[katar76]

Hi everyone! Nice to be here! I just got a baby today. We named him or her... Cookie. He's 3 months old. I purchased him from a lady in Chicago that owns a store and also breeds birds. I have to hand feed him 2 times a day. Once in the morning and once at night ( those were her instructions). Evidently he got picked on by another bird because he's missing three of his claws or nails. Even though he had this slight deformity I still wanted him. Will it affect him at all? Is he supposed to sit on a perch at three months? Everything has healed, but no nails. We also have two budgies. Is it Ok to house them together once quaratine is over? Do budgies and cockatiels get along? Well enough of My questions foe now. Again I'm so glad to be here!

 

[Plukie]

Hi there, good to have you here at TC. I moved your thread because although it is an introduction, you are also asking lots of questions and I thought you'd get more answers if the thread was in here instead of introductions.

So sorry to hear that your little one has been picked on and has ended up with no claws. I'm sure he will adapt just fine to sitting on perches etc, they are very good at just getting on with things. I've never had to hand feed a cockatiel so I don't know how or how often you do it, somebody else will be along to put you right on that. I don't think you can house a cockatiel with budgies, budgies are bullies and they don't always get on with cockatiels, so although they can have supervised playtime together, living together just might not work.

 

[Bea]

Welcome to the forums! It's a little sad that you were sold an unweaned baby tiel, i really wish breeders and shops wouldn't do that. Having said that, at 12 weeks old i'm surprised your baby isn't weaned already. Does he take much at each feeding?

My little baby Snickers (who you can see in my signature) hatched without one of his toenails, and i've got budgies who have lost toenails and even entire toes with no negative effects on their quality of life!

I wouldn't house your tiel with your budgies. Many people say it can work, but it can also go terribly wrong. Budgies are little pests when they want to be and can easily upset the tiels. They will be able to come out of their cage and play though. :thumbu:

 

[katar76]

Ok, thanks for the advice. So I will just house them in different cages. I'm happy to here about the toe nail situation. Why do you not aprove of breeders selling unweened tiels? He hardly ate any of the formula this morning, but he ate some millet out of my hand

 

[Bea]

Breeders have a responsibility to the babies they breed, and it's not safe to sell unweaned babies to the public. It's a tricky job and it's easy to aspirate a baby if you're not familiar with the technique (i'm not saying you're not). Breeders who are dedicated to their work and who put the time into hand rearing babies properly aren't going to part with them until they know they're ready for a new home. Many will try to sell them unweaned saying that it will increase the bond between the bub and the new owners, but that's a myth. A properly weaned, hand reared baby will be infinitely more confident and all the socialisation will mean it's eager for human interaction. It's just not a nice business for the baby birds...

I know here it's illegal for breeders to sell unweaned babies, and i think that's how it should be everywhere. Having said that i find it odd that you're baby is "unweaned" at 12 weeks. I replied in your other thread. But don't stress if he's not taking formula, just offer him soaked seeds (soak them over night to soften them a bit), millet, cheerios, mashed sweet potato, etc - anything soft that would be easy for him to eat.

 

[xxxSpikexxx]

Welcome to the form I would not house your tiel with the budgies, but supervised playtime outside of the cages should be ok.

 

[allen]

i,m surprised that your tiel is not weaned at 12 weeks old i got stretch and sparkles at 9 weeks and 8 weeks both were weaned and i agree with bea i to wish breeders would not sell birds that they are hand feeding till they are weaned and yes budgies can be big pests some do get along but most don,t and welcome to the forum

 

[Laura]

Evidently he got picked on by another bird because he's missing three of his claws or nails. Even though he had this slight deformity I still wanted him. Will it affect him at all? Is he supposed to sit on a perch at three months? Everything has healed, but no nails.

You have already been given some good advice so I just wanted to add that he should have no problem getting around with 3 of his nails missing, I bought my quaker Finnegan and all his toes are either chewed down a bit and he has no nails on any of his toes except for one and he gets around fine he climbs, walks and flys just like any other bird the only problem I have with him is he slides of if he sits on your shoulder he has nothing to grip with but yours should be ok as he is only missing three