Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can anyone help me please ? I am an inexperienced cockatiel owner, but have hand-reared my first ever cockatiel, as he was abandoned by his parents. He was doing really well, but at the weekend he seemed to be very sleepy (which I put down to the hot weather). However, this evening he seems to be very weak and, when trying to fly, he just falls on his beak on the floor. He is about 11 weeks old, was flying perfectly and seemed to be extremely happy and healthy, but his condition seems to be deteriorating. His feathers are fluffed up and he looks quite 'scraggy'. Has anyone got any ideas PLEASE ?

Thank you

Tiki's Mummy
xx

You really need to get your cockatiel to a vet. There are many problems that can go along with handfeeding that can take a little while to show up. One thing could be aspergillosis pneumonia. Basically some of the formula slips past the crop into the lungs and causes the baby to slowly strangle and die and if this does not cause death in the baby the food in the lungs will grow a fungus which can also kill the baby. Also food that is not the perfect temperature can either cause crop burn or crop stasis both which can make the baby lethargic, weak and sick. I am not trying to scare you but to show you the importance of getting your baby to a vet immediately. I can't tell you what is wrong with your baby but there are enough serious possibilities that your baby really needs a vet. Even if it turns out to not be so serious the vet can see what is wrong and give you less worries!!

I have rung my Avian Vet and the advice given :- "He's unlikely to last the night - don't waste your money".

We are currently at 8 minutes past midnight and any Vet here will charge £120 upwards just to see the bird. I don't object to spending the money, but the Vet is just not keen on seeing him, as she doesn't feel there's much she can do to help.

He is definitely getting weaker. I have tried giving water/liquidised food, but he shows no interest whatsoever.

He has been eating seed and pellets, etc., and up until the past weekend, was thriving, happy and healthy.

His crop feels quite full, although I haven't really seen him eat much - so maybe there is a problem there ?? However, his diet hasn't changed in the last three weeks or so (since seed/pellet was introduced), so I'm not sure why it should be causing him problems now ? He is still eating a small amount of rearing food, but that's not changed in consistency or temperature and he helps himself to it now, rather than being spoon-fed, so that's not changed either.

Other than sitting here, cuddling him and crying my eyes out (!), I'm not sure what else I can do for him. I guess I just have to hope he's still with us in the morning and then get him to the vet pretty damn quick.

I thank you, however, for your assistance and I will let you know what happens.

Please keep your fingers crossed - I think Tiki needs all the help and luck he can get right now !

With kindest regards

Fiona

JUST A QUICK NOTICE TO INFORM YOU THAT TIKI PASSED AWAY THIS MORNING.

R.I.P. TIKI

I am very sorry for your loss. We never know why, but sometimes the parents kick the little ones out for a reason. It is instinct on their part. Though you might never know why he passed, take comfort in the fact that it might not have been something you could avoid, and you helped him enjoy his life while he was here.

Thank you for your kind words - they mean a lot to me.

I didn't realise I could love something so small quite as much as I loved Tiki. He was such a character - always so pleased to see me (he'd jump up and down with excitement), loved to be cuddled and tickled, learnt to get his own way with a wolf whistle (which melted my heart) and adored contact, even if it was only to remove my 'fleas' or be rocked to sleep !!

Those 13 weeks seemed to last a lifetime. He's left me heartbroken but, at the same time, with so many happy memories.

Tiki - you were one in a million. R.I.P. my baby xxxxxxx