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Birds--General/Cockatiel chick with empty crop

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Expert: - 8/1/2008


Question
Hi there! My cockatiels have had three beautiful chicks and so far the have fed them and looked after them exceptionally. Now, four weeks on, the older one seems to get very little food, or at least his crop lookes sleeker. Is this normal?
At what age or stage do they start eating by themselves? What sort of food is the best to provide for them?  

Answer
Hi, Maria,

Yes, this is normal.  The parents are starting to wean the oldest hatchling at about 4 weeks of age.  This baby should start eating by itself soon if it hasn't already started pecking at things in its environment.  The parents will still feed this youngster at times, but won't feed it all the time.  Daddy mainly will teach the baby what to eat, how to maneuver around a cage, etc.  

Anything but seed is the best to wean them to.  Seed is high in fat and low in nutritional value.  Start out with soft foods, such as cooked brown rice with veggies mixed in, corn bread or other healthy, nutritional whole-grain types of foods, dry sugarless cereals, spray millet, etc.  Anything healthy for humans is healthy for parrots.  Exceptions are avocado, chocolate, soda, salt, sugar, fast foods and foods high in fat, dairy products, coffee, tea, and these types of foods.

Chrys

Birds--General

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Chrys Meatyard

Expertise

I`ve been raising/breeding/handfeeding/selling parrots for over 20 years (parakeets/budgies, cockatiels, 6 subspecies of conures, parrotlets, amazons, lovebirds, etc.). I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England. I can provide advice in raising healthy birds, handfeeding/weaning babies, some health problems (although I'm NOT an avian veterinarian), nail/beak/wing clipping, general husbandry, etc. I also have experience with racing/showing homing pigeons. I cannot diagnose specific illness over this website. If you suspect your bird is ill or if you have an emergency, contact an avian veterinarian or emergency pet clinic ASAP.

Experience

Experience: Over 20 years raising parrots and over 13 years raising pigeons. Organizations: Currently, American Racing Pigeon Union and American Federation of Aviculture. Prior member Miami Valley Bird Club, Southern Ohio Pigeon Association, National Cockatiel Society, Miami Valley Sportsman's Club, others. Publications: Monthly newsletters of bird clubs.

Publications
I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England.

Education/Credentials
American Federation of Aviculture, completed Level I course, Fundamentals of Aviculture. Keeping/breeding parrots and other birds for over 20 years.

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