Baby Cockatiel Feathers

[shahwaiz]

Hey Everyone!

I recently got a baby cockatiel from a Dad's friend, and it's around 60-65 days now, but it isn't fully feathered yet (pics below), and it specially has very less feathers on its neck. He doesn't eat grains or cockatiel feed, only soft solids, like chickpeas soaked in water, rice, etc, and most of the time baby bird formula. My thought is that I've done something wrong with feeding it, and I'd like to ask for your guys' opinions and suggestions. Thanks!

 

[texsize]

I can’t say what is wrong with his feathers but he looks too young to be fully weaned.

 

[shahwaiz]

I can’t say what is wrong with his feathers but he looks too young to be fully weaned.

I've had it for 46 days, and the person I got it from said it was around 20-25 days

 

[clark_conure]

Keep ahold of those feathers, they are worth $$$ on the black market.


Or....at least for DNA testing.....

 

[Cottonoid]

Welcome! Oh my golly he's so cute with his big eyes and little face!!

I don't know much about the weaning process, but do you have a vet you could take him to for a checkup? Sometimes injuries to or problems with their crop during hand feeding can cause the feathers to fall out, so I'd be a little bit worried seeing feather loss in that area.

Here's a link to a list of Avian vets, maybe one is near you?

Avian Vet Resources

 

[shahwaiz]

Welcome! Oh my golly he's so cute with his big eyes and little face!!

I don't know much about the weaning process, but do you have a vet you could take him to for a checkup? Sometimes injuries to or problems with their crop during hand feeding can cause the feathers to fall out, so I'd be a little bit worried seeing feather loss in that area.

Here's a link to a list of Avian vets, maybe one is near you?

Avian Vet Resources

Welcome! Oh my golly he's so cute with his big eyes and little face!!

I don't know much about the weaning process, but do you have a vet you could take him to for a checkup? Sometimes injuries to or problems with their crop during hand feeding can cause the feathers to fall out, so I'd be a little bit worried seeing feather loss in that area.

Here's a link to a list of Avian vets, maybe one is near you?

Avian Vet Resources

Thank You, he is quite adorable.

The feathers haven't come or fallen off, they never grew. Also, I do know a vet, but it's quite far, and I can go in only like 10 days time

 

[BirdyBee]

Hey Everyone!

I recently got a baby cockatiel from a Dad's friend, and it's around 60-65 days now, but it isn't fully feathered yet (pics below), and it specially has very less feathers on its neck. He doesn't eat grains or cockatiel feed, only soft solids, like chickpeas soaked in water, rice, etc, and most of the time baby bird formula. My thought is that I've done something wrong with feeding it, and I'd like to ask for your guys' opinions and suggestions. Thanks!

Such a cutie ❤

I agree with above users, try to get him to an avian vet as soon as possible, just to make sure he's OK.

 

[BirdyBee]

I've had it for 46 days, and the person I got it from said it was around 20-25 days

Did you feed it solids when you got it? 20-25 days is way too young for a bird to be weaned.

 

[shahwaiz]

Did you feed it solids when you got it? 20-25 days is way too young for a bird to be weaned.

No, his beak isn't strong enough to crush pellets or millets yet, so I have to soak them to be soft before giving them. Also, I started to give them at around 40 days, and only occasionally, he's still on formula

 

[BirdyBee]

No, his beak isn't strong enough to crush pellets or millets yet, so I have to soak them to be soft before giving them. Also, I started to give them at around 40 days, and only occasionally, he's still on formula

I think you may find this useful:

So you bought an unweaned baby...

Today I spent several hours trying to help someone save a baby bird they had purchased unweaned. The baby died; they are usually almost dead by the time the new owner realizes something is wrong, not because the owner doesn't care but because they are not educated about what to look for or...

www.parrotforums.com

 

[shahwaiz]

I think you may find this useful:

So you bought an unweaned baby...

Today I spent several hours trying to help someone save a baby bird they had purchased unweaned. The baby died; they are usually almost dead by the time the new owner realizes something is wrong, not because the owner doesn't care but because they are not educated about what to look for or...

www.parrotforums.com

Thanks for the advice!

I had done a lot of research before getting it, so I knew what I was dealing with. I knew pretty much everything from the post you linked, but the weaning part was indeed helpful, so thank you for that!