Concerned about baby Cockatiel

evenal · Apr 8, 2014

Hi everyone, I bought a baby cockatiel on sunday from a bird only store. I am a little concerned about two things and was wondering if anyone can help me. First thing is it's nares/cere look really swollen. Ive had cockatiels in the past and its nares never looked this pronounced. I attached a picture so you can see what I mean. Secondly I noticed it's beak is slightly crooked. It looks like the lower beak is thinned out a little where the syringe would normally go for handfeeding. I am still feeding this baby twice a day about 8 mL. Should I take it to the vet?

KayJeanne518 · Apr 8, 2014

Why would a bird store sell you an unweaned baby?? Even if you know how to hand feed, I don't agree with people who sell unweaned babies. I agree the nares look a little enlarged but baby seems to be still very young and shouldn't look enlarged as it continues to grow. As far as the beak its hard to tell in this photo/angle. But when in doubt you should always consult with a vet just to be safe. This baby never should have been sold this young. I breed tiels and currently have 6-7 week old babies right now who are not completely weaned yet and won't be for another couple weeks and even then I wait atleast a week or two after they are weaned to find them new homes. Just how I raise my babies. Try getting different angles of the beak, other than that the baby just looks like a growing tiel.

evenal · Apr 8, 2014

Here are two more pictures , you can see at the left side of the bottom mandible the crookedness. Just want to know if this is the beginning of scissor beak or just poor hand feeding by the place. The bird is eating fine, foraging pellets on the floor of her baby cage as we speak... I hear then crunching and see the specks so I'm hoping the beak will sort itself out with a little more maturity. I love this little baby I just want to make sure everything is ok , especially with the nares, I've never seen a cockatiel with such large ones.

KayJeanne518 · Apr 8, 2014

I'd have him looked at just to be safe.

MikeyTN · Apr 9, 2014

Yes I would have have her checked out just to be on the safe side. I'm with Kay there, they shouldn't sell unweaned babies!!! She looks pretty good to me....You should get a warm wash clothe to clean the chest feathers though cause they will build up more and get very hard like a rock and it can cause more issues.

evenal · Apr 9, 2014

Chest feathering is all cleaned as well as around the beak, gave the baby a wet cloth bath. It seems perky and chipper and quite happy, vocalizing and foraging. I have made a veterinary visit for it on Monday for a checkup. I am well aware pet- stores should not sell un-weaned babies, I am an experienced bird owner and kind of caved in to temptation shall we say... but that's kinda water under the bridge at this point lol. The goal is to give my little love the best life it can have.

Thanks for the pointers, very appreciated. Now I need to think of a name for it! I was thinking Kirby? Any suggestions? lol :yellow1:

crimson · Apr 9, 2014

she's a pretty Lutino

....she looks thin to me, although it really depends on her age.
how old is she?

glad you are taking her to a vet, those nares are inflamed.

why don't we just call this a rescue

evenal · Apr 9, 2014

Rescue was more of the feeling I got when purchasing, honestly. This little one is about 5.5 weeks old, or so they say... Definitely a lutino, checked the eyes and has bars on tail and spots on wings (yellow) no other dark marks anywhere, quite a nice looking tiel , no balding either. I had a feeling its nares were inflamed, glad I made the vet apt, hopefully she can let me know if we need to do some antibiotics. It's taking its food quite nicely and has gained 3 grams from 93-96g so the thinness maybe an illusion in the picture due to the wet feathering. She/he looks quite cute now that the feathers are all dried. I'll update with a picture in a bit

Neck feathers are still growing in, as well as tail feathers.

JerseyWendy · Apr 9, 2014

"Kirby" has a REALLY sweet ring to it, and I think would suit this pretty chick quite well.

I'm happy to hear you've scheduled an appointment for Miss/Mister Kirby, too.

evenal · Apr 9, 2014

Thank you

Kirby it is ! Friends and family seem to like this name also :yellow1:

:09:

evenal · Apr 9, 2014

Yummy yummy I just had my dinner

Lovie · Apr 9, 2014

Oh, it's cheeks are so prominent and adorable.

What a cutie.

crimson · Apr 9, 2014

evenal said:
Rescue was more of the feeling I got when purchasing, honestly. This little one is about 5.5 weeks old, or so they say... Definitely a lutino, checked the eyes and has bars on tail and spots on wings (yellow) no other dark marks anywhere, quite a nice looking tiel , no balding either. I had a feeling its nares were inflamed, glad I made the vet apt, hopefully she can let me know if we need to do some antibiotics. It's taking its food quite nicely and has gained 3 grams from 93-96g so the thinness maybe an illusion in the picture due to the wet feathering. She/he looks quite cute now that the feathers are all dried. I'll update with a picture in a bit Neck feathers are still growing in, as well as tail feathers.

ok good, that is a good weight, must be the wet feathers.

evenal · Apr 9, 2014

Thank you! I cannot wait for it's feathers to come in fully and look a little more fluffy. Kirby wasn't in the best condition when I got it the other day but it's been improving a lot with wet towel baths after each feeding and just seems really happy to have all that gunk off of it.

lisascannell · Apr 9, 2014

Wow what a cutie!!

evenal · Apr 9, 2014

lisascannell said:
Wow what a cutie!!

Thanks so much

!

MikeyTN · Apr 9, 2014

What do you mean by feathers coming in fully? Can you post a whole body side view? Unless it was a malnourished baby it should be flying and on it's way to be weaned right now. Unless you mean she's missing some feathers?

evenal · Apr 21, 2014

Just an update on baby Kirby's health. After visiting the vet we decided to do a psittacosis test. Turned out positive so the baby is on doxy for the next few weeks. As for as the baby's beak goes it seems to be a genetic fault the bottom beak is growing abnormally so we are doing some corrective shaving in hopes that it will possibly correct itself over a few beak shaving sessions. Glad this little guy wound up in my hands instead of someone elses because he really did need the care that we are able to provide him. Thank you for the support everyone , ill update with a new picture later he's looking much better.

MikeyTN · Apr 21, 2014

You NEED to let the health department know wherever you got him from!!!!! Psittacosis is contagious and it can pass onto humans as well and it can be deadly!!! The vet is supposed to report it.....

evenal · Apr 21, 2014

Hanging out by the window, was very warm and nice day for some natural sunlight :yellow1:

Concerned about baby Cockatiel

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