Help what do i feed fussy cockatiels.

[Sops1306]

Hi what on earth would I feed fussy cockatiels when the mum has laid eggs, I want them to get the best vitamins however they won't eat fruit or veg and they will only east seeds. I've never tryed them on pellets but to get them there vitamins in I'm going to give it a shot, however money is tight and I can't afford to spend £15 on pellets for them to refuse it. They are not just on sunflower seeds I buy a seed mix for them.. now that she has laid her first ever eggs (don't know if they are fertile) I'm stuck on what to feed them. Please help, I've tryed different fruits and different veg but they just leave it

 

[tka]

How old are these eggs? I would honestly not let them hatch. If the hen hasn't started brooding them yet, then they're inert - no life is yet present and you can boil them, let them cool and give them back to her. Make sure you mark which ones have been boiled so you can boil any new eggs. She will sit on them and eventually lose interest.

These birds are not on a good diet which means that they are more likely to have problems. The key thing I'd be concerned about is calcium, but I expect they'll also be deficient in vitamin A and other vitamins and minerals. Seed mixes might be dusted with a supplement but parrots don't eat the hulls, so they don't ingest the supplement. Cuttlebone is a poor source of calcium. If you can get it, VetArk make some good supplements which you'll have to figure out how to get into them.

If you don't have £15 to spend on pellets, you do not have the financial resources to raise babies. So much can go wrong with breeding - the hen could get egg-bound (more likely if she is low on calcium), the parents could injure or even kill the chicks, the parents could abandon the chicks, the parents could stop feeding the chicks, the chicks could have problems digesting food or get an infection in their crops, they could end up with splay-leg... All of these things require veterinary attention which could be in the region of several hundred pounds.

You will need to have hand rearing supplies on hand - if a chick is abandoned, you don't have time to wait for deliveries and it's hard to pick up specialist products in pet shops. You will need to have a brooder, a heat pad for which you can control the temperature, a thermometer, hand-raising formula, a feeding spoon and potentially hydration fluid. Again, this stuff can get expensive. Chicks need to be fed several times a day and unless you work from home on a very flexible schedule, this will be difficult to do.

If all goes well, you will then have several birds to feed. Babies should be weaned onto a high quality diet to provide them with the nutrition they need to grow strong bones and muscles. You will need to buy additional cages, toys and again, have funds for the vet in case any of them get sick or injured.

There is nothing wrong with admitting that you don't have the resources to raise babies. It is a big risk, and if something goes wrong then you need to have the resources to fix it. Focus on the birds you have now and focus on getting them on a better diet.

 

[Sops1306]

I never said I don't have the resources I am fully prepared, if the hen dosnt sit on them. I have an incubater a spare cage ect. I am also fully aware that I may need to feed the chick's myself. I am hoping it dosnt not come to that.. this is my first time as well as hers. What I actually said was I didn't want to waste £15 on pellets if they don't eat them.. I want to make sure they have all the vitamins they need in the cage themselfs. They have cuttlebone and I also add vitamins to there water. You totally misunderstood what I was asking.

 

[Sops1306]

I also feed them a mix called fruitti cockatiel which I purchased from petsathome.

 

[Sops1306]

I could have worded it a bit better granted, but I have my own buisness and £15 for them not to eat it is a lot of money when every penny has had to count when me like many others have not been able to trade. I really don't appreciate being patronised, all I was asking is what alternatives can I feed my birds if they won't eat fruit and veg.

 

[tka]

I wouldn't feed the frutti cockatiel to my bird - I've found Vitakraft products intended for birds to be poor quality which is a shame as they're often the only thing that pet shops sell. That one looks like it contains a lot of dried fruit which is high in sugar. As I've said, cuttlebone doesn't contain a source of readily bioavailable calcium - it's good as a chew toy but that's about it. Cockatiels are desert birds so won't drink enough water to get the benefit of drops added to their water - maybe a few sips a day which is not enough to ingest the vitamins and minerals they need, especially with the huge stress on their bodies caused by producing eggs, incubating them and raising young. If they ate fresh food you could sprinkle a powdered supplement on the food, but you've said that they don't eat fresh food.

As such, pellets are pretty much your only option.

Zupreem is about £12 for 2lbs from Scarletts: https://www.scarlettsparrotessentia...let-complete-diets/zupreem-pellet-parrot-food
It's not the best because it does contain sugars and some contain dyes, but it's readily accepted by most birds and is fortified with vitamins and minerals.

You can also try Hagen Hari: Hagen Tropican Parrot Food | Scarletts Parrot Essentials
You can get a sample pack of these to see if your birds will eat them - 50g for a quid. Have to admit that my bird wasn't a fan of these and I ended up feeding them to the geese.

 

[Sops1306]

OK I bought the frutti for them cause it stated it contained no sugar, so thankyou for that insite I didn't realise, and I also didn't realise that the vitamins I put in the water wasn't enough. I am going to just have to bite the bullet and hope for the best with the pellets, thankyou for the links.

 

[Sops1306]

So the thing is my male was a rescue bird and all he was ever fed on was sunflower seeds and apart from millet and the odd honey treat and toast that's all he would eat, and when I got my female she was an aviary bird and only 6 month, and I think she copied off the male a lot. Although she will try other things she will just leave them after that.

 

[Sops1306]

That's what I've been adding to there seed mix, but they leave the dried banana

 

[Zara]

I didn't want to waste £15 on pellets if they don't eat them..

If only there was a solution to this conundrum.
I recently bought a bag of Tropimix, it´s a 100% edible seed, nut, veggie, pellet mix using human logic of ¨well, my birds like the Tropican pellets, so they will probably like this mix¨, how wrong I was. Most of it ended up outside for the sparrows. Yes I wasted my money, but it´s a learning curve. Now I know they won´t eat it and I won´t repurchase. At least the sparrows and doves got a feast...

The best thing is sample bags, if you can get them, do it. Tka says there´s a sample bag 50g for a pound, fantastic! Defo get one and give it a go before buying a large bag If you have friends of family nearby that own birds, you can share food (ask for half a cup of food to try it out).

Good look with the diet conversion, and the veggies. Be consistent with veg, sometimes they will surprise you and eat something one day.

As for the vitamins/ supplements, one of my girls had a bit of bother recently and we were given a supplement in liquid form to be given orally. I would recommend having an oral supplement because then you know they got the dose. No worrying about are they eating the powder, drinking the vitamin water.
You can ask your vet for a supplement, they might sell bottles or have a good recommendation. There are lots of ones available.

When the chicks hatch, you can prep some formula and feed it to the parent that feeds the chicks once a day. This way the little ones get the benefits from the formula, and also enjoy being fed by their parents. Which formula do you have?
You can even offer soaked pellets while there are chicks in the nest. Just remember they spoil fairly quickly, so don´t leave them there all day.

 

[Sops1306]

If only there was a solution to this conundrum.
I recently bought a bag of Tropimix, it´s a 100% edible seed, nut, veggie, pellet mix using human logic of ¨well, my birds like the Tropican pellets, so they will probably like this mix¨, how wrong I was. Most of it ended up outside for the sparrows. Yes I wasted my money, but it´s a learning curve. Now I know they won´t eat it and I won´t repurchase. At least the sparrows and doves got a feast...

The best thing is sample bags, if you can get them, do it. Tka says there´s a sample bag 50g for a pound, fantastic! Defo get one and give it a go before buying a large bag If you have friends of family nearby that own birds, you can share food (ask for half a cup of food to try it out).

Good look with the diet conversion, and the veggies. Be consistent with veg, sometimes they will surprise you and eat something one day.

As for the vitamins/ supplements, one of my girls had a bit of bother recently and we were given a supplement in liquid form to be given orally. I would recommend having an oral supplement because then you know they got the dose. No worrying about are they eating the powder, drinking the vitamin water.
You can ask your vet for a supplement, they might sell bottles or have a good recommendation. There are lots of ones available.

When the chicks hatch, you can prep some formula and feed it to the parent that feeds the chicks once a day. This way the little ones get the benefits from the formula, and also enjoy being fed by their parents. Which formula do you have?
You can even offer soaked pellets while there are chicks in the nest. Just remember they spoil fairly quickly, so don´t leave them there all day.

Yes I still put the veg in, I always put it in and then take it out the next day,
As for the formula I have got the tropican hari, but I've bought that just in case the hen dosnt feed.
Also this is her first time and my first time so I know I'm going to make mistakes, (hopefully I dont) so at the moment I'm digesting information from everywhere. The eggs are about 5 days old now after first one was laid and I havnt candled them or disturbed her but she has 4 at the moment. I might be niheave here but I hope I don't have to interveine but if I do then I do.
I've bought the £1 one for 50g see if they get on with that. Fingers crossed

 

[Sops1306]

Well I know I can't candle for at least 10 days anyway

 

[Chris1234]

We had a a very fussy parakeet that wouldn't eat fresh foods so I bought Harrison's fine mash and sprinkled it in with his seed mix. It's basically a finely ground pellet (so you could grind your own if your pellet choices are limited). I also purchased a seed mix that had dried veggies, herbs and fruits, so at least I knew he was getting some good stuff since the little stinker wouldn't eat anything fresh. Sprouts may work for you too, since they look so much like seeds when first sprouted.

In the mean time, keep trying all kinds of fresh stuff. You just have to be more stubborn than them. It took me a year to get our Meyers to eat sprouts.

 

[Sops1306]

We had a a very fussy parakeet that wouldn't eat fresh foods so I bought Harrison's fine mash and sprinkled it in with his seed mix. It's basically a finely ground pellet (so you could grind your own if your pellet choices are limited). I also purchased a seed mix that had dried veggies, herbs and fruits, so at least I knew he was getting some good stuff since the little stinker wouldn't eat anything fresh. Sprouts may work for you too, since they look so much like seeds when first sprouted.

In the mean time, keep trying all kinds of fresh stuff. You just have to be more stubborn than them. It took me a year to get our Meyers to eat sprouts.

They are definitely stubborn I never even considered grinding pellets and sprinkling it wow thanks for that I will try that.
They won't eat sprouts I've tryed them on it. Or broccoli, I've been sticking egg shells in lately They just play with with them I think they like the crunch lol

 

[Chris1234]

They are definitely stubborn I never even considered grinding pellets and sprinkling it wow thanks for that I will try that.
They won't eat sprouts I've tryed them on it. Or broccoli, I've been sticking egg shells in lately They just play with with them I think they like the crunch lol

You're welcome! Have you tried hanging wet greens in their cage to play under? Some birds really like to bathe in them but then eat them in the process. Leaves of kale, swiss chard, mustard greens etc. would work.

If you are specifically worried about calcium, there are some dried herbs and things you can try adding to their seeds...Red Raspberry Leaf (rubus idaeus), Nettles (urtica dioica) and Moringa (moringa oleifera) are just a few that are safe and higher in calcium.

 

[Sops1306]

You're welcome! Have you tried hanging wet greens in their cage to play under? Some birds really like to bathe in them but then eat them in the process. Leaves of kale, swiss chard, mustard greens etc. would work.

If you are specifically worried about calcium, there are some dried herbs and things you can try adding to their seeds...Red Raspberry Leaf (rubus idaeus), Nettles (urtica dioica) and Moringa (moringa oleifera) are just a few that are safe and higher in calcium.

No I've never tryed that my bearded dragon loves kale so I've got some in the fridge I'm going to try that now. I guess I havnt been very imagintive you have have me a couple of great ideas.. I will let you know if it works thankyou.

 

[Sops1306]

Update wet kale, she is eating it. More playing with it but nibbling at the same time.. male (leo) won't entertain it but its a start.

 

[Zara]

I've been sticking egg shells in lately They just play with with them I think they like the crunch lol

Egg shells should be boiled then ground into a fine powder. Egg shell pieces (un-ground) can slice the crop.

That´s great they are showing an interest in the kale. A start Try peas.

 

[Chris1234]

Update wet kale, she is eating it. More playing with it but nibbling at the same time.. male (leo) won't entertain it but its a start.

YAY! That's a great start!

 

[Sops1306]

Egg shells should be boiled then ground into a fine powder. Egg shell pieces (un-ground) can slice the crop.

That´s great they are showing an interest in the kale. A start Try peas.

Oh I just crunched them and put them in. Thanks for that.. learning curve for me