Just some questions about Cockatiels...

[MikeyTN]

Are you feeding seeds right now? IF she's eaten, you should be able to feel the crop sac full of seeds. Cause sometimes they will nibble but not really eating it.

 

[Yellow_Tang04]

Yes I have seen her eating a lot of times (I think) - the breeder gave me a seed mix to feed her for now...he said that is what he had her on so I figured i should feed her that for now. she is always in the food bowl nibbling...she doesnt really move around in her cage tho...is she just getting used to it? Also she wont drink water from the water bowl. she will lick my finger tho if i dip it in water

 

[Yellow_Tang04]

Ok I just watched her drink water. I also held out some of her food in my had and she "ate" it but spit out the shells I think. How do I know she is eating it?

 

[MonicaMc]

Parrots don't eat the entire seed, they only eat the 'meat' of it and drop the hulls, or shell of the seed.

As long as she's pooping, and the droppings are not black, she's eating. It will take her a couple of days to settle in and feel comfortable though.

 

[Yellow_Tang04]

Her poop is like a really dark green and has white in it. is that good? She has pooped on me many times lol..she poops a lot though. She still has that annoying screech...what is she telling me?

 

[MikeyTN]

Read my above post!!!!!!!!

IF she is eating, you should feel a bulge in the crop sac with seeds in it!

Like I've said, her behavior is a baby begging for food! IF she's freshly weaned, she will be begging constantly, IF she's not weaned, she will beg constantly as well. You NEED to be sure she is eating by feeling her crop sac. IF it's flat and empty at the end of the night, she's not eating. IF she's not eating and continues to beg, it is wise for you to bring her back to the breeder.

 

[MikeyTN]

I just took this picture with one of my babies to show you, he's a little over 2 months old. You see where my thumb is, that's where the crop sac is and that's where you should feel if there's any food present.

 

[Yellow_Tang04]

Ok so while I was away, I left my mom in the house with her. She called me and told me that she heard the bird whistling really loud and pretty today, which I have never heard her do that so is that a good sign? She still has that screech tho... I just feeler her crop sac and I'm not sure what I am supposed to be feeling for, but her check area pokes out like a spine in the front and there is like a bulge under her neck like an "Adams apple" humans have...

 

[Niner10Tango]

First, your cockatiel is a real beauty. It's going to take for your cockatiel to get adjusted in her new environment. It could take a week or maybe longer to get acquainted with new sounds in the home, your voice or others in the house. Just be patient and talk to her softly and let her get used to you. I have to agree with what the other commenter said that the screeching / screaming sound does sound like a noise when babies make when they are not fully weaned. If she is eating on her own, your off to a good start. You many not see her drink water right away, but if her stools are green and white, she is getting water.

 

[Yellow_Tang04]

Yes --- i watch her in the cage sometimes and she hops around from perch to perch and then goes and bobs her head in the water, then she goes and sits in her food bowl and eats for a while...but she still has that annoying screech...so should I just wait it out and see what happens or...

 

[MikeyTN]

When they're first weaned, you definitely can tell when there's food in the crop sac. You can feel compact seeds in the crop sac, if you use your thumb and index finger you can easily feel it's seeds inside. Once they past the weaning stage, you would not feel that crop sac like that anymore, when they first wean, they will eat and eat and eat, they go through more food at first then it tapers down where they would eat their normal amount.

 

[Yellow_Tang04]

Ok I will feel her in the morning. Should I switch her to a more pellet based diet? I forget the brand of food she's on now, I will have to check.

 

[MikeyTN]

Since she is in her weaning stage, I wouldn't switch a thing. But you can do the mix right now where they can pick through it. After she's done weaning, then try new stuffs.

 

[Yellow_Tang04]

How will I know when she's done weaning? Is there a certain age? And I am feeding her this right now "Higgins Nederlands VITA SEED COCKATIEL" so it's specially for cockatiels, Higgins is the brand....

 

[MonicaMc]

Pellets should not be more than 50% of the diet, if that.

Sure, go a head and introduce them, but don't try switching her over to just pellets. Also introduce healthy, fresh foods such as vegetables, grains, healthy legumes, some fruits, cooked eggs, etc.

 

[Yellow_Tang04]

Alright, now, I have another question. She is quiet in her cage, then I open the door and he backs away and starts screeching loud at me then UOUR my hand in, she will step up, but keep on screaming that sound in the video for long lengths at a time...then I put her back and it's all fine....my mom held her and she started screeching and my mom poured a bowl food of her food in there and she just hopped in the bowl and started eating it without a sound.........is this normal? Am I supposed to hold her at all? It doesn't look like she likes me very much

 

[Yellow_Tang04]

Oh btw I felt her crop sac and it was lumpy and I could feel the little seeds in there.

 

[MikeyTN]

Then she is weaned! BUT she will cry for awhile, it's not that she doesn't like you, she's expecting to be fed. It's not a bad idea to leave her in her cage for a few days by not taking her out so she wouldn't be begging.

 

[Niner10Tango]

MikeyTN gave you some excellent advice. Since you only had her home for just a few days, leave her in her cage and let her adjust to her new environment. Eventually, the screeching will stop. Just give your gal some time and just be patient.

 

[Yellow_Tang04]

Alright thanks so much guys I just took her out a while ago (before I headed this advice) and she always likes to sit on my shoulder, its cute, but that screeching in my ears, lol. She also bites my ears Not that it hurts, just not the most pleasant thing.