Weening Cockatoo

I have an umbrella cockatoo that is about 9 months old. He seems to be happy, gets plenty of attention, is learning tricks but still wont eat on his own. We still have to feed him by syringe. He has pellets, fruit pellets, water, fresh veggies and fruit. He will pick at it but that is about it. He will eat banana if we hold it for him. We have tried cooked veggies and soft fruits. Putting his baby mush in a bowl for him to eat, spoon feeding, on and on and on. I know he is eating a little on his own because he doesn't want as much formula, but he still doesn't seem to be concerned with feeding himself. Is this just a phase and he will eventually just start eating on his own? He dont even eat seeds he just shells them and drops the edible part. He is my peanut sheller. He shells them and gives the peanut to me to eat. I dont have a problem feeding him as long as I am no starting a bad habit. I dont want to hand feed for the next 60 years. Any help let me know.

Chris

So I am the only one that has encounter this problem.

Hi there, sure my people have experienced the same problems.
Below is a link, which I am sure will assist you.

Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine - Weaning Baby Cockatiels

Good luck, keep us updated
Take care, and that of our feathered friends !!!!

oh wow....I'm surprised there is such little response here..... where are all the breeders???

This is actually a common problem, and as long as the bird is continued to be fed by hand, they usually keep preferring it. They love to be babied just as much as we do!

The best thing to do is to slowly remove how often you feed him by hand. He is showing signs of eating on his own, so slowly start insisting that he does. Only offer by hand if you know he is going hungry. He'll get the idea. The problem is when we overworry about it and give in, some birds just know how to get what they want. Don't give in, but also don't let him go hungry...find the balance and then slowly back off the feedings until he's doing it.

Thank you Natalie. I am very stressed out with this. I know he can eat. I see him swallow the banana when I hand feed him. I will try out your advice.

He sure is a beautiful bird. I really wanted a U2, but decided on the macaw because of the dust issues. I have allergies, and wasn't sure if an iar filter would help much. Cockatoos are such wonderful birds.

And on top of that they are smart and know how to get what they want. My best guess is that your little guy is just enjoying being handfed too much. Of course, I don't know all the details about him, but I am guessing you're giving in too easily. (that is easy to do).
Tough Love has to come into play sometimes, and you just need to take away what it is he is wanting....he can do it.... you just have to be persistant. Weening's not an easy stage to go through....but 9 months is plenty old enough to be eating on his own. Good luck

Hello Chris,

First I am not a breeder. I have only hand fed our Rose-breasted cockatoo and that was 10 years ago. This is my first post on this board, I was actually just reading it for fun but I just had to respond to your post.

It is my understanding that the large 'toos can take over a year to properly wean. The best method for weaning a large parrot is abundance weaning. This is nothing more than hand feeding the baby until it decides that it no longer wants to be hand fed.

To some this is a controversial issues because few in the pet industry do it this way, the sooner they can get the baby out the door the sooner they can start on the next batch. Some people have even said that improper weaning in cockatoos can lead to psychological problems in the 'toos.

Just do a search of abundance weaning on the Web for more info.

I have little knowledge of weaning, and 'toos in general. But I hope that weaning goes well, please keep us updated.

He sure is handsome!

Well here is the update. Bella is now a 1 year old. He is eating on his own but still not to the degree I would hope. Progress though. He will eat on his own but here is what I have done.

He loves oatmeal. So I have mixed a ratio of 1/4 Hansons high potency mash with 1/4 Hansons high potency fine, 1/4 quaker oats and 1/4 organic baby food (pureed peas, carrots, squash, spinach ect) and also some red palm oil. A little warm water to make the mash and he eats it up 3 times a day. I think he is eating better than me. His feathers are incredible looking. I have becaome a real fan of the red palm oil, but not the price.

At this point I am trying to add chunks of Hansons pepper coarse in to the mash and fresh veggies. I cant fool him though he likes the warm mash. At least he is eating and I know it is a great diet, A little time consuming but as they say the cockatoo will train you. And that he has. He evens love the warm towel after eating to clean his beak off. So spoiled he is.

I guess I have 60 plus years to work on it so with this diet that I feel is meeting his dietary needs I can adjust the thickness and hope eventualy he will eat his regular food.

Also he will eat banana and apple which is what I use as training treats. He loves to shell peanuts and give me the nut. I have never eaten so many peanuts.

Any more advice or If you are having the same problem and want my exact forumla let me know.

Hi, I think you are making great progress! Your mash sounds fine and many people feed this to thier birds everyday for life. My birds, an umbrella included, get one hot meal a day. There is nothing wrong with offerring this to your guy. How many times a day are you offering this mash? Do you still have to handfeed it and how are you handfeeding it? In other words from his bowl or off a spoon? I would encourage him to eat the warm mash on his own. Let him see you enjoy eating it. (just pretend of course!) Birds like to copy us.

You have come a long way with Bella, well done.
My AG Mishka is now 2 years and 6 months old.
When trying to wean her off, she would not eat any other foods, no matter how I tried. After the morning feed, I left food in her bowl, and kept an eye on her.
Some days she eat a bit, other not at all. When not eating anything at all, I gave her cereal at midday. Then offered her fresh veggies for dinner.
When not eating some of her veggies, I pretended to eat one, she copied me and eat them.
"One for me One for you" and it worked.
Mishka loved her handrearing cereal, so much, I still continue feeding her 2 20ml, by syringe every morning.
My vet agrees with me continuing with the cereal, from a syringe.
Says the bonding process continues, and if ever needed, she needs to take medication from a syringe, I would not have a problem giving it to her.

I have not hand fed him for 3 months. He will willingly eat this mash on his own froma bol.. I feed him this 3 times a day but he still has fresh fruit, vegies, hansons peper pellets, fruit pellets and zupreen pellets in his cage at all times. with water also. He has no reason ever to be hungry. He has every possible food made available to him. The mash is only given to him 3 times a day but the rest is there for when ever he wants.

Antionette, my budgies also love the suringe. It is very funny to watch 6 budgies fighting over it. I feed ( water I mean) Marigold with it because she has trouble getting to the water dish. I am worming them at the moment and it makes it a whole lot easier.