Our nursery is located in our kitchen, so we can watch them everyday all day. Our brooders are easy to make, just use the following:
1. Fish tank
2. Soft towels/paper towels
3. Small bowl of water
4. Heat lamp
5. Heating pad
Place fish tank in a safe place, about eye level. Place a towel in the bottom of the fish tank (make sure they can't get their claws suck in it and make sure it is comfortable, soft, and there is no place for them to slip around). Put a small tuperware bowl in the corner of the fish tank, make sure that the babies can't drowned in it or get hurt. Place a heat lamp over or beside the fish tank, but make sure it is shinning in to keep them warm. The fish tank should be covered with a towel (to retain heat) and half of the tank should be covered, so the babies can get out of the light. MAKE SURE THAT THE HEAT LAMP IS NOT TOUCHING ANYTHING because it could start a fire.
Our newest members of Willow's Flock are now 8-10 weeks of age and almost ready to fly the coop. We have several normals, white faces, and gently pied.
Each baby costs $125 no shipping.
More baby cockatiels to come!
If you are interested please call us! Sorry no baby 'keets, amazons, or timnehs yet.
CROP BURN: If the formula is too hot it could burn the baby's esophagus and crop. This is VERY painful for the baby and usually causes death. When the baby has crop burn its skin turns red and it goes into shock. If the crop burn is really bad blisters will appear then scabs will form. When scabs start to fall off there is an actual HOLE in the baby's crop and it won't be able to hold food. There is a certain temp. the formula is suppose to be depending on the species of bird. For cockatiels it is suppose to be 104 degrees, if the temp. is a few degrees higher the baby will get crop burn. Heat the baby's food in a jar, then place it in a boiling pot of water (over the stove). Stir it, make sure the temp. is right, then let your baby know that you are ready to feed it by, placing the tip of the syringe in the babies mouth, start to feed carefully. If you have any questions please contact us.
ASPIRATION PNEUMONIA: When your baby inhales the formula it is known as "Aspirated". The formula backs up into the baby's mouth and of course it is trying to breath, but almost not able to. This will cause the formula to go into the trachea or lungs. Aspiration Pneumonia only happens when the baby is fed too much. You should wait until the baby gives a "Feeding Response" then start to feed slowly. If your babies crop is too full and it is feeding time read "Slow Crop" (don't feed your baby). If the baby is fed too much the baby will start to squeeze, cough, shake its head, and gasp for breathe. Formula can come out of the babies nose, usaully after the baby coughs up the formula it the baby will go back to normal. The chick will most likely get fungus or a baterial infection in its crop. When the formula goes into the baby's lungs it is then almost not able to breath. If the baby does not die immediately it will then get "Pneumonia". Even with medical care from your vet the chances of the baby living are very slim. If your baby "Aspirates" take it to an AVIAN vet.
PUNCTURED CROP OR ESOPHAGUS: The skin of a baby bird is VERY thin and delicate. If the wrong feeding tools are used or if they are forced into the baby's mouth puncture wounds will be inflicted. Very hungry babies may run into the syringe and it may puncture its own crop or esophagus. Signs of a punctured crop or escphagus are inflammation and swelling around the puncture wounds. The absence of food in the baby's crop after the baby just ate could mean it has a severe injury. If this happens to your chick it needs medical attention from an AVIAN vet.
SOUR CROP: Sour crop is formula that is "sour" in the baby's crop. Sour crop slows food from going down the crop and the food becomes more sour. This usually happens when the food is prepared wrong or the breeder feeds the baby to much and does not let the crop empty at least one time within 24 hours. If this is not taken care of right away then the baby will develop slow gut status and will die. If the baby's formula is less than 104 degrees F the food will go down slower. Some breeders, such as myself add ACV (apple cider vinegar) OR applesauce to the formula this causes the crop to drain.
SLOW GUT: Slow gut occurs when the crop empties too slow and then it slows down the whole digestive tract. This could be caused by sour crop, feeding the baby food that is too cold, too thick, food that is too high in fat or protein, or from a crop that has been stretched from overfeeding. Food that is left in the crop will become sour. If this problem isn't taken care of right away the baby could become dehydrated and could straveto death. Your chick could be seen by an Avian vet right away!
If you have any questions about handfeeding baby birds contact us. We updated this 12/28/07.