Brooder Question

[Lisa B]

This is from one of our new members to BB. Any help would be appreciated.


Originally Posted by i_lilone_i

Here are some photos of my baby cockatiel so you can get a better idea of what we are talking about...



This is the brooder I made:



I went out & got 2 different perches for it 'cuz it seems to REALLY like standing on my finger....& I figured it would be good exercise for it's feet.

I also put a toy in there in case it gets courious & wants to explore things other than paper towels...

I've never hand feed a baby cockatiel before, but I did research on it before I got my cockatiel & this is what I have been feeding it.



I use a regular thermometer to make sure it's between 102-104 degrees before feeding it. Usually near the end of the feeding the food in the suringe gets cold...is this ok?

It's really good during feeding time...bobbing it's head & taking food in well. But I think he's getting to the fledging point (could this happend before it gets all it's feathers?) He'll eat then wonder around...climb on my fingers...then make it's way to my shoulders.... and if I don't angle my arm in a way that he can climb up, it flaps its wings and kinda leaps towards my shoulders but usually ends up clutching onto my chest instead...

After looking at it's photo, do you think the feeding schedual of 7:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m. & 11 p.m. is okay for it?

I put some of these seeds in the brooder, but it doesn't seem interested in it.



But it does pick on it's dookie ( is that normal)? I went out & got some weaning for it to see if it will pick on that instead. I moisten up the weaning food & scatter some on the floor, but it doesn't seem interested in it. Afraid of bacteria growing on it, I usually take it out of the brooder after about 20 minutes....



I got it on Sat., so I've had it for 4 days now. It already recognizes my "calls " & would walk towards me rather than anyone else when I bring it out to stretch it's wings & play. It's so smart & I want to make sure I'm giving it the best care I can. I haven't given it a name yet, I figured I should wait until it grows all it's feathers & start developing a fuller personality.

[birdlady49]

This new member PM'd about her bird because she was unsure how to publicly post. Thank you, Lisa, for transferring the PM to the public board.

Here's my latest message about her cockatiel:

You know what? I'm not sure you have a baby. I think you have a severely plucked older cockatiel. I say that because the wings are fairly fully feathered. A baby's feathers grow in at the same time all over the body. He or she is accepting the handfeeding formula because of some possible trauma earlier in life, i.e., being plucked by other cockatiels or the mom and dad. If the follicles are damaged, there is no guarantee those feathers will ever come in!

I would urge you, beg you, to take this bird to a veterinarian who specializes in birds to confirm his age, the plucking, and what should be done from here on out. If you don't know where to go, tell me where you live and I'll google bird specialists for you.

The brooder is okay except for the lightbulb. Are you using that for heat as well as light? If just light, are you turning it off at night so the bird gets a good 10-12 hours of sleep every night? How are you keeping the brooder at the 80+ temps?

The foods you got are okay, but I would also offer fresh food, i.e., broccoli, corn kernels, a piece of wheat bread, cooked pasta, carrots, peas, and other fresh green veggies. I feed collard greens and broccoli and sometimes kale or swiss chart. Never feed avocado, chocolate, caffeine in any form, moldy foods. To get him started, get some millet spray (seed attached to branches).

I've emailed Lisa B, one of the moderators, to help turn these messages into public messages so others can offer advice. We've got some very experienced people on board (in addition to me, of course!). Ellen

[i_lilone_i]

Wow...I thought his feathers were growing kind of funny comparinig it to other baby cockatiel photos I saw online...I thought he might have plucked it off himself but coudln't figure out how he would pluck his own head and I haven't seen him do any self mutalitions by plucking his feathers since I got him... Now it makes since that his parents or sibblings could have done it....but his entire body is also bald....the only places he actually has feathers are on top of his beck...75% of his wings and the tip of his tail....could his parents have done a whole body plucking to him?

What are the chances of his feathers growing back? I'm afraid he won't be able to fly if he doesn't grow all his wing feathers back... well, he's a very sweet bird, so I wouldn't mind if he grew up kinda bald, but does that mean he will need his area's tempeture monitored all the time?

About his brooder... I use the light bulb to heat it up and have a thermoetor in there that I use to monitore the tempeture. The opening on the right - I put a towel there and adjust that to adjust the temperature. I used this site to get an idea of how to make the brooder...
Google Image Result for http://4hembryology.psu.edu/pix2-14.jpg

I haven't turned off the bulb ever since I got him. I'm afraid he will be too cold. He seems to sleep with the bulb on fine (he tucks his head under his wing)....But please let me know if there is a better way to heat up the brooder.

I found this vet online ...

Dr. Karen Rosenthal
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
215-898-4890

I got her off this website: pennsylvania avian vets

Please let me know if you have a better suggestion.

Could you tell by the photo which mutation he/she is? Or if it's a male or a female? It looks to me like its a cinnamin pearl? But then again...I am no bird expert...

[birdlady49]

Yes, your baby looks like a cinnamon pied. But we can't sex her visually. Do you know what the parents are? That'll help determine the genetics.

Your bird needs complete darkness to sleep so the light has to go. Instead, use a heating pad. Drape it over the top of the brooder or better still put it underneath the brooder. Set it to low and see what temperature is maintained in the brooder. If necessary, bring it up to medium and put a towel between the heater and the brooder.

People will have other suggestions about heating without lighting.

Since you haven't seen your baby plucking, it likely was all caused by other birds. You're right in that she couldn't possibly reach her head to pluck. That's the dead giveaway that it was others who did it!

Here are some certified avian vets in Pennsylvania, including the woman you listed:

Aston, PA - Gloria J. Goodman (Avian & Exotic Animal Med) - 610-494-2811
Philadelphia, PA - Evelyn Ivey - 215-573-4368
Philadelphia, PA - Karen Rosenthal (U of Penn) - 215-573-8565

Here's who's across the "border":

Cherry Hill, NJ - Ken Dazen (Animal & Bird Healthcare Ctr) - 856-751-2122
Hillsborough, NJ - James Nicholas McKinley (Amwell Bird Hosp) - 908-369-7373, http://www.infinitedesign.net/amwell

Here's a link to veterinarians who belong to the Association of Avian Vets: Results

Use this list as your second choice as being a member of the Association doesn't guarantee quality care.

Only time will tell if the feathers come back. I'm sure some will grow in, but .... I have several older birds (not cockatiels though) who can't fly and they're perfectly fine. Even my birds who can fly oftentimes prefer to walk or climb.

[Lisa B]

I'm a client of Dr Rosenthal

Dr Ivey is no longer at that location. I only know because I refered someone there...

I would say its a younger one due to the beak length, toe nail length and the wings in comparison to the tail...but then its just a guess..hard to tell by pictures...

I've had babies who were plucked on their heads by their over preening mommy. she had to be removed...and because the folicles were not destroyed, they grew back fine.

Ellen has given some wonderful advice. She does need some darkeness to sleep.........
the most important thing is to have her looked at for the vet to advise just how to go about things, and if, its a youngin or older, and the warmth issues....

If you want, you can pm me where your located exactly and I can tell you which vet is the best, and closest to you. I've been in Jersey for most of my life, and know most of them on a first hand basis.



and Ellen, your welcome. thanks for bringing it my attention!

[i_lilone_i]

Thank you Ellen & Lisa for all the wonderful information!! I will call Dr. Rosenthal and see how soon I can get an appointment with her... Do you know how much a first visit will cost?

[Lisa B]

most likely you will have to make a visit with Dr B. not sure Dr R is taking new clients. BUT no harm in asking. Dr B is very good as well. She was present when I was there to see Dr R.
Going there is not cheap. it will prob run about $125. I think its LESS once you are an established client. They will spend time wiht you discussing all the things you want.
I like Dr R and Dr B. both very kind, knowledgable people.
There is also a Dr Elizabeth Clark some where out of the Doylestown area. I heard alot of good things about her as well. I had invited her down to a fundraiser I had, but I had to do it via snail mail, and by the time she got it, (first one she never got) it was too short notice with no one to cover for her.

[Lisa B]

here is the info for the U of Pa where Dr R and Dr B are..........

The Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital

Ryan Veterinary Hospital (Small Animal)




In An Emergency, phone: 215.746.V911 (215.746.8911)

The Emergency Service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Appointments are not needed for the emergency service, but we ask that you call ahead to discuss the problem if possible.

To make an appointment or acquire more information about the specialty clinics of The Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital, call 215.746.VETS (215.746.8387) between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm.

The hospital departments see patients by appointment Monday through Friday mornings.

Specialty services offered at The Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital include:

Behavior - call 215.898.3347 directly for Behavior service appointments
Cardiology
Dentistry
Dermatology
Genetics / Pediatrics
Medicine (endocrinology, gastroenterology, nephrology, and other internal problems)
Neurology
PennHip Evaluation
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics - The Orthopedic Service requires that your veterinarian telephone the coordinator in that department to speak with them before an appointment can be scheduled. The Orthopedics Referral Coordinator can be reached at 215.898.2159.
Soft Tissue Surgery
Special Species (Avian & Exotics)
Although we prefer that clients have an existing relationship with a local veterinarian, it is not absolutely necessary except in the case of orthopedic problems; please see the note above for Orthopedics.

The Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital is located on the University of Pennsylvania campus in West Philadelphia at 39th and Spruce Streets.

Parking is available adjacent to the hospital for a small fee.

[KDK241]

I dont have any input to give other than bald/feathered, young or older she sure is cute!

[T.W.]

Poor little Birdie, she looks like a plucked chicken!!! She looks young, but old enough to be eating things other than formula. She has definitely been plucked by her parents or other birds, you can almost see little sores on her body. She should have feathers all over her like they are on her wings. I had one set of parents that would pluck the babies, I always had to make sure to get them out before the parents would start picking them, but the feathers did grow back. I would definitely put some millet sprays in there, and a bowl of water, and some small pellets. My cockatiels like zupreem fruitblend and the garden one. You could put a few cheerios in there too. She'll sort of pick it up and play with it a bit, then she'll get the hang of it. I always had a friendly adult to put the baby's in with, who showed them how to eat, that was a huge help. Good Luck with your little one, I think it will work out fine.