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Birds--General/Cockatiel baby eyes

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Expert: - 1/1/2007


Question
Hey Chris, I had four baby cockatiels, unfortunetly two of them died. I saw in alot of cockatiel baby photos that a 9 day old cockatiel is suppose to have it's eyes opened and I have also read that people begin handfeeding at the age of 14 days old because they open their eyes then. My baby cockatiel which is now 14 days 5 hours and 58 minutes hasn't opened it's eyes yet. Why didn't it open and how much time at the most will it take for their eyes to open?  

Answer
Hi, Aamir.  

I'm sorry to hear about the loss of 2 of your baby tiels.  Your 14-day old tiel should have it's eyes open by now.  Are you sure this baby is 14 days old (could you have mixed up the date of hatching with another baby)?  Is anything covering it's eyes, such as regurgitated food?  You might want to take a cotton ball soaked with a bit of warm water and clean off the baby's eyes (and very gently wipe dry) just in case something might be preventing the eyes from opening.

You can handfeed the babies even if their eyes are still closed.  

Let me know what happens.

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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