Mutation identification + encouraging eating

Vilatus · Oct 23, 2017

Hi everyone, I brought home a baby cockatiel yesterday. I think she's a whiteface pearl, but I'm unsure so a second opinion would be great.

She's a little thin, my scale is acting up so I can't get an accurate weight. She's not especially eager to eat her formula. How do I encourage her to eat a bit more?

On another hand, how should I introduce her to my other birds? I have a budgie and a other cockatiel.

Picture of little Abigail below.

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ParrotLover2001 · Oct 23, 2017

Whiteface pearl pied

Introduce them slowly.

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clark_conure · Oct 23, 2017

That is one adorable bird, We have a large community of cockatiel owners here that can help you with your questions, you should have to wait more than a few minutes.

She's slim but not to thin seems in good health, what was the store, breeder giving her. Get a little bit of that then start adding pellets if it wasn't that. Seeds have calories and fat, but the nutrients are in the pellets, and the calories the bird needs.

Vilatus · Oct 23, 2017

Here's a couple more photos.

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Vilatus · Oct 23, 2017

clark_conure said:
That is one adorable bird, We have a large community of cockatiel owners here that can help you with your questions, you should have to wait more than a few minutes.

She's slim but not to thin seems in good health, what was the store, breeder giving her. Get a little bit of that then start adding pellets if it wasn't that. Seeds have calories and fat, but the nutrients are in the pellets, and the calories the bird needs.

She's incredibly cuddly and docile. Nothing like my other tiel she was a baby. I'm feeding her the exact formula she was being fed, and giving her seed and millet. She's definitely trying to eat the millet, but she fusses with the formula for whatever reason.

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ParrotLover2001 · Oct 23, 2017

Also, maybe she'd rather eat other foods instead of her formula. She's weaning.

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Vilatus · Oct 23, 2017

ParrotLover2001 said:
Also, maybe she'd rather eat other foods instead of her formula.

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What's ok to give her? She's only a couple months old. She can't eat veggies or anything like that yet right? Just formula and seeds?

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itzjbean · Oct 23, 2017

What a beauty! Congrats! Yes, she looks like a whiteface (light pied) pearl. Here is a link for reference on this.

As far as introducing to your other birds, of course as a first, all bids should have their own separate cages to ensure safety and that they can eat/sleep in safety. It may help to put the cages right next to each other so they can all get used to the new one. Depending on how they do with this, you can introduce them (outside of the cage) by holding them near each other, perhaps offering spray millet to share. Pick a neutral territory to introduce them in person (not on or in one's cage).

As for diet, you should be introducing her to several fruits/veggies, chopped up in smaller pieces. At this age (8 weeks is right around weaning time) she certainly can eat veggies. Check out my CHOP CHRONICLES thread (pictures aren't there, but the recipes are easy to follow!) to get an idea of what to feed your tiel. Many birds enjoy fresh fruits and veggies, and they can enjoy a LOT of them!! The things you should AVOID are: onion, garlic, avocado, chocolate, rhubarb, alcohol, as these are toxic to parrots.

ParrotLover2001 · Oct 23, 2017

Ziel said:
ParrotLover2001 said:

Also, maybe she'd rather eat other foods instead of her formula.

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Click to expand...

What's ok to give her? She's only a couple months old. She can't eat veggies or anything like that yet right? Just formula and seeds?

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Veggies, seeds, pellets. A couple months old?

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clark_conure · Oct 23, 2017

If she's off formula she can eat anything....try spinach it's not as healthy as the old FDA reports that made everyone think it's 10 times higher in iron than it really was but it's good for them and they like it....Millet is ok for them but it's like french fries or potato chips for us, it has nutrients but its not steak and eggs and salad all in one.

Try apples, oranges, strawberries anything good for you is ok for them. Try fortified with calcium orange juice.

Eventually pellets and in most sotres they have "healthy toppings" which is a half dried papaya, which he will love, but don't let him eat just that, he needs the pellets.

Vilatus · Oct 23, 2017

ParrotLover2001 said:
Ziel said:

ParrotLover2001 said:

Also, maybe she'd rather eat other foods instead of her formula.

Sent from my Galaxy s8

Click to expand...

What's ok to give her? She's only a couple months old. She can't eat veggies or anything like that yet right? Just formula and seeds?

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Click to expand...

Veggies, seeds, pellets. A couple months old?

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Alright. I'll start introducing veggies as well then. Yes, she hatched end of August - 1st week of September. (Exact date isn't known) They let me take her since I have prior experience handfeeding.

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Vilatus · Oct 23, 2017

clark_conure said:
If she's off formula she can eat anything....try spinach it's not as healthy as the old FDA reports that made everyone think it's 10 times higher in iron than it really was but it's good for them and they like it....Millet is ok for them but it's like french fries or potato chips for us, it has nutrients but its not steak and eggs and salad all in one.

Try apples, oranges, strawberries anything good for you is ok for them. Try fortified with calcium orange juice.

Eventually pellets and in most sotres they have "healthy toppings" which is a half dried papaya, which he will love, but don't let him eat just that, he needs the pellets.

She's not off formula. I'm feeding her millet right now so that she'll fatten up, she's a bit thin. I think I'm going to start introducing fruits and veggies somewhat just by suggestions in this forum.

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clark_conure · Oct 23, 2017

I'm not trying to be to forward, and I don't want to offend, but how did you get a cockatiel that is still on formula? In my opinion a cockatiel should have been weened by the breeder/store before sale. Also do not introduce her to your flock just yet....work on bonding 100% first

FlyBirdiesFly · Oct 23, 2017

Adorable tiel! Where did you get her? In the future, don't buy an unweaned baby. Before introducing her to your flock, you should quarantine her in a separate room. It's a good time to bond with her and teach her some basic commands, like step up, recall, and going in the cage. As for food, I've found that my cockatiel hates any kind of fruit. But all birds are different, some tiels might eat it. You should give her pellets, dark leafy greens, cooked vegetables, grains like rice and quinoa, and fruits if she likes them. Seeds and millet are good as training treats but they aren't the healthiest so don't include them in her regular diet.

Vilatus · Oct 23, 2017

clark_conure said:
I'm not trying to be to forward, and I don't want to offend, but how did you get a cockatiel that is still on formula? In my opinion a cockatiel should have been weened by the breeder/store before sale. Also do not introduce her to your flock just yet....work on bonding 100% first

No offense taken, I appreciate your concern!

I work there first of all, so they know me. They know I have prior experience handfeeding a cockatiel, so they let me take her home. They usually do have them weaned before they're sold, but they do make exceptions. Also they generally require you to check back in every four days until weaning to make sure the baby is doing well.

I'll keep the other birds away for now then as focus in bonding with her. She's already super sweet.

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Pokemaster · Oct 23, 2017

Are you sure it's a she?

Vilatus · Oct 23, 2017

Pokemaster said:
Are you sure it's a she?

Fairly? I don't know much about color mutations but I was told that she's most likely female since she's pearl.

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clark_conure · Oct 23, 2017

AHHHHHHHHHHHH ok ok I get it.... thats cool, it's not like you were duped....It's fine.

Vilatus · Oct 23, 2017

clark_conure said:
AHHHHHHHHHHHH ok ok I get it.... thats cool, it's not like you were duped....It's fine.

Oh, no no haha. I knew exactly what I was getting into, I've done it before.

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clark_conure · Oct 23, 2017

I feel better now thanks for the info...

Mutation identification + encouraging eating

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