Baby Cockatiel Expert NEEDED

[Terra P.]

Okay so you dont gotta be an expert, but maybe you can help me!!

I got this baby tiel uhh sunday, and was told he/she is about 6weeks old, i sent a picture to a friend and they said hes older! Im confused, im still hand feeding him every 4 hours, hes picking at his seed and all that good stuff....im just wondering his age for sure!! So ive attached a picture for you, also im told that hes thought to be a he, what do you think?

[Tiki]

He does look pretty young based on the size of his crest-certainly less than 12 weeks. Since he is a pied, it will be very difficult to tell the sex by the colouring. I would recommend a DNA test, I think they are only about $20 in the States.

[Samm]

Well, I'm no expert but I'd say anywhere from 6-8 weeks, and looks to be in very good shape. and Tiki is right, its almost impossible to tell the sex, unless you have DNA testing done.

[Terra P.]

Just wanted to give it a shot of the guess on the sex, the breeder told me she thought male from his colorings...but i dono lol i got my lutiono dna sexed for 19.50 the blood sample through avianbiotec they sent me a certificate and everything, this tiel is my sisters so if she cares what the sex is she can pay for it. there is a vet office near by me who does the dna test for 10.00 but i havent looked into it...anyhow i was mainly wondering about its age, he is smaller then my other tiels, so i know hes young, but someone told me he has to many feathers to be 6 wks i dono, he still does the whinning cheeps for his food and i dont see him eating much seed, more like picking at the spray, its my first time with a baby tiel and hand feeding, have had him a week now, so thanks im glad he looks like hes doing good!! LOL makes me feel good, i have a pair of tiels who have a nest right now, yesterday they had 3 eggs, they are suposed to lay everyother day, hoping they read the same books i did LOL im looking forward to hand raising them too!! Thanks for your replys!

[Monica]

These tiels here are 3-4 weeks old in these photos... I'd say that your's is around 6 weeks old! I've actually never seen baby cockatiels being raised from day to day, or even week to week, though I think you'd agree with me that it's probably around 6 weeks old!


http://feistyhome.phpwebhosting.com/tiels4.jpg

[Terra P.]

Okies i think im alittle more able to believe hes about 6 weeks old prob 7 now a week ago she said he was "ABOUT" 6 wks old so hes about 7 now lol...but yeah those babies crest didnt look as fluffy as mine does. Theyre soooo cute, i havent seen them from day to day either (crossing my fingers) i will soon!! My tiels have 6 eggs as of lastnight!! Hoping there fertile!! LOL Thanks yall!

[Monica]

Then all sounds about right then! I'd love to see babies being raised again!

[Terra P.]

I just read my post from the 22nd i said they had 6 eggs i dont know why i doubled it dont know what i was thinking they only had 3 but lastnight the 24th i checked again and they had 4 they were clear though, so not sure what the hatch rate will be.....Can you or anyone else tell me what a good source of something would be to increase calcium intake?
thanks yall

[Freedomoflight]

Cuttlebone, hard boiled eggs with the shell, all crushed up fine together, also maybe cooked foods like Crazy Corn, Beak Appetite, and lots of fruits and veggies.

[Terra P.]

Originally Posted by Freedomoflight

Cuttlebone, hard boiled eggs with the shell, all crushed up fine together, also maybe cooked foods like Crazy Corn, Beak Appetite, and lots of fruits and veggies.

Thanks Ive been feeding hard boiled egg and the yoke but didnt know i could give the shell too...will just smash it up good before i chopped it but dont think they aite much of it they go to town on there cuttle bone and mineral block dont know what teh crazy corn or beak appetite is though and they get fruits and veggies too thanks!!