HELP! Hand feeding this baby!!

[Kewi]

I have a question for anyone that may help. First, My name is Sheila, I have two cockatiels, one 4 year old hand fed by me, wonderful talking boy. He is my pride. I have hand fed forth tiels and I have not seen this before. So I need your help.

I just accepted a new baby. It's name is Mango. Mango was two weeks when I accepted it and I have had it for one week tomorrow.

When I hand fed my first baby, he always sat down, and bobbed his head. This new baby is freaking me out. He stands as tall as he can and fights for the food each feeding, he acts as if he is STARVING! I mean he screams and cries from the time he sees me enter the room until the time I WITHDRAWL the formula. He will not stop eating unless I force him. He has done that
from day one. I dont understand. I am mixing his formula like soup and feeding on a four hour schedule. His crop can be full and he still cries for
food. HELP.. I dont know what I am doing wrong. He acts as if he had to fight for food and rarely got it. I bought him from a man that owned a pet
store and he was closing the doors. I felt sorry for the babies and all the birds
were in very poor conditions. I had to bring this baby home.

When I begin to feed, he stands up so tall, he stands on his tip toes and his legs are out so far, that he falls. I cant get him to sit and eat, he fumbles
around and I have to be very careful that he doesnt fall or hurt himself.

Had anyone seen this before? Help, tell me that he is not unusual!

[Joel]

Originally Posted by Kewi

".........Had anyone seen this before? Help, tell me that he is not unusual!

Unusual you ask? Yes IMO & IME but not totally rare. Happens sometimes just because the baby is a voracious eater. How many ccs/mls are ya giving at each four hr. feeding? Is crop empty before putting in more? If so, then thicken formula a lil (what name brand are ya using btw?) and see if that works. If not, then thicken and feed more often for starters. There is no sign of throwing up, is there? How do droppings look? Normal or can you explain appearance if not or better yet, can ya post a pic of bird and etc.?

Once I did have a differerent and strange occurance when I started out and the baby (about same age as yours) did same and eventually the crop stopped working. That was before I had any experience or enough sense to take to an A.V. for help - I thought I could save myself but it died. I still feel bad I did not act sooner and get him to the vet. Maybe you should do that if ya feel necessary?

Btw, where might ya be located if ya don't mind saying?

[Kewi]

Well, he is eating very well. He takes approximately 6cc's at each 4 hour feeding. His crop was getting empty fast, then I did thicken it, then it tended to slow, so I thinned it out again. However, since I have thickened it again. I feed at 103 to 107. It wasnt empty this last feeding before I gave more, however, I didnt want to leave him without all night long. Therefore, I went on with the feeding.

His droppings are green, was a bit runny. Since I thickened the formula, I havent noticed changes yet. But only thickened the last two feedings. I just finished feeding, his crop looks ok, I dont remember since it has been four years ago what they look like in detail when that young. It looks a bit bubbled on one side at times, but then when I look again, it looks normal. Is there something called stretch crop?? Or something to that effect when someone has overfed? His crop has been like this since I brought him home, I thought it was normal. I dont know.....Kewi, my older tiel was a bit bigger and older, I believe I got him at late 3 weeks, he was just beginning to fledge.

I do have a digital, but havent posted here before. So, pics will have to come in the am since it is getting late. You used some abbreviations in your reply, can you tell me what they are and what they mean.. .. I appreciate your response so much. What did you mean about the crop stopped working? Mango is gaining weight, he is starting to get his feathers now and looks well. Is that unusual for the crop to have a tiny bubble out at one side?

I will add some photos in the am so you can see. Perhaps after the am feeding so you can see the crop. I think my problem is this: I havent any experience with babys two week young.. Perhaps this is a bit normal.. I pray!

[Kewi]

OH, btw I am feeding Exact.. I used the same on Kewi when he was a baby..

[Hootie'sMom]

I'm not sure what is going on with your baby, but if you are feeding Exact, his droppings shouldn't be green. I use Exact and the droppings are always formula colored (light brown). Maybe there is a bacterial infection going on.
I had one baby that acted like yours, she would beg even if her crop was full.
I brought her home from the store because she was supposed to be weaned but kept begging and wouldn't eat, turned out she had a yeast infection in her crop. I would say a trip to your AV would be in order.

[Kewi]

Mango does eat; "like a little pig", in fact I almost name he/she piglet because of it. He has no problems eating, I will watch his droppings today to make sure I am correct in color.

Does anyone know about the tiny bubble thing that I spoke of. I am going to post some pics today after this feeding I am about to do.

[Ringneckmom]

The bubble sounds normal. You will normally have that when the crop is moving.
Actually - it sounds like you have a normal Tiel. Most of my babies all did that. They are very eager eaters and will actually want to eat even when they have a full crop. Mine would get so excited that they would even feed each other or anything they got hold of - and pump like crazy.

You are going to increase the food amount as you are feeding I hope. Normally it will take more to fill the crop as it starts to stretch. Tiels can take a max of about 10 to 12 ccs per feeding when they get to their max intake. It does have to be done slowly to avoid over stretching the crop though.

[Kewi]

Does his crop look normal? Does he look to be 3 wks old? The man at the pet store says to cage at 4 wks, at this point, I cant see that happening?

[Kewi]

Oh, and yes, he is eating 9 to 11 cc's since posting yesterday morn. I watched very carefully the amounts.

[Ringneckmom]

I don't see any photos.

I would not put the baby into a cage until he was almost completely feathered as he might get a chill. Which, by the way are you keeping him warm? That can also make a difference in how he digests his food.