I'm worried!

[Lachie]

Hi, i just purchased a 8 week old cockatiel 2 days ago, and i've basically left him alone for a while. I've taught him "Up" and he already knows how to whistle. What i'm worried about is that he wont eat or drink without my help. The breeder i bought him off said to just buy normal cockatiel mix. I did, and he didin't eat it from the feeder in his cage. He only eats it when i put a sunflower seed near his mouth, then he eagerly grabs it and eats it (sometimes he drops it) and unless i fill the sink with water and splash it around a bit he wont drink either. He also eats millet sprays when it is put near his head too. Can someone please help?

[cockatiel92]

how old is he. is he weened.

[amanda143]

8 weeks is a bit young in my opinion. He may not be completely weaned! You may have to help him for a little while to make sure.

[thedelboy]

9 weeks minimum go to your local pet store and get the baby food

[cockatiel92]

i agree with everyone here. he is still to young to eat on his own. does he make a crying noise when you are feeding him.

[Flappuccino]

8 weeks is young to be leaving home. If you aren't an experienced handfeeder, the breeder should have waited a minimum of an extra week after totally weaning before sending him to a new home.

Young birds will often revert to wanting to be handfed when in a new home. It's upsetting to them to leave the only home they've ever known.

You can buy some handfeeding formula (NOT EXACT), and put it warm in a bowl (or a syringe and let him lick it- don't shove it in), give warm mushy veggies, etc. Comfort food is what you're going for.

Congrats on the new baby!

[RettaAnn]

Buy baby bird formula at a pet store, after mixing it you can offer it by way of a spoon to your baby. He is too young to be on seed, if I remember correctly you'll need to do this three times a day minimum for the next four weeks.

[PyscoFalcon]

8 weeks is fine for a teil. Mine were fully weaned by 6 weeks and I kept them until 8 weeks to make perfectly sure there eating on there own and thriving. You do get the odd stubborn one that will try to be handfed for life tho.

Did the breeder intorduce eggfood, fruit and veg to diet? If so try feeding that instead.

[chirpy]

When we got Chirpy (12 weeks) he was supposed to be feeding himself seed no problems but we were given some egg food just in case. We then had to hand feed him (ie via offering it to him on a teaspoon) egg food for 3 or 4 weeks before he started feeding himself. We got him feeding himself egg food (in his bowl), then introduced cooked foods such as rice, pasta and beans and eventually started mixing seed into this and finally introduced pellets. Slow process and as a first time bird owner quite scary but listening to advice on here we got there in the end!!

[chirpy]

Young cockatiel food
This is the advice I got!!