My baby parakeet is small and seems underfed. Can I give it formula?

...without first speaking to a veterinarian since hand feeding babies can be tricky and possibly even lethal if you are not doing it correctly. If you cannot find a commercial formula, try the following recipe: -3 tablespoons of high protien baby cereal -1 1/2 tablespoons of wheat germ -1 1/2 tablespoons of millet meal -1 1/2 tablespoons of sunflower meal -5 drops of a multivitamin for birds. Blend all ingredients to a fine powder and then mix with warm water to a soupy consistency.

The diet being offered currently is not appropriate. At 6 weeks old, Sparky should still be getting a hand feeding formula. A link is included below. Feedings may range between 4 and 8 a day depending on the weight and species. I would suggest having the bird physically examined by a veterinarian or an experienced avian vet to confirm good health. Weaning typically takes place between 8 and 12 weeks of age. At this point, transition to a commercial pelleted diet (Roudybush, LaFeber, Harrison's or Pretty Bird). Introduce other foods gradually and offer a small amount of a fortified seed mix. https://www.kaytee.com/learn-care/pet-birds/hand-feeding

First time and young parents may not know what to do with a baby and may need assistance from you. It may also be that she is still focused on the unhatched eggs instead of the baby. Purchasing a syringe and some baby bird formula (most pet stores will carry this) is best. The formula should have instructions for how much to feed and how often depending on your bird's size, age and breed, however most baby birds will need to be fed frequently. You can check how full they are by looking at the crop, which is a sort of "balloon" just under the chin that is usually more visible before their feathers come in-- when full, it will fill up, and when hungry it will be empty. If the baby doesn't seem to be getting fed enough, stepping in with supplementation can help. If the mother and father are picking on the baby heavily, or kicking it out of the nest completely, you may need to move him to a separate cage that is kept warm with a nest and heat lamp, and provide all feedings yourself.

There are various recipes available online, usually these are based on products such as cereals for human babies, peanut butter, apple sauce and baby food (e.g. https://www.cuteness.com/article/make-homemade-baby-cockatiel-food). I cannot really recommend those, perhaps only as a last resort. If you can get commercial pellets for adult parrots and grind them with water (pre-boiled) to prepare a slurry, that would work, but the commercial formulae are better. Please note that the food should be at 40-41C and prepared fresh for each feeding.

If your cockatiel isn't seeming to thrive, isn't progressing like his siblings, or appears weak/sickly it is best to seek veterinary care. It is possible there is something making him ill or preventing him from growing, or he may be the "runt" of the clutch. An avian vet can check for illness and can recommend treatments such as additional feedings of baby bird formula to help him grow if he isn't getting enough.

Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do at home if the baby is severely injured or you don't have food for it. Trying to see if a local pet store or big box store that carries pet supplies is open may help you find syringes and baby bird food you need, otherwise. In a pinch, adult bird food can be ground down into a mash and then mixed with water and given via a syringe until you can get actual baby bird food. Keeping the babies warm and keeping any wounds clean and dry can help, however if there are severe wounds or the injuries are bad enough the babies can't function properly, seeking out the care of a vet in person ASAP is best (Many are open still for medical emergencies such as this).

Baby parrots do not eat milk and it would not be nutritious and may cause diarrhea or other digestive upset that could lead to dehydration or death. Baby birds, if not being fed by their parents, should be fed a specially formulated baby bird food. Many pet stores will carry this and it can be added to a syringe to feed your baby parrot with. Most will come with feeding instructions depending on your baby birds age and size.