how to get a new cockatiel to eat

If not, you'll want to pull them and hand feed them with a high quality formula. Alternatively you can also provide your bird with a mineral block to snack on. 39. Temporarily remove all the toys. Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. To properly introduce your new bird to your current cockatiel, de la Navarre offers the following tips: 1. Avocados, rhubarb, leaves and stems from potato, tomato, eggplant and bean plants, alcohol, coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar, salt, greasy foods, tobacco, fruit seeds or pits from apples, apricots, oranges, cherries, peaches, pears and plums. To encourage bonding, you can also try to hand feed it. Eventually by the second week they were eating normally. Learn from the experts with wikiHow Pro Videos. 38. Most cockatiels love to eat millet spray even when they aren't feeling well. In general, cockatiels will eat approximately 15 grams of food per day. Watch to make sure that your bird does not only pick out certain seeds that it likes. A difference in diet may be the only reason why our cockatiel isn't eating. Rest assured a healthy cockatiel would not starve itself to death. Make sure a fresh supply of water is readily available where it can reach easily. Before changing diets, a check-up with an avian vet is strongly recommended. Sounds like your new cockatiel is just homesick. To help your cockatiel adjust better to his new home, here's what you can do: Call the person you bought your cockatiel from and ask what diet (brand of food) they were feeding your cockatiel. By picking through the top layer, your bird may get a taste of the new food and enjoy it. Check with a vet just to be safe. How can I get my cockatiel to drink water? There are 30 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. 36. The cockatiels are to get calcium, together with protein and minerals. Approved. Just keep an eye on him, chekc inisde his dish if theres any broken seed shells. 2. Remove any moistened pellets after a couple of hours due to the risk of spoilage. My new bird is on a seed diet. House the birds in separate bird cages and place them side by side so the birds can see one another. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. Cuttlebones, edible chalk or mineral blocks can become treats for cockatiels as they contain the necessary nutrients. How do I get my cockatiel to eat pellets? Some pet stores sell young birds that … Since I knew they were not sick, I wasn't too worried providing they did not dehydrate or lose too much weight. When changing the food your bird is given, do so gradually. If you are feeding your bird a pitted fruit, cut it up carefully and be certain to remove all pits. Cockatiel: Long Tail, Big Bird Cage. Do I put my cockatiel's food and grit in the fridge? Make a baby bird yawn. Dear Pet Adviser: Our new pet cockatiel has been with us for three days and has not touched his food. If it is thirsty, then it will drink water. Consider occasionally scattering food across the floor of the cage so that they can forage. Providing your new cockatiel is healthy, you should see him eat within the first week. Many cockatiels feel vulnerable on the cage bottom, so use hanging dishes and place them near a perch. I really appreciate this, "I found this really helpful as I have just started to own these birds. A sudden change may upset your bird's digestive system, or the bird may refuse to eat the new food. I put my bird's dishes right in the dishwasher to kill all bacteria Wild cockatiels fly to the ground to forage for food. Discard and wash food dish after 1 hour to prevent spoilage. This is also a stressful time for your bird and stress can impair the immune system. In the first week, baby cockatiels eat every 2 hours. Additionally, since most birds tend to perch on the highest item in their cage, place the dish slightly higher then all the items in the cage. What can I do? References As the new feather spikes grow longer, the spike part of the feather comes off as a "shell" around the brand new feather. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Will my cockatiel get sick if I feed her mango? When trying to get your cockatiel to eat fruits and vegetables, hiding the new food under a layer of seeds or pellets can help. Millet is high in calories, which will help provide some nourishment while your cockatiel adjusts. Try moistening the pellets, perhaps with warm water. Feed your bird dark, leafy greens and other fresh veggies every other day. While your new cockatiel is trying to adjust to his new home, his living quarters should not be in a high traffic area. By the time a cockatiel is done molting, his feathery coat will be thick and plush because of all the new feathers. Remove 10% of your bird's seeds and replace it with 10% of pellets. In most cases, all they need is time to adjust to their new environment and a little help from you. Providing a Safe Eating Environment for Your Cockatiel, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ee\/Feed-Cockatiels-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Feed-Cockatiels-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ee\/Feed-Cockatiels-Step-1.jpg\/aid5581064-v4-728px-Feed-Cockatiels-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"