How to Care for a 6- to 8-Week-Old Cockatiel

A breeding pair of cockatiels will produce eggs that will hatch in 18 to 21 days. Both the male and the female will incubate the eggs. After chicks are born, you should leave them with their parents until they are 3 weeks of age, according to writer Robyn Ashton on the Australian National Cockatiel Society website. After the babies are 3 weeks old, hand-raising them requires frequent feedings until they reach weaning age, which is 6 to 8 weeks old.

Things You'll Need

  • Parrot food
  • Eyedropper- or hypodermic-type feeder
  • Cloth
  • Birdseed
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Instructions

    • 1

      Pick up the baby in your clean hands, holding it gently. You may wish to use a cloth on your hand to create a better grip. Work over a table to prevent an accident in case you lose your grip on the bird.

    • 2

      Gently place the tip of the feeder in the bird̵7;s mouth. Administer the food into the bird̵7;s mouth with an eye dropper or hypodermic-type feeding cartridge. Baby cockatiels generally will open their mouths readily and are eager to eat. Use a food suitable for hand-feeding parrots, available at pet stores that carry supplies for birds. Moisten and warm the food slightly to make it easy for the baby to eat.

    • 3

      Squeeze a tiny amount of the food into the bird̵7;s mouth. Allow the bird to swallow it down its ̶0;crop,̶1; a pouch further down in the esophagus. Start with four feedings each day. Feed just enough so that the engorged crop becomes empty completely in four hours. At four to five weeks, limit the feedings to three times each day and introduce suitable seed to the cage to begin to wean the babies.

    • 4

      Reduce the number of feedings to twice each day, with seed available to allow the babies to feed as needed, when the babies reach the age of 6 weeks old. Some birds may need continued care slightly longer than others. Observe the condition of the baby to determine if additional feedings are needed.

    • 5

      Begin to wean the cockatiel babies off hand-feeding when they reach the age of 8 weeks. Ensure that the babies have appropriate seed available, and allow them to feed at will with only an occasional hand-feeding to ensure that they are getting sufficient nutrition for healthy growth.