Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 6/1/2007

Question
QUESTION: I recently bought a cockatiel of a guy that lives down the road from me and was selling cockatiels for his friend. The one i bought is healthy by all appearances but i was told i had to hand feed it morning and night which is fine. I know how to but i'm worried because there's no feeding response and the bird doesn't recognise the syringe as giving it food. I leave a little in its mouth every time so it can taste it and feel it inside its mouth. It nibbles at seed but only cracks the very small ones. Am i doing the right thing? Is there a way to get the feeding response back?
Please help
thanks
renee

ANSWER: Hi, Renee.

How old is this bird?  An older baby bird often times doesn't provide a feeding response, which is OK.  Was the bird handfed by the previous owner...doesn't sound like it if this bird doesn't recognize the handfeeding syringe.  So I'm a bit confused as to what this baby's diet consists of...how is this baby being nourished on a daily basis?  

Chrys

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The bird is just seven weeks and the same age as several he had there. He's handraised many in the same way he's handraised this one and said he's never had one who didn't feed well..(syringe feeding). I don't want the bird to develop a fear of hands if it must be force fed and i don't know how to get it to take to the food. I've been feeding it handraising formula from vetafarm. I'm handfeeding it once in the morning and once at night with seed pellets and green leafy vegies and also some soft foods being left in the cage daily. I have an older bird in there to show it how to eat and so far it has started copying it. I check the crop throughout the day to make sure its filling and emptying properly.
Am i doing the right thing? I don't like having to hand feed it when its not taking to it so well but i know it has to get the nourishment or else it will die.  

Answer
Hi again, Renee.

You might try a couple things...

The handfeeding formula---is it hot enough when you feed it to this baby?  It has to be 102-104 degrees F when FED or the bird will likely refuse it.  A lot of breeders think they have finicky babies when it's the temperature of the formula that's the problem.  Also, ensure the formula is the right consistency...not too thin, not too thick.

A baby bird that refuses handfeeding formula is usually trying to wean.  Since the baby is used to eating warm handfeeding formula, try offering the baby warm cooked brown rice.  Also try scrambled eggs, warm baked potato, cream of wheat, oatmeal, corn bread, Grape Nuts cereal (dry), pasta (no sauce), etc.....healthy, nutritious foods.  Start out with warm foods in a sideless dish or jar lid (baby birds have to learn what a food dish is before they will eat out of one).  Place the dish on the cage bottom so the bird can see it.  It's a great idea about putting the older bird with the young bird.  Hopefully, the older bird is eating a variety of foods.  If not, perhaps the young bird will teach the older bird to eat better.  You'll need to keep lots of food in front of this baby (called abundance weaning), but not allow anything to stay in the cage long enough to spoil.  Once the baby starts eating some of this food, you can eliminate the morning handfeeding.

You're right, you do not want to have to start force feeding unless absolutely necessary.  Sometimes I've run into baby birds that just don't like being handfed, but they have to learn to eat other things well early or they won't survive.  Having them mimic/learn after another bird certainly helps, as this is how the parents teach them.  If this bird were still with its parents, daddy tiel would be teaching this baby what to eat and everything else it needs to learn.  You have to be "daddy tiel" here (as well as mommy)!

Keep in touch and let me know how it's going.  

Chrys