[misses cakes]

My name is Suzanne and I am from North Carolina. Today I went to a Reptile and Exotic Pet Expo and took home my very first Cockatiel! I already have two budgies but I want a larger bird. I figured why not go with the next step up My cockatiel is a little over three weeks old and he name is Zoe. I have to hand feed her for about another month. I have never hand fed a bird before but I have experience doing it with reptiles. I have been doing a lot of research on hand feeding and I believe I am well prepared. I look forward to raising Zoe and I am so glad I have this forum to help me along the way.

 

[Bea]

Welcome to the forums Suzanne. I have a bird called Zoe also. Good luck with your little girl, you've been given some good advice in your other threads. Do you have any photos of Zoe. Trust me, you want to be taking lots because they grow like weeds, and they're only little babies once.

 

[Sophia]

Hi and welcome to the forum! Good Luck with the hand-feeding I am sure you will get on fine!

 

[Rosie]

Welcome to Talkcockatiels! Congratulations on your first cockatiel, they are great fun. I would love to see some pictures of Zoe.

 

[sweetrsue]

Hi and Welcome! I like the name Misses Cakes. Sounds like you've done your homework. The only advice I could offer is try to let the baby take the food at it's own pace. I have seen some breeders who shove a tube down the babies throat and shoot the crop full. Put it down and grab the next one. I could never see how THAT could possibly develope into a trusting relationship. At three weeks I use a bent measuring spoon. I kind of bend it into a u shape. So it's more like a parents lower beak. My babies quikly learn to take the food off the spoon and swallow as they go of course. So I don't get any asparated food from an overfull crop. Also it takes a little time to do it this way so you are handling the bird 3 or 4 times a day for a period of about 10 minutes at a time. I'm sure you've already discovered that you instinctively talk softly to them and pet them. It works! it's a good relationship that you develope with your baby.

 

[kikee]

Big welcome to you misses cakes and Zoe. Hope you will both like it here.