Babies look like they're feeding each other

[Bird]

Here's a question from a "newbie". I have raised and handfed 3 different clutches so far from my 3 pair of cockatiels, and this clutch is doing something different that the others. After I feed the babies, they "pump" each other like they are feeding each other. Why do they do that? Is it ok to let them do that?

...and another question... I read on another post on this site about "mass produced cockatiels are gavage fed". What's "gavage fed?".

Thanks.

[The Outlaw]

Since I don't raise tiels, so I can't really comment. A gavage is a metal tube with a rounded end that attaches to a feeding syringe. You carefully insert the gavage into the crop and push the contents in gently. Not recommended for anyone other than a very experienced handfeeder. Not for novices.

[danforth3]

Here's a question from a "newbie". I have raised and handfed 3 different clutches so far from my 3 pair of cockatiels, and this clutch is doing something different that the others. After I feed the babies, they "pump" each other like they are feeding each other.

This is natural behavior among baby birds. If you had mixed species together you would note this doing this as well. In the wild the baby birds will do this while in the nest. I presume that it is natures way of teaching them adult skills.

[KimBear]

What your babies are doing is not trying to feed one another, but rather they're trying to BE fed. Their feeding response is very strong, and until they realize they're full, they will grab onto just about anything and pump away. If that happens to be your finger, or the beak of a clutch mate, that's fine with them. They may even grab someone else's tail or foot.

Sometimes this will happen more often if the baby isn't getting quite enough to eat. Make sure you're weighing your birds daily, and that they are consistantly gaining weight. Because there is always a danger of overfilling the crop, it's not a good idea to just feed more at any one time, but you may need to feed more often. Feeding more slowly can help, too. If you're in a rush to fill one up and get to the next baby, you may be feeding a little too fast.

Some breeders put their babies on a schedule by the clock. Others go more by the emptying of the crop. If the babies are totally empty, they get fed again.

Gavage or tube feeding is often done when there are large quantities of babies to feed, as is often the case with larger-scale breeders. It's quick for the handfeeder to do, but that's about the only benefit it has a far as I'm concerned. It doesn't do much to facilitate a relationship between the person and the bird, as the food is squirted fairly quickly into the bird, and the handfeeder then moves on to the next one. Babies raised this way must have extra handling or they can often be skittish. It also doesn't let the bird experience the "mouth feel" or tasting of food, and in some circumstances can make weaning onto solid foods more difficult.

[Bird]

So... what it sounds like you guys are saying is to let them go (we call it sucking face) it's ok that they do that, I was worried that they were stealing each other's food right out of their mouths.
I haven't been weighing them, but it sounds like I should be doing that.
Anybody have any suggestions on what kind of scale?

Thank for the education!!!

[The Outlaw]

Kim is suggesting that perhaps your babies are hungry. That's why she wants you to do daily weights. You may have to increase their feeding schedule by adding an extra feeding.

Kim, I'm glad to see you are back. I wouldn't have fielded this question if I knew you were available.

THE OUTLAW

[KimBear]

I've been back for a long time, if you're talking about my vacation back in August. I have posted since then, though.

Sometimes on the weekends I don't get to check the boards, so if someone puts a question up on Friday afternoon, it may be Monday before I get to it. Maybe that's why it looked like I wasn't around.