating seed well for over a week and was pulling away from the handfed formula. Well I do not see his crop full since he has been home. I took him to the pet store today she gave me ideas of what to get him to eat. I have a little bit of everything in the bottom of his cage with him. There is, pasta, eggs, millet, seed, pellet (softened) toast with peanut butter. He does not seem to want it. He just sits in there on his water dish. I covered the cage as they thought may work to help him avoid wanting me and I peek at him and he sits still there on his water dish not eating. This is really worrying me, has this happened to anyone else with a bird just coming home. I thought maybe it just takes time? Thank you! Lilli

How old is he?

If the bird is too young even if it was starting to wean it may need handfeeding formula. If nothing else than warmed baby food, mashed warm cooked veggies like squash or sweet potato etc fed on a bent baby spoon or other small feeding spoon. Moving can be very stressful for a bird and especially in a young one if they don't eat it can cause sickness and death. Make sure of the exact age from the breeder/store and if possible either get them or a vet to show you how to hand feed until the baby gets used to its new home. Also since it is a new baby if it didn't get a wellness checkup before coming howe with you it will need one and this would be the perfect time. Then you can discuss with your vet what to do to help it settle in if there is nothing physically wrong with it.

Stephanie

I would have to guess he is 2-3 months, the bird store opens at 10am I am going to call and get a exact age for him then and will send that also. I have learned to handfeed. Although I took him to the bird store yesterday and they tried to handfeed him and he would not take much. If I hold him and hand him food he will take it. He seems to have more on his beak than he gets in his mouth although I could be wrong. He took some millet this morning and also ate some seed that I fed him. I will get his age at 10am and post it. Thank you for feedback.

I believe that is old enough to be weened.

It sounds like he is scared. Maybe not used to being alone and not used to you yet. Give him some time. He may be grieving some too. Watch him though because they HAVE to eat a lot to stay alive. Offer him some millet. They love that.

When I finally got someone at the bird store I was told he is 3-4 months, I would have to say 3. I am getting him to eat of course as long as I am holding him. They told me to leave him in his cage and he would eventually eat. I do feed him millet. His droppings were very dark, I would have to say black. Last night I noticed they are more of a dark green now. Thank you again for your feedback.

I wouldn't just leave him in his cage. I mean still give him lots of attention because he is still young and this is a hard transition.

Here's an article on "poopology".

Is he eating more now?

He sounds like a cutie.

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http://www.feathersandtails.org/poopology.html

I have been taking him out and putting his bowl on my lap or next to me and he is eating. I have also noticed he is eating more in his cage. The bird store checked him last night she says he is doing well. So I can take him there tomorrow for a dna. He is great, I have just been so overwhelmed with making sure he eats that when I have him I play a little and cuddle him then put him to the bowl and he is responding to it more now. Thank you so much for your concern I will keep you up to date. Have a good night

Sounds like you had quite a scare! It`s actually not uncommon for birds refuse to eat for a little while in a new setting. I gave short-term foster care to one of the sorts of birds that doesn`t do well in a changed situation, and he also refused to eat at first. I had to keep him longer than planned, because we wanted him to settle in and eat up for a day or two before driving him down to his new home so he wouldn`t go too many days in a row without eating. It was very stressful for me as well!

Glad to hear your little guy is feeling safer in his new home. Goodluck with him and please come back with any more questions or problems that might come up.

I just joined the group and read your message posted about a week ago. I hope by now your new baby is adjusting to his/her new home and eating properly.

It's an all new world to babies when they go to new homes. In order to make the transition more comfortable, pick out a place beforehand where the cage can be in a centrally located area of the house, but yet next to a wall or corner so they don't feel they have to be "on guard" for something sneaking up on them. Cover top and 3 sides of the cage, leaving front exposed, for the first couple of days. That way you can sit at a non-threatening distance to watch and make sure they're eating and drinking.

Since birds don't like to go down to the bottom of the cage at first because they fear predators, clip healthy foods to side of cage, just above their highest perch. This can be broccoli, spinach, grain bread, millet spray, etc.

Sometimes recently-weaned babies revert back to wanting to be handfed. If baby isn't eating within a few hours, contact the handfeeder to see if you can supplement feed (Exact handfeeding formula mixed according to directions on package, making sure it is right consistency and correct temperature, fed with a crimped spoon)or return the baby to the handfeeder for a few days. Since cockatiels are such small birds with high motabolism, they need to eat often.

I prefer to advise 'others' who aren't experienced in handfeeding to use a spoon with crimped sides (to simulate a beak), instead of syringe, because feeding has to take place when head is bobbing which shuts off airway to prevent aspiration. Sometimes those not experienced in handfeeding will try using the syringe, force the food, and strangulate the baby. Food can't be forced, but instead let the baby get a taste of the formula from the spoon, and then it'll grab hold, bob it's head while eating.

Please let us know how your baby is doing.

Wow!!! Everyone has been so much help for me with all this being so new. I am happy to say that he is doing wonderful, now I never see him not eating. He went from 62 grams to 72 grams. I am very happy. He had me scared. Last Saturday he was checked by a doctor and he said he was doing well. I had him sexed by the same doctor saturday night So I know he is a male now. I am not sure what I would have done without all your feedback, I was scared. Also I went on that poo (lol)website someone sent me and I did notice now that his droppings are white and like a lime color not sure if that is normal. Thank you again for so much feedback and making this much easier for me and Boggie. I wanted to add the picture that was included was ADORABLE

Lilli