Can i stop giving my cockatoo formula?

[Mio99i]

Hello so i just got my 1st parrot and its cockatoo yellow crest hes a 4month , however the store told me that i shall keep hand feeding them for a month and a half

I dont know how to handfeed the parrot but i use spoon he did drink abit from the formula however its a real fight to make them eat all of the formula and he start dodge the spoon but he get more intrest if i show him a sunflower seed ir normal seed ir any other dry food anything not a formula , im not sure if i shall stop giving him a formula and let him start adult food , im planning to ask a vet to handfeed him if he need to keep feed on formula

 

[SailBoat]

It is never proper for a breeder /store to send a 'baby' Parrot home with a new owner until the 'baby' is fully (completely) weaned from formula (now fully on an Adult diet)... Especially, a new owner who has never crop feed a 'baby' Parrot.

Since they did, you should either return the Parrot until it is fully weaned or have them teach you how to crop feed a 'baby'.

 

[ParrotGenie]

I hate unethical pet stores. What gets me is the fact he sold the bird to you knowing you have no experience, as you told him? Then to make matters worst he didn't take the time and show you how to hand feed the parrot? Pure greed? Owner sure have never sold you the bird and waited till the bird was fully weaned. With cockatoos it can take a while, as they usually take 5 months, or more if they regress.

You sure consider returning him if you can and generally Cockatoo are demanding and and are complex and hard to meet needs even for a person with experience with them. Please read threads on here on caring for a cockatoo in the cockatoo section, so you can have a idea what you are in for, as they are a lifetime huge commitment. A juvenile/baby in general are even harder to raise as when they hit 4 to 11 years old they hit puberty and have hormonal imbalance behavior issues and 90% reason a lot of them get re homed, or surrendered to a rescue.

 

[Scott]

Welcome to you and your baby cockatoo! As others suggest, purchasing an unweaned parrot is hazardous. While spoon feeding is less dangerous than tube (into the crop) feeding, he may not receive sufficient nourishment. Have you approached the store and asked for them to continue feeding until weaned? If not, a certified avian vet may help you learn the proper technique.

Please read this thread, it explains what you are experiencing and what steps to follow: http://www.parrotforums.com/breeding-raising-parrots/74363-so-you-bought-unweaned-baby.html

Please keep us updated on progress!

 

[wrench13]

Welcome and be welcomed. I sincerely hope that you take and read all the advice folks on this forum are offering you. Keeping a parrot as a companion is a road that is never fully traveled, and there is always more and new information you can learn about these highly intellegent and emotionally complex animals( animals seems to be so insufficient to describe parrots).

Please be comfortable enough to ask as many questions as you may needto.... the questions that you don't ask could be the most important ones! Long life with your new baby is our wish for you.

 

[noodles123]

a cockatoo should have never been sold to a new parrot owner. PERIOD...Let alone an unweaned one.. This makes me very angry (not at the OP...but at the ignorance in general). THIS is why these poor birds suffer---and it isn't the buyers fault in full, it is the fact that they are marketed as clownish cuddle-bugs...ugh..so frustrated and stressed by all of this.
The 90% re-homing rate is not an understatement...and for a first-time owner...if they can get past the health issues of weaning....puberty...behaviors....cockatoos in general....

I am overwhelmed by the INSANE amount that must be learned even when keeping a small bird, but large cockatoos are THE HARDEST collection of species...a first-time owner with one makes me legitimately tear up a bit...

OP--this isn't directed at you--- even if you think you know, it is likely you have no idea how challenging these birds can be (having never owned a bird). They are a struggle even for those experienced with other large parrots (non-cockatoos)..
4-12 years and you will be in a world of hurt unless you get some serious training help etc--- puberty/adulthood is a nightmare if a bird is raised to expect cuddles etc (which they already seem programmed to expect)...

I would seriously take the bird back to the seller...1) He was dishonest and shady. 2) You likely have no idea what you are getting into because you bought an unweaned bird willinging. 3) The bird could easily die without assistance (an un-weaned baby needs an expert)....4) at such a young age, the bird will be less traumatized than if you wait to re-home (which happens 90% of the time...if it survives)...

 

[Laurasea]

Read up on weaning by abundance. This is offering hand feeding, but never forcing it on them. At the same time offer all other food, veggies, ECT. Sometimes they snip one or two feeding, but still want morning and night feeding. If they beg for hand feeding you always give it. It's a complex time, and important time in development, and just much more than I'm able to cover. I did have an article, I look for it if noodles doesn't find first. But babies need a lot of contact and guidance, and supporting. I'm not sure if at his age if he is close to weaning and just needs supplement hand feeding, or if he is still getting most of his calories from hand feeding.....babies can get into trouble so quickly.

 

[noodles123]

Where are you located? That might help us help you.

 

[Mio99i]

Where are you located? That might help us help you.

Thanks to everyone i live on unite Arab Emirates on city called Rar Alkhimah

Im really worried about the parrot i have and im trying to use the spoon method to handfeed him but he dont finish his formula so right now im keeping re doing new ones after few Hours to at less make him eat abit

And im willing to ask a vet for a help

 

[LaManuka]

You should at least get help from a certified avian vet, or take the bird back to the seller until it has been properly weaned. Whoever sold this immature bird to you has done you a massive disservice and has endangered the life of your bird. I don’t mean to alarm you but it is dangerous, unethical and improper to sell a bird that is so young it still requires formula and you should seek help from a vet or take it back to the the breeder immediately.

 

[Mio99i]

You should at least get help from a certified avian vet, or take the bird back to the seller until it has been properly weaned. Whoever sold this immature bird to you has done you a massive disservice and has endangered the life of your bird. I don’t mean to alarm you but it is dangerous, unethical and improper to sell a bird that is so young it still requires formula and you should seek help from a vet or take it back to the the breeder immediately.

I went to yhe vet today and asked serval doctors there about this , they told me i can try spoon method however right now he may dont eat from me because he maybe stressed to move to a new place and since he can eat adult food such as seed and veggie i dont need to worry much abd i shall reduce giving formula to them so they will fully transfer to adult food , however i shall not stop fully giving him formula until he fully refused

My bird did accepted using a spoon however he dont finish the whole bowl since he refuse after a 4 to 8 spoons and just run for the seed bowl to eat seeds and viggie and i believe they said he turned 5 months now and shall start to transform to normal food but slowly

 

[Scott]

Thank you for seeking veterinary advice! If your bird is in transition between hand-feeding and adult diet, now is the time to introduce a variety of foods. Yet it is critical for development to offer formula until consistently refused.

You will have to decide what types of foods as permanent diet. Fresh vegetables and fruits are best, most birds enjoy pellets or seeds as variety and nutrition. Guide to safe foods: http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...afe-fresh-foods-toxic-food-lists-sprouts.html

The decision of pellets vs seed may depend on what is available in your area. Many consider pellets superior to seed, but that is a debate similar to wing clipping!

 

[Mio99i]

Thank you for seeking veterinary advice! If your bird is in transition between hand-feeding and adult diet, now is the time to introduce a variety of foods. Yet it is critical for development to offer formula until consistently refused.

You will have to decide what types of foods as permanent diet. Fresh vegetables and fruits are best, most birds enjoy pellets or seeds as variety and nutrition. Guide to safe foods: http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...afe-fresh-foods-toxic-food-lists-sprouts.html

The decision of pellets vs seed may depend on what is available in your area. Many consider pellets superior to seed, but that is a debate similar to wing clipping!

Right now he do eat formula but its kind way too little and whenever his pallet of food near him he tottal ignore thr formula and go for seeds and mixed millet

Thats fine right ? Iv reduces my hand feeding tries since he only take around 3 to 6 spoons and dodge the spoon later on

 

[Scott]

Thank you for seeking veterinary advice! If your bird is in transition between hand-feeding and adult diet, now is the time to introduce a variety of foods. Yet it is critical for development to offer formula until consistently refused.

You will have to decide what types of foods as permanent diet. Fresh vegetables and fruits are best, most birds enjoy pellets or seeds as variety and nutrition. Guide to safe foods: http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...afe-fresh-foods-toxic-food-lists-sprouts.html

The decision of pellets vs seed may depend on what is available in your area. Many consider pellets superior to seed, but that is a debate similar to wing clipping!

Right now he do eat formula but its kind way too little and whenever his pallet of food near him he tottal ignore thr formula and go for seeds and mixed millet

Thats fine right ? Iv reduces my hand feeding tries since he only take around 3 to 6 spoons and dodge the spoon later on

That is fine, sounds like good progress. For best health and confidence, continue to offer forumula even if he takes just a bit. When he consistently refuses, weaning is essentially complete and you can discontinue forumula.