Ask Lafeber

Feeding cockatiels

I wanted to know how to handfeed baby cockatiels in a safe way and when am I supposed to do that. I want to so that the babies are familiar with me.

Hi,

A better way to socialize the chicks is to let the parents feed them, but you handle each chick for a few minutes at a time, a few times a day. You can start as their eyes open, removing one chick at a time and holding it and talking to it. Never remove them when they have just been fed. It’s best to handle them just before they are fed. As long as the parents do not get too upset, you can do this until the chicks are weaned.

Handfeeding is not easy, and the chicks will not grow as quickly. You would need to find a vet or a breeder to show you how hand feed. It’s too easy to accidentally kill them, so just having someone described how to do this is not the way to learn.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda