My cockatiel plucks chicks. How to hand-feed scared, refusing babies?

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.

If you attached photos, they didn't go through with the question, so I can't see them! You are welcome to ask again with photos attached. If Buddy is of the age where you can start weaning her, you may want to start offering regular food in addition to syringe feedings to see if she is interested. If she seems very ill, becomes lethargic, or won't eat anything offered to her at all, seeking veterinary care to rule out any health issues is a good idea.

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.

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.

if you took the chicks away that early to begin hand-feeding and taming, having them where the parents can see/hear may help them calm down some. Otherwise, adding in some extra toys and treats for your female to interact with may help her a little. However, it may just take some time since she was busy caring for her babies and probably doesn't understand why they were taken away.

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

In birds, weaning can begin around 10 weeks of age. Larger species take much longer to wean, as long as 6 months in some cases. When you see Muthu picking up things and exploring, then you can begin to offer "adult" foods. The pellets mentioned in an earlier answer can be soaked with warm water or a bit of juice to stimulate his appetite. At the same time, begin to decrease the amount of baby food and handfeedings if applicable. This can be a stressful period for chicks, so close monitoring is essential. Weigh him daily and monitor for lethargy or loose droppings.