Assist feeding cockatiel chicks (742 views)

[deebee]

Little update from this morning. I fed them a few hours earlier than I normally would as I work until 11:30am on a Sunday. On other week days I work until 9:30 and I feed them immediately after. They took the food well and seem to be eating a bit more as they're growing. A good sign at least

Here's the oldest bub, she has opened her eyes (see other photos!) but for some reason prefers to keep them shut at the minute... doesn't make for good photos



And here's the youngest



I'll be giving them another feed after work. Sorry the lighting and photos aren't very good

[Haimovfids]

Major improvement! The oldest chick will start opening them more.

[deebee]

Oh I know I just find it weird. Usually once they're open they just stay open (except for snoozing and sleeping of course haha). Strange

One thing I've noticed is that the younger chick is definitely being fed more, which is why I think it's doing better. The older bird doesn't beg for food or scream like the youngest so I think the parents ignore her for the most part. I've done extra feeds for the older chick today

I've also started making up the formula with coconut water and giving them a drop every now and then to keep them hydrated. I couldn't find the Vita Coco one so I'm using Innocent. It's all 100% natural organic coconut water with nothing else in it. I've heard of it recommended in various places and it seems to be doing the drink

[Haimovfids]

I think the older one will catch up. She probably had more time of missed feelings which impacted her more then the younger one which was lucky you found the problem before anything drastic could have happened. I think both will do well and end up looking like a regular sized adult soon.

Coconut water is a miracle worker. It turned one of my dehydrated chicks to a healthy color within one feeding with it. I cannot speak more highly of it. Use it!

[deebee]

I can tell that because she's the quieter of the two that the parents weren't feeding her half as much as the other and considering neither have been cared for by them very well it wouldn't be much! Since using the coconut water for the last two days there has been a massive improvement in the health of the older chick, that's for sure! She has now FULLY opened her eyes (as suspected it must have been the dehydration). They seem to like the formula even more with it in too I'm so pleased with their progress

Here's a video from yesterday (seeing as I haven't taken or posted any yet)

http://instagram.com/p/BKQAX1YB34S

Since then both of them have their eyes open at all times now, no winking or closing them and not opening them!

Here they are today. Top left and bottom right is the eldest and top right and bottom left is the youngest



Here's a little comparison I did of them from the last 7 days difference...



You can't argue with those results!