Fatty tumors in cockatiels

[fqtt]

One of my cockatiels, named Kuro, passed away yesterday (my vet put her to sleep) because she had a huge tumor growing in her chest and it was pressing on her lungs. I've been surfing the web about it, but I haven't found much about tumors in cockatiels. The most common thing I found, though, was fatty tumors that develop in obese birds that are on a high-fat diet.

Kuro was a whiteface mutation, approx. 9 years old. I adopted her and her mate along with 5 other cockatiels from a rescue organization that was shutting down a little less than 2 years ago. I don't know what she was fed beforehand, the rescue lady didn't have much info on the birds, but I think she was fed a mixture of seeds and mash (a warm food created from various seeds, beans, veggies, and oatmeal) while she was there. When I first got the birds I simply fed them seeds and mash, for about a month or two. After surfing the internet, however, I decided to move them onto a more pellet-based diet. During the school year I would feed them pellets (I use LaFaber brand) or mash about 4-5 times a week, and seeds about 2-3 times a week, depending on how busy I was etc.

I didn't think it was, but is feeding my birds seed 2-3 times a week too much?

I also had a question about her mate. His name is Stacy (we originally thought he was a female) and, understandably, ever since I took Kuro to the vet yesterday afternoon, he has been calling for her. It's very sad and really hurts, and I understand why he's doing it, but it's also kind of hard to sleep when he's calling for her constantly.

Will this last very long...? Is there anything I can do for him? I've heard of birds dying after losing a mate, but not usually in cockatiels. Is he in any danger?

I've also heard people saying that you should get a bird another mate if theirs dies, but I'm not sure how that would work. For one, I don't really have the money to spend hundreds at like PetCo, and the rescue I went to before doesn't accept cockatiels anymore. Also, I have four other males who don't have mates (including Stacy now), and although one doesn't really seem to mind, the other two are always trying to impress nonexistent females. I'm afraid that if I introduce another female, someone besides Stacy will take her, and I'll have to just go and buy another. I'm also afraid that, since the 7 birds had been together for the past 3-4 years or so, they would discourage the addition of another to their 'flock'.

Thanks in advance to any advice. It really helps :)

[tielfan]

There are several possible cause for fatty tumors including obesity, hypothyroidism and genetic factors.

Diet is a controversial issue and no one really knows what is best. Cockatiels are seed eaters in the wild and personally I don't think there's any problem with letting them have some seed every day (not that I have any training in this area). But they do need to also eat vegetables and other good things, like maybe some pellets. You can soak or sprout seeds and grains to improve their nutritional quality and reduce the fat content.

You have several other cockatiels so your bird does have a flock even though he doesn't have a mate. He will eventually adjust, and you don't have to buy him a female. There's no guarantee that he would like the new hen anyway. In the meantime, help him adjust by giving him your companionship and attention.

[chapala]

Actually 'Tiels are granivores as are Budgies, and a lot of their diet in the wild is native grains from grasses that often are eaten in the immature stage when the fat content is lower. I think they do need to be provided with a grain mix, or better yet sprouted grains, in addition to fresh vegetables, cooked or sprouted legumes, and pellets as part of the diet is fine too if you like. Good grains include wheat, kamut, spelt, hulless barley (not pearl), quinoa, millet, buckwheat, whole oats, brown rice, wild rice. Sprouting reduces the fat content and increases the nutrition.

Seeds, such as sunflower, safflower, pumpkin, sesame, are all high in fat and need to be very limited in the diet of most pet parrots. The fat content does go down when sprouted, and I do include a small part of hulled sunflower in my grain sprout mix.

[fqtt]

I use a LOT of grains in their mash when I make it (usually spelt, quinoa, millet, different rices, etc.) that I get from the organic store, and when I feed them seeds as treats I make sure to take them out of their food instead of buying extras for them.

I think Stacy is starting to calm down a bit. He's singing right now :)

thanks for the help ^_^