How to Feed a Cockatiel Chick
Do you have a baby cockatiel? Do you know how to feed it at this delicate stage of its life? These Australian birds are beautiful, intelligent and very sociable, and thus they are very popular as pets. However, if you want to raise one you should first be aware that it is a great responsibility, and it can also be very expensive.
Stay with us at OneHowTo to learn how to take good care of your baby bird. In this article you'll discover how to feed a cockatiel chick.
Steps to follow:
First of all, you must know that raising a cockatiel from its hatchling days requires lots of time and care. Cockatiel chicks need to be handfed to be able to survive. Avoid separating the baby birds from their mother until they are 20 days old. During that time, they'll strengthen their immune system through their mother's feeding.
You should not take much longer to start the hand feeding process because there's a risk that they might reject their food.
Once they are out of the nestbox, cockatiel chicks must be kept in a warm and very quiet place. If necessary, place a source of artificial heat to maintain their body temperature throughout the day.
You must put them in a large sturdy container - a brooder - that is easy to clean, adding deep wood chips so that feces and formula do not build up.
Cockatiel chicks should be raised on cockatiel-specific formula which you should be able to find in any pet store that has plenty of products for birds. Once you buy it, ask for feeding tips in person, or consult a vet or breeder.
Prepare the formula with bottled mineral water to avoid any health risks. It should be warmed to a maximum temperature of 40º C / 108º F - a microwave can be used for this. Be very, very careful not to give them anything hotter than that.
Feed them with special spoons that mimic the shape of cockatiels' beaks, or alternatively, use plastic feeding syringes (without the needle).
The frequency and amount of food recommended for your cockatiel is as follows:
- 1 to 4 days old: Feed your baby bird every two hours an amount of 1 to 2 ml.
- 5 to 7 days old: Feed your baby bird every three hours with an amount between 2 and 3 ml.
- 8 to 14 days old: Feed your baby bird 5 times a day an amount of between 4 and 6 ml.
- 15 to 20 days old: Feed your baby bird 4 times a day, between 7 and 10 ml.
If you cannot find this specific food in pet stores, you can prepare homemade formula for cockatiel chicks as explained below.
You can feed your cockatiel the standard porridge and fruit formula, or make a simple porridge with bread crumbs and fruits such as apple and pear. Blend well, add mineral water and feed them with a plastic feeding syringe. but it is very important that it contains no dairy: Never feed your bird dairy products.
Mix this formula with warm water for a more liquid consistency and keep the temperature warm but not too hot.
When your cockatiel chick is a month old, it'll be stronger and more active, and it will need more space. After 40 days your baby cockatiel can manage adult food and some fresh ingredients to peck at. The more it eats adult bird food, the less it will want the soft pureed food.
You can gradually remove the formula and replace it with a adult mixture and fresh food. Do this at approximately 2 months old.
Once you know how to feed a cockatiel chick properly, it is important to provide an optimal habitat for it. With this in mind, we recommend the following article:
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