How old does this bird look? needing some help...

[parkland]

This is the one we got the other day, the one that was supposed to be friends for the one that flew away and never came back.

I need some input, the guy that sold him to us, said he is 8 weeks old and totally weened, but after looking at some pictures today, I don't think he's 8 weeks old, but maybe I'm wrong.

He acts very similar to this bird at 5.5 weeks:
( This is just a video i found for comparison....not our bird )
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecdKGzkK2G0"]6 week old baby cockatiel - YouTube[/ame]

The guy we bought him from said to feed him soggy bread, but I don't know how healthy that sounds, so I haven't been.
His feathers on his neck and chest are sort of still sprouting, the guy said he was a messy eater and dried up food cause some to fall out.

Some of the feathers on his head were kind of matted down too when we got him, but after a nice bath and sitting in front of the heater, he's all fluffy and clean now.

He is doing that hungry call like in the video I linked here.
We have a bunch of different things to feed, like seeds, millet spray, fruits, veggies, insects, and I've tried even making several dishes warmed up with like a bit of everything, and he will nip and try stuff, but doesn't really sit down and eat.

Yesterday, When I made pasta with tomato sauce and cheese for the family, he flew to my arm, and started eating off my plate. I know the cheese isn't probably the best for a bird, but I was so excited he was eating, I let him be a little piggy. Afterwards, he was happy and went for a nap.

Today though, I'm trying to feed all kinds of stuff, and same thing, he'll take a little bite, then forget about it.
I'll offer him water once in a while, and he drinks a few beak fulls.

Does this cockatiel look like we should be feeding him some food with a dropper? Or does he look 8 weeks but maybe a slow grower?

Every time I try to put him down to a bowl or plate of food, he might eat like 1 millet seed or a tiny bite of something, then just fly back to my shoulder.

Should he be eating more?
It's not that he isn't eating anything, but I think he should be eating a lot more.
And I know a new home, birds might take a couple days to get comfortable, but still I worry, because he looks younger than 8 weeks maybe, and also because if he was raised on soggy bread, maybe he won't want other food?

I don't really want to feed him soggy bread????

 

[parkland]

Well as I was writing that, I was mixing up a batch of hand feeding formula, and now he is sitting there absolutely devouring the little dish of warm food.
Didn't even give me a chance to get the dropper, he just stuffed his head in the dish.

Now I feel bad I didn't clue in sooner, he's got to be younger than 8 weeks, why else wasn't he eating normal stuff? Poor guy was hungry ...

Why would someone say a bird is 8 weeks old and fully weaned, when this clearly is not the case? I could have starved this little guy.

Or is it possible he just wants the formula because it's a new home? But would he really be that stubborn to go hungry before eating normal bird food?

I am really curious if anyone can guess an age from the pictures......

 

[JerseyWendy]

Here, have a look at this thread. Michael illustrated regularly how this little one grew up. Perhaps you will figure out how young your cockatiel is by comparing notes with Michael's photos. http://www.parrotforums.com/budgies...87-baby-tiel-hatching-way-ahead-schedule.html

I cringe each time I hear of folks selling unweaned baby birds to unsuspecting folks, especially because hand feeding a baby properly isn't something that can be taught via the internet.

 

[halogen]

He looks between 5 and 6 weeks to me. Definitely not old enough to be weaned. This website can help you with feeding him. Baby birds are super sensitive with regards to food. If you feed him formula too hot, you could burn his crop. If it's too cold, he could get sick. Just make sure you're vigilant about feeding him. I would say your best bet is to take him to a vet, first of all to make sure he's healthy and second of all, they may be able to show you how to feed him properly. My avian vet even offered to feed my chick for me while he was too young to be weaned. Also, yes, birds are that picky. I've heard of birds refusing to eat new food to the point that they began to starve because it was unfamiliar. Unlike people and other animals, if they don't see it as edible, they won't try it. They'd rather starve than eat what to them isn't food. (I'm guessing because they can't smell or taste too well it is safer to wait for "real" food to appear than to risk eating "inedible" things)

Second, there is the weaning process. I'm assuming he's at around 5.5-6 weeks old. You'll want to switch him to softened pellets pretty soon so that he gets in the habit of eating healthy. Also soft veggies and fruit are good to expand their pallet so it isn't too difficult to introduce new foods later in life. While he is weaning, he will very likely lose weight. That's normal, but it can be scary if he refuses to eat. This weight loss is purposeful, so don't try to stop it by feeding him more. Basically, it is the precursor to fledging. If he's too pudgy as a baby, he can't fly with so little experience. The natural response is to trim down so fledging and flying the first time is easier for the baby bird.

Best of luck to you, and to him.

 

[parkland]

Just a few more things I'll add today...

Well he's eating the formula mixed with warm water, like crazy, all the time. I'm offering him several other things to eat all the time, but he's not really interested.
Boy, did his chest get fatter after starting to eat properly!

He doesn't make any noise at night now, he sleeps right through. But about 7:30 am, he's waking us up with cute baby sounds, and kisses <3

He is a giant sucky poo, if I wake up to go to the bathroom at night, as soon as I get off the bed, he flies to my shoulder.
After seeing what this bird is like with un-clipped wings, I would never have another one with clipped wings, they fly anyways, and my limited experience makes me feel like clipping them gives them confidence issues. This guy is so gentle with his claws, I'm guessing cause he isn't scared of falling, cause he is a confident flying bird.

He likes being held constantly, you can put him down somewhere, but you get about 5 minutes maximum, and he'll fly to you, no matter where you are.
He flies so good, he can even fly up, hover for a bit, look around, then fly back.
He is so gentle and confident with his movements, like I said above, maybe because he is un-clipped.

2 training issues so far; For one, he loves the stove, I guess cause he sees us using it lots? Every time he lands on it, we move him and tell him 'no', but doesn't seem to be sinking in.
Secondly, he seems very careless about pooping. Compared to lovebirds, he really can make a mess lol. We are going through wet wipes like crazy. But, he's still a baby.
You guys might not believe it, but the lovebird does 95% of her poops in their cage, I don't know why exactly, but rarely to they poop somewhere.
This guy obviously can't cause he won't go in the cage, for starters haha.

We have our lovebird in a different part of the house now, but she wants to see the baby cockatiel all the time, but I don't want them to get in a fight so we just let them chirp to eachother.
The cockatiel has not flown to go see her yet, so he must just not care.

 

[getwozzy]

Please be very careful letting him fly in/around the kitchen- if he's landing on the stove, then you need to isolate him from the kitchen...if he lands on a burner that has been used or is being used, he will get hurt very badly.

Pooping- birds will poop whenever and wherever they please no matter the species unless you train them where it's acceptable to poop.

Also, I would not let your tiel and lovebird near each other if your tiel is still supposed to be in quarantine.

 

[crimson]

absolutely a no-no to let a bird in the kitchen while cooking
anything can happen without notice and an injury can occur.

as for his chest getting fat after you fed him, that is his crop filled up.

at this young age they want to be held more, they are just a baby and need security.

 

[parkland]

Please be very careful letting him fly in/around the kitchen- if he's landing on the stove, then you need to isolate him from the kitchen...if he lands on a burner that has been used or is being used, he will get hurt very badly.

Pooping- birds will poop whenever and wherever they please no matter the species unless you train them where it's acceptable to poop.

Also, I would not let your tiel and lovebird near each other if your tiel is still supposed to be in quarantine.

Yes were keeping the lovebird and cockatiel apart, I keep reading how they don't play nice together sometimes.

I'm not worried about pooping, we'll see if we can train him a bit, but for now he's a sucky baby and theres more important things to worry about like eating good and cuddling

 

[MonicaMc]

I have heard that it can take 15-16 weeks of age before some cockatiels wean, so if a bird isn't weaned at 8 weeks old, don't fret! As long as the bird is still eating and maintaining weight, it's not a big deal. Birds raised alone, and those that have been moved shortly after weaning may regress and take longer to wean than birds than birds parent raised or those raised in groups.

 

[MikeyTN]

Monica is right on!!! It doesn't mean he's not 8 weeks old although he may not be weaned and still prefers formula. BUT you need to provide the food and cut down the amount of feedings you do a day cause they need to learn how to eat on their own. Provide millet sprays and such, entice them to eat on their own. My babies usually wean around 42-45 days old but I've had one that took me 6 months to wean once before. And some around 2 months before weaning. Of course during weaning time, IF you offer formula, they rather have that then to eat on their own.

 

[parkland]

OK Thanks everyone !

Our baby, "Piper", has been eating really good now.
He'll eat lots of stuff, but still wants his hand feeding formula in a dish sometimes.
Sometimes he's so hungry, 10 minutes after eating, he's crying right in my ear for food, and when I feed him, it's like he hasn't eaten in a week, but I guess thats a baby thing.

His feathers on his chest and neck are growing in nice.
He seems happy and healthy now !

He is starting to learn "NO" and "stay" pretty good.
The other day he was flying to go see what cooking on the stove, I yelled 'NO!' and he causally turned around and didn't go to it
At night, we have his own blanket we put on the bed for him, he likes being by our heads so we put it by our pillows.
He now will stay on it, most of the time, so we don't get poop everywhere.

He is turning in to a really good flyer, he can fly very accurately, and can hover in one spot for quite a long time.
The only time he flies really is to come cuddle <3 lol

The other day though, my wifes dad came over, and Piper started flying in circles, and trying to dive bomb him ?! Like a robin or something ?! lol.
A little protective maybe, lol.

 

[RavensGryf]

Just for safety's sake, I'd make sure that Piper was in his cage (or attended to in a different room at least) when you're cooking on the stove.

Also, I would cage him at night. He will actually find it natural to perch on a branch at night. What if ONE time in the 20+ years that he could possibly live, if he doesn't stay up above the pillow, and he gets squashed when you or your wife move in bed while you're sleeping?

"Cage" doesn't mean it's bad in the way that we try not to cage a dog as much as possible, but this is different... It's about household safety (when cooking, when the front door is opening etc). Also, look at it more as his private room, his safe haven. I'm NOT by any means saying keep him caged, of course not. Just think first about possible 'situations' and determine when he probably should be caged momentarily for safety reasons, and when it's okay to keep him out and about.

I think you may be thinking of an animal like a "dog" with commands like "no! and stay!" and sleeping on your bed. I'd look up (either on this forum or google) tons of information training for birds, bird behavior, etc. they're a lot different than mammals and respond much differently to training, and environmental stimuli.
I don't mean to sound harsh, but these are just some things I noticed, and it would be awful to have yet another precious bird end in another unfortunate accident like the other two recently. Just sayin best of luck.

 

[parkland]

Thanks for the input everyone!

Piper is taking to training very well so far, we sort of met half way, and now he has a blanket on a chair next to the bed, and he will stay in there all night. Makes him happy, and a little safer.

I have a question for you all,
Once in a while, he will grab the back of my shirt, and flap violently like he's trying to lift me off the ground, then he'll fly in a circle, then grab me again, and try to lift me up.

Does this mean he wants to me to go flying around with him? lol.