Baby Cockatiel

How to Care for a Baby Cockatiel

The cockatiel makes a great and lovable pet for anyone who loves animals and especially for those who appreciate birds. When treated properly and given plenty of time and attention, they can be a very loving and entertaining pet. Just like any other species of animal, a baby cockatiel will require even more attention than an older bird. It can be a time consuming process which can cause you a lot of stress when trying to raise a young cockatiel. But if you are up to the challenge and have the time to invest in caring for one, it can be a very rewarding experience.

When dealing with a baby cockatiel that is held in captivity, the most important thing to learn is how to feed them. The ideal way to feed a young cockatiel is by hand, however, this is not recommended for those who work or go to school during the day. If you have the time to invest to feed them by hand, it is advisable to be taught the proper way to do it by a vet, especially one that works mostly with birds. The process is not hard to do, but it can be difficult since a hungry baby will impatiently start grabbing for the feeding syringe, making things harder than they normally would be.

When feeding a baby cockatiel, you are going to be using a special formula that will be given to them via a feeding syringe. You will have to know exactly how much and when to feed them this formula. Remember when feeding a young cockatiel that baby birds are born without an active immune system, which means they will be much more likely to getting an infection from the bacteria or fungus on your hands. So always start by washing your hands with hot water and soap, and finish up with hand sanitizer just for some extra protection. New formula should always be mixed right then and never stored in the refrigerator for later use, as that can still allow for bacteria, mold and other organisms to grow. Also do not double dip the syringe in the formula for a refill.

When feeding a baby cockatiel, it is important that you do not mix the formula with water that is too hot, as this can cause crop burn on the bird. Crop burn means that their crop and esophagus was scalded. Be careful when feeding the baby bird, as drinking to fast can lead to aspiration, which means the formula was inhaled into its lungs or its trachea.