How hard is hand feeding babies?

[FreddyCheeks]

How difficult would it be to hand feed baby cockatiels? Reason I ask is my boss has 2 newly hatched baby cockatiels and said she would give them to us if we wanted to hand raise them. Just curious how hard this is.

A little added info is the wife is a stay at home mom, so she will always be around them and be the one doing the feeding. Is a critter cage with a towel the best way to keep them warm? How often do they need to eat? What is the amount they need to eat and when do you start to dial it back? Any other help would be appreciated.


Josh

 

[jenphilly]

Josh -

If the babies can stay with the parents for at least a few weeks that is the best option. My daughter had to hand raise two babies we had on an oops (a rescue was supposed to be DNA sexed female... not!). The male was a plucker and thankfully we found the babies in time to pull them and save them, but it is a major undertaking. They were under 2 weeks old. She was up multiple times throughout the night to feed along with feedings throughout the day. You have to worry about not only feeding too much or not enough, temperature, damaging their crop, crop infections, etc.

If you are home all day and can be up multiple times throughout the night without a problem, then you at least have the time to devote. Keep in mind the babies may have hatched days apart, so while one may need feeding every 3 hours or so, the younger may need feeding every two hours.

There is a big debate about what age to pull baby birds and if handing feeding from a younger age helps the bird have a better temperament with people. I know the two cockatiels my daughter hand raised have vastly different personalities.... one is a sweetheart and enjoys people, the other is a sassy standoffish thing like her father, so I can't be convinced that handraising equals sweet loving birds. Much like us, they have some genetic traits thrown in there too

We were kinda forced into learning the hand feeding thing, but I really would not suggest anyone do it for fun or just to have the experience. We even had to take the babies with us on any weekend trips we took and even a longer roadtrip over Thanksgiving, its literally like having a newborn baby, its a 24 hour a day commitment with no breaks or exceptions til they are grown

Good luck with whatever decision you make!

Jen

 

[crimson]

leave them where they are. they must remain with the parents for at least 2 weeks to receive proper care, bacteria,warmth and nutrition.
receiving anything less is just wrong.
It is never advised to buy an unweaned baby.

if you were to take them now, the chance of them dying are substantial.

 

[FreddyCheeks]

I'm not in any rush to take the babies. I didn't plan on taking them until they are atleast 2-3 weeks old if at all. I just know if I don't take them they will just be raised by the parents and have very minimal human interaction. (She has a good size flock that she takes care of just doesn't socialize with them, ie feed, clean cage, water and look at). Figured we could socialize them and keep one if not both depending on my wifes attachment if we hand raise them.

 

[Mayden]

As Crimson said, babies should be left with their parents for as long as possible really because they should be giving the babies everything they need.

Handfeeding is dangerous, and if inexperienced, often results in dead babies. I'm pretty good with birds, but I will stay far away from feeding babies unless I truely had to intervene. There are a ton of things that can go wrong, crop burn, piercing crops, sour crop, aspiration... the list goes on.

Let the babies stay with their parents until they're old enough (read: feathered and fledging and chowing down by themselves!) to be taken away. There's certainly no difference in personalities between hand fed and parent reared - it's all about the interaction they receive with whoever has them next, so please don't let that sway you either.

IF you do decide to take the birds, please have a good avian vet to hand and please please please don't be afraid to ask questions to the breeders on here. We'd rather you had support with this than to try and 'go it alone'. But I honestly do not recommend it because I think the birds will suffer for it.

 

[Mayden]

I'm not in any rush to take the babies. I didn't plan on taking them until they are atleast 2-3 weeks old if at all. I just know if I don't take them they will just be raised by the parents and have very minimal human interaction. (She has a good size flock that she takes care of just doesn't socialize with them, ie feed, clean cage, water and look at). Figured we could socialize them and keep one if not both depending on my wifes attachment if we hand raise them.

If it's a case of just socialising - please just wait until they're 8-10 weeks old and get them then. Socialisation is a case of 'you get out, what you put in' so no matter what age, if you work at it, the birds will come around. 8-10 weeks is still only a baby baby (I got my Merlin at 8 weeks) and will honestly make 0% difference in the long run if you work with them.

 

[crimson]

ok, thanks for clarifying it.
even at 2-3 weeks of age, you should never buy an unweaned baby.

the first time I hand fed my bird was almost weaned at 8 weeks of age, so it was a fairly simple process.
when feeding younger chicks, it's much more complicated.

 

[FreddyCheeks]

If it's a case of just socialising - please just wait until they're 8-10 weeks old and get them then. Socialisation is a case of 'you get out, what you put in' so no matter what age, if you work at it, the birds will come around. 8-10 weeks is still only a baby baby (I got my Merlin at 8 weeks) and will honestly make 0% difference in the long run if you work with them.

Are they completely weened at 8-10 weeks?

 

[Mayden]

If it's a case of just socialising - please just wait until they're 8-10 weeks old and get them then. Socialisation is a case of 'you get out, what you put in' so no matter what age, if you work at it, the birds will come around. 8-10 weeks is still only a baby baby (I got my Merlin at 8 weeks) and will honestly make 0% difference in the long run if you work with them.

Are they completely weened at 8-10 weeks?

Depends entirely on the chick. Merlin (a senegal) was fully weaned at 8 weeks. Some birds take longer, some regress and need formula again. But 8-10 weeks was a ballpark number for a cockatiel. But it's probably actually around 10-12 weeks. It's something that you'd need to be in touch with the breeder for, unless you're happy waiting for around week 14-16, when they should be completely done

 

[crimson]

it's a science, and dangerous for the babies if you've never done it.
like Mayden said, please don't be persuaded with 'free birds' especially at the cost of a birds life, should something go wrong.
you would feel terrible!

even the best breeders who hand feed have issues that crop up, and they are experienced, imagine having an issue appear and not know what to do???

let alone not even recognizing a 'potential issue' until it's too late. they die very very quickly, and the chances of survival like I said are minimal.

BUT, having said all of that, there is another side to hand feeding, it's the one that requires total commitment, every 4 hours or so.

you have to be extremely diligent when feeding young ones.
it is highly rewarding, but your schedule changes quite a bit.
cost is another issue, but most importantly you need to really research, research, before you make a decision.

most videos make it look really easy, but it is not easy.

 

[FreddyCheeks]

ok, thanks for clarifying it.
even at 2-3 weeks of age, you should never buy an unweaned baby.

the first time I hand fed my bird was almost weaned at 8 weeks of age, so it was a fairly simple process.
when feeding younger chicks, it's much more complicated.

Sounds good to me. I just don't want it to be scared or aggressive as I don't have time to work with it like i did with the parakeet.

 

[Mayden]

ok, thanks for clarifying it.
even at 2-3 weeks of age, you should never buy an unweaned baby.

the first time I hand fed my bird was almost weaned at 8 weeks of age, so it was a fairly simple process.
when feeding younger chicks, it's much more complicated.

Sounds good to me. I just don't want it to be scared or aggressive as I don't have time to work with it like i did with the parakeet.

Babies are real easy to get to come around. It's the adult birds who've had a lifetime of no contact (and want it to stay that way!) that are harder, or abuse/neglect, but that's a whole different story.

Get your babies when they're weaned, spend time chatting to them, offering them millet. I bet by the end of week 1 or week 2, they'll be just as good as a a handraised from 2 weeks baby

 

[jenphilly]

Josh -

Everyone is giving you great advice... We were forced into hand feeding because the babies were near dead from being plucked (dad wanted mom to breed again and killing the babies is how he gets her attention). Mom wasn't with the babies when we went for evening cleanings, so we pulled the babies. We were very very lucky that both babies survived and we made it thru hand feeding. But, we did make a couple trips to the awesome avian vet we have, and can't tell you how many times photos were posted asking 'does this look okay' for crops...

As I mentioned before, the girls have very different personalities and I believe they would be the same if mom and dad had finished their jobs. Everyone has an excellent point, if you want the babies, wait for the parents to finish feeding and when they are weaned at 8 or 10 weeks (when they are ready), bring them home. At that young age, you will still imprint on them as much as you ever could and you'll still get to sleep thru the night!!!

We adopted a rehomed cockatoo and she has bonded strongly to both myself and my husband, I don't think we would have a better relationship with her if she came home as a baby, so believe Mayden - what you put in is what you get out.

Also, another topic no one has touched on.... you should have the babies sexed unless they are pearls and the sex is apparent after they get adult feathers. Our male cockatiel 'sings' and gives heart wings to one of his daughters all the time when they are out socializing. If you happen to bring home a brother and sister, you may end up with babies down the road, birds don't have taboos like humans

I hope if you wait for weaned babies and end with a couple of happy birdies that you enjoy raising up and socializing!!

Jen

 

[FreddyCheeks]

So as long as it is young we can still bond?

The concern is that Fred is a awesome little guy. Cuddles, loves head scratches, follows me around, ect.
Star was a petco parakeet and after working with it(and still working with it), it only will sit on your finger or knee. If you go to pet it or scratch its head it will try and beak you. Not bite, but not allow it either. It does however except horse back rides from my 5 year old.

 

[MikeyTN]

Parent raised takes awhile to bond and work with. It also depends on each individual bird how much interest they have in you. The more interest they show the more likely they would be easier to train. Hand feeding part have been covered in most parts in previous posts.

I just want to add if you were to take the babies to hand feed, wait until they're at least 2 weeks before attempting. I find the younger they are the more willing they are accepting formula, as the older they are they're more stubborn about formula. But don't go under 2 weeks as it's a tiring process, the hard part is when they're under a week old. If there's someone knowledgeable in your area why don't you guys let them show you how its done.

 

[Mayden]

So as long as it is young we can still bond?

The concern is that Fred is a awesome little guy. Cuddles, loves head scratches, follows me around, ect.
Star was a petco parakeet and after working with it(and still working with it), it only will sit on your finger or knee. If you go to pet it or scratch its head it will try and beak you. Not bite, but not allow it either. It does however except horse back rides from my 5 year old.

I love using my birds as examples of the age difference.

Merlin was handreared and I got him at 8 weeks old, he is as malleable as they come, bonded to both me and Andrew (Andrew more at the moment due to hormones and stuff!), he's fantastic with everyone, well socialised, bulletproof bird. His only issue? Screaming when left. That is something we need to work on, but overall, fantastic well rounded, bonded but friendly to everyone bird.

Charlie is 10 years old, and we don't know his background at all other than he was to be sold as a breeding bird. He HATED the shop keeper, but was an absolute doll for me. I can do lots with him, he puffs up and 'dances' when he sees me, whistles to me, comes in for scritches. He's wonderful. But he doesn't like Andrew - something we're working on. I can do what I want with Charlie because I spend time with him. He's not out all the time, but his cage is by my settee in the livingroom and we chatter back and forth and get scritches through the cage. The little things that reinforce 'Mummys good to me, I like Mummy'

Mister, my old cockatoo, was an ex breeding bird, approx 5 years old with a fear of men - and people in general. We had him for a few months and in that time we had him really coming out of his shell. He'd get excited to see us, call to us, began to play, taking treats from us and we just about had him stepping up for us when he was rehomed. He was wonderful and I cried my eyes out letting him go to another home (I was his halfway house to get him away from his living conditions.) It took longer with Mister than it would have done with a baby 'too, because he was so scared of humans and their hands. But we did it in a short ish time frame, a little more and we could have gotten some good scritches with that guy.

Merlin is my "best bird" but I've had him the longest. Him being handraised has nothing to do with why he's so bonded or sociable - it's US bonding with him and taking him out and about, etc, that has made him such a good bird.

Age, is truely irrelevant. It's honestly all about the time you put in, some are so much easier than others. The younger they are, the 'easier' it is, because they already know that people are great - people meant food and loves etc. But even if you get a handraised bird, they need to learn that this NEW person, means food and loves too. So you make their experiences with you worthwhile - and they'll want to keep being with you! But whether they're a little baby, or a senior a bond needs to be made and moulded, it's not an instantaneous thing just because they're young.

A few weeks will make extremely little difference to how your 'tiels will respond to you. A handful of millet and some patience and they'll be all yours in a few weeks.

You say you struggle with Star - I understand that but if you can't quite put the time in for this little guy, are you going to have the time for the 'tiels? Handreared or not - they all need time for you to spend with them and work with.

My Brucie boy is great with me and Andrew, but will never tolerate scritches. He just doesn't like them! He'd rather leave the preening to himself/Lucie. So you might never get to where you want with Star and might just have to accept that he doesn't want the close contact.

 

[MikeyTN]

Some time when people say their bird hated their previous owners although that may be true but the bird may like you instead. Been countless times when we adopt one that's supposed to be evil and they turned out to be sweet angels for us. It just varies from bird to bird and also how confident you are with them. Bird can sense how you are as a person!

 

[FreddyCheeks]

You say you struggle with Star - I understand that but if you can't quite put the time in for this little guy, are you going to have the time for the 'tiels? Handreared or not - they all need time for you to spend with them and work with.

Star gets lots of attention from myself and my daughter.

As far as time goes the tiel would be more geared towards my wife. Thats why I was thinking about the whole hand feeding thing as she is home all day and would be able to. I just don't know how she would be toward a untamed bird. She's not the most confident person when it comes to birds and the two I have now can sence it as they have both nipped her once or twice and never me. I just want a bird that would be hers and I'd hate to put time into a tiel and have

1. Fred get jealous. He still act up a little if he sees me hold star.

2. Tiel bonds with myself and not my wife.

3. Tiel bonds with one of the other birds.

 

[jenphilly]

Josh,

If your wife is not the most confident with birds, handraising two babies would be a real challenge, especially once they fly yet still need to be hand fed. Here is a link to my daughter dealing with the babies towards the end of the handfeeding...

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1330571884155&l=4874225046271765565

And for anyone looking, she used a digital baby thermometer for temps and only double checked temps on her wrist (she was a bit paranoid!). And this is not a how to video, she had been feeding these guys for probably 7 weeks by this point and she had it down to a science and had already taught the birds to fly.

But this is what you can expect with two babies... if your wife is a little shy or hesitant with birds, having two hungry babies chasing you down and screaming at you, may be a bit daunting!

I think if your wife wants a bird of her own, it might be a great idea to visit a rescue and let a bird pick her out. Even if she tries handfeeding two babies, does not mean they will bond to her in the long run. Adopting an adult sweet tiel that needs a home may be a good option, no dealing with growing pains and training. Lots of wonderful birds looking for homes thru no fault of their own.

Good luck in your search!!

Jen