Help! My cockatiel chick stopped eating hand-fed food from syringe.

Thanks for reaching out about Pasha and including photos. Cerelac is a carbohydrate source meant to supplement human breast milk. It is poor in protein, essential vitamins and minerals. Start adding pureed vegetables, a legume/bean puree also. Leave it more and more thick, offer via hand so start weaning. Feathers are ruffled probably due to poor nutrition. A veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

If the chick is 3-5 weeks old, he can be removed from the cage. Use an appropriate hand feeding formula and feed 2-3 times daily. The formula should be warm (not hot) as most chicks will refuse cold food. He should also be kept warm. A cold chick will not eat. By 7-8 weeks, he should be eating seed, pellets and other foods on his own.

Thanks for reaching out again .If not used to hand feeding, they will rarely take it at this age. If different from the food offered at the pet store, contact the store for the same food. Provide heat support in the 80-85 f range can give some comfort. Good luck.

If the problem keeps returning even with adjustments to his feeding schedule, it could indicate an underlying issues such as an illness, physical or genetic deformity, or some other cause of failing to thrive. It would be best to have him examined by a local avian vet to rule out any serious issues that could be causing his problem and to help monitor his growth as he is being raised.

It is common for young birds to lose their feeding response as they become weak, and this may be what is happening with Toni. It is more energy taxing to move the neck/head than it is to chirp. The line that you are seeing is part of the organs in the belly. If you look closely, you can see a number of organs. This is because their skin is so thin that you can see through it. I would recommend having Toni evaluated by a veterinarian. They can perform an examination on Toni to ensure there are no obvious abnormalities, and may provide some supportive care for him. Additionally, I am not sure what you are formula you are feeding, how much, and how often - these are all important items as we need to make sure Toni is getting enough calories to grow and thrive. Your veterinarian can help to guide you with these items based on the cockatiel's weight. The crop is small in the pictures that you sent, but I am not sure how long ago you had fed before taking the picture so this may be appropriate. Please ensure that Toni is being kept warm as well - ideally he would have an area that is 90-100F. Monitor the area with a digital thermometer to ensure it is not getting too hot or too cold. Without proper temperatures, Toni won't be able to digest his food well. I hope this gives you a place to start, and good luck!

Ideally, Pedro should be physically examined by a veterinarian. If an avian vet is not available, see the local veterinarian. He or she can contact an avian specialist by phone or online. Place him in his own cage or remove the chicken chicks. It isn't recommended to keep these two species caged together. Offer a mash made with warm water and a handfeeding formula to get him eating. Unflavored PediaLyte can be given via dropper if he will accept it. Keep him warm and as stress free as possible until he sees the doctor.

Cerelac is a human baby food, and your baby bird should be on a baby bird food so that he is getting the right nutrients to grow. If he's starting to feather, you can start to add in and offer some mashed up or soaked cockatiel feed/seeds to encourage him to eat a little more since he is old enough to start transitioning.