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Birds--General/what to feed the parents

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Expert: - 1/3/2007


Question
Well i have to cockatiel this is the first time for them to lay eggs, and they have hatched, yay!! The parents are doing a wonderfull job, and the babies look healthy but,  i dont know what to feed the parents do i just feed them seeds are do i need to put other things in there as well???  im sure they will be fine but i just need to make sure i would hate the mother to go threw her babies dieing!

Answer
Hi, Rylee.  Thanks for posting!

Your birds definitely are on a poor diet if they are on an all-seed diet.  However, you can't change their diet now!  Birds won't eat food they don't recognize as food (if they haven't eaten that food in the past).  In other words, if your birds aren't accustomed to eating other foods besides seeds, they won't accept other foods right now.  You can convert them to other foods AFTER they are done feeding these babies, but you can't change their diet right now.  It would result in too much stress and they most likely won't eat new things you put in for them to eat.  You'll need to start introducing them to other foods after their babies are weaned.

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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