My cockatiel parents are looking for their chicks. How can I help?

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.

Momma bird may be a bit stressed out now that there are new babies to care for. Adding in extra food and water dishes so that each bird has one to eat at without fighting, and making sure both birds have their own perches to relax on can help reduce tension. As for the babies, momma bird should care for them herself, however having some commercial baby bird food (most pet stores will carry it) can be useful in case she can't care for them all on her own. As they get a bit older and start to explore, you can start to offer treats and pets to get them used to being handled.

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.

Since the birds are new to you (and I am assuming new to each other) they are probably a little stressed and taking time to adjust to their new surroundings. Also, since they are new to you, this may be completely normal behavior for them. You may want to try separating them and see if that helps. If they are eating and drinking well, do not appear to be injured and are having normal excrement then I would not be too concerned. They most likely are stressed and just need time to adjust to their new normal. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Bestnof luck.

I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your bird! It just could be this is how Peppa is reacting to the loss of your other bird. if she seems lonely or bored, adding in a new friend may help her to relax some and settle back down. You can also offer some toys or special treats to help keep her occupied and get out some of that extra energy. Spending more time together may also help both you and her after the loss of your bird as well.

Losing a mate or part of the flock can be traumatic. Try to gradually reacclimate him to you. Begin by simply sitting by his cage for ever increasing periods of time. Speak softly and move slowly around him. End each visit with a small treat. Once he is fine with that, place your hand in the cage for ever increasing periods of time. He may squawk and flap and move away at first. That's fine. Do not attempt to touch or pet him. Once he settles down, you can coax him closer to you using treats. It will take time and patience, but eventually you should be able to win him over and get him to per h on your finger.

Thanks for reaching out about your cockatiel. If she has laid eggs in a nest, allowing her to incubate the eggs will most likely result in a favorable result. Incubation is around 16-21 days, after she starts sitting on the eggs. Handrearing new hatches is difficult and should be left to experienced bird handlers, as they easily aspiration, are subjected to chills or overheating. Allow the mother to care for them. If you want to incubate and rear yourself, you will need to purchase an incubator and brooder, suitable for cockatiels. The recommendation is to allow the hen to raise them. After fledging, you can start to handle the babies to allow acclimation to humans. Good luck.