Need Help from Cockatiel Experts!!

[TooDusty]

Hello,
I work part time in a pet store for fun and we recently got in a young cockatiel who came in with three other cockatiels. Normally, our breeders are pretty reliable, but I think they sent this bird a bit young. She still had formula on her face! We are all trained to handfeed babies, so when she started screeching for food, one of the girls tried to feed her and she didn't take anything. She was definitely eating some food (Cockatiel/Lovebird Tropimix by Hagen) but with other birds in the cage, we didn't know exactly how much she was taking.

She was sold two days later to a friend of one employee, who noticed her eating less and less and moving to lower and lower perches. Cutting to the chase-I am now watching her round the clock and handfeeding her, but she is sleeping a lot and sitting on the floor. If she goes back to the store she will not be watched all night (closed from 9pm to 9am) and therefore probably die and they will not pay for a vet visit. The owner can't really afford vet bills and the tiel is stuck in the middle.

The cockatiel seems to be aware sometimes and will take about 5ccs once or twice a day(using a syringe), but will not eat any hard food offered. I can take her out of her cage and she seems normal and perky, but after a step or two toward the feeding station she starts screaming bloody murder and it looks like she passes out momentarily. I'm starting to think this is not just fattening her up, perhaps its something neurological or a stroke from malnutrition. I know 10ccs a day is not going to keep her alive long but she won't take any more. I don't know what else I can do with no vet resources and I can't really afford to pay for other people's vet bills.

It's partially ethical and partially medical advice I need!
What would you do?
Any suggestions?

[Jannabellsmom]

OMG Take her to a vet anyway. Get some kind of payment plan with them and pay it off with the help of the person who 'owns' her.

[Lori~D]

That baby sounds like she might have a crop infection and the only way to save her is the vet and asap. An expirienced breeder MAY be able to save her but she needs a vet.

[amanda143]

Kudos to you for taking responsibility. It's abhorrent that a pet store would refuse to take an animal to the vet. Shame on them! Maybe a few of the employee's can all pitch in a bit?

[Willow]

Yes, I hope you took her to a vet. Please let us know what happens.

[TooDusty]

Hey everyone, thanks for your replies. "Sunny" is doing much better now. She is eating some pellets as I type. I got some advice from a friend who helps at a parrot rescue. We got some ornacycline (tetracycline for birds) and mixed it in with the hand feeding formula. Within 24 hours she was eating (devouring) anything in a syringe I would offer and now she is starting to accept softened pellets and playing with hard ones. She has stopped screaming and passing out...we actually think she might have been scared of a chandalier. We've moved her house and given her a heat lamp as well. I was really scared she wouldn't make it for a while...knock on wood.
I'm happy that she's doing better, but now I think I'm falling in love. Darn!
Thanks again for the replies. I'm happy I found this site!

[thedelboy]

good on you Toodusty, and shame on the pet store ;If they will not pay vet bills they have no place selling animals

[Edna]

Thank God you came into that birds life. She would probably be dead w/o you. Way to go and I am so proud of you.