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About Marie Charon
Expertise
Questions I can answer 1. rehabilitating an abused or troubled pet bird, behavioral issue's, cage and cage care, feeding questions, , most general questions, providing quality care for your bird, and guide you in taming your bird.

Experience
I run a not-for-profit exotic bird rescue, and an animal daycare/boarding service. I also have experience in resolving common behavioral issues such as biting, screaming, feather plucking, aggression, jealousy, anxiety issues, and cage bound birds.

Organizations
NCA Member

Publications

Education/Credentials
I have a B.S in Communications and Technical Writing.

Awards and Honors
Dean's List & H.S Society.

Past/Present Clients
Along with Feathered Friends Rescue, I also run Ann Arbor Pet services. This service provides dog daycare, I also provide boarding for dogs, cats, birds, and other small animals. I offer equine services, and exotic bird rehabilitation.

You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Pet Birds > Birds--General > Cockatiel chick

Birds--General - Cockatiel chick

Expert: Marie Charon - 11/3/2009

Question
We have a large avairy at work with lots of different birds, which I'm guessing shouldn't be mixed but seem to get on fine. I have no experience with birds or chicks, but I do my best and take care of them well. About a month ago we had 2 cockatiel chicks hatch, I left them alone as the parents seemed to be doing a good job, until
I noticed that one chick had been killed by another bird, I then made it my mission to try and protect the other one. Recently over the past couple of days as the chicks got older and stronger it to has been attacked, sustaining head injuries. But it still seems ok, it's got it's feathers and is warm. Other than remove any potential threat which could be a number of birds, I've removed the chick and the parent, which after online research believe to be the father, as this bird has looked after the chick since it hatched. I couldn't be sure of the other parent as they all look the same. I've not touched the chick with my bare hands and made a new nest (with it's old bedding) is this chick old
enough to
leave it's parents? Is it old enough to eat seeds? Or will it need hand feeding if I separate it? Have I done the right thing? I've read that the father can kill the chick? Eek! Much help and advice needed please.

Emma

Answer
I'm guessing that the aviary is full of only Cockatiels? Cockatiels can be breed in multi cockatiel aviaries, but there are some breeders who think it a bad idea. Mainly because of the point you brought up, it is hard to tell what bird is hurting the chicks.

Whenever chicks are being hurt in an aviary it is best to remove them from any and all cockatiels in the cage, and be hand-fed/hand raised. Unless you are positive that the parent you remove with the chicks is not the one harming the babes. Also it can be very hard for a single bird parent to meet all of the chicks needs. Raising babies takes a lot of energy for birds, just like it does for people.

I don't know if your ckick is ready to be weaned or not as you didn't tell me it's age. If you tell me how many weeks old it is I can help you better care for it.

Blessings,
-m

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