Need help cleaning cockatiel

[Sabeli]

Hi everyone! I apologise if this has been asked already - I couldn't find anything to help. My baby cockatiel (about 12 weeks, don't know if it still counts a baby hehe) has hardened porridge around her beak. I've tried putting her (presumably) in water like proposed to encourage her to take a bath but she isn't acting on it. How do I help her to get it off? I feel really bad for her: it looks really uncomfortable. I am busy weaning her, not having much success at it though, from porridge. I will appreciate any pointers and/or advice.

 

[EkkieLu]

Have you tried gently wiping his beak with warm water?

 

[Sabeli]

Yes but it only helps a for the new porrigde with sticks - when I try to wipe the harder parts, no matter how gently, she starts squirming ans squeeling

 

[iamwhoiam]

Cotton balls moistened with warm water. Wipe, repeat, wipe, repeat, etc.

 

[Zara]

Cotton balls moistened with warm water. Wipe, repeat, wipe, repeat, etc.

It will take quite a while, but it will come off. The trick is to be super gentle and keep repeating.
Hold the cotton ball or q tip on the hard food, then after a few seconds wipe, then repeat.
Don´t pick or pull the food, it will pull feathers and hurt the chick.
Good luck

 

[iamwhoiam]

BTW, you need to be sure to clean your bird after every feeding so that the formula does not dry and get hard.