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Hand Reared Cockatiel
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I am hand rearing a lutino cockatiel chick.It is about 6 weeks old. It's feather growth on it's head seems slow.It has a crest and face feathers and they have grown on it's neck but not many behind it's crest.Other chicks including one lutino I've hand reared seem to feather up more quickly.I don't know if it's normal for lutinos to be slower at getting feathers.
Also it's wing feathers seem to always fold under it's tail which often sticks up,so they get rather wet due to droppings. It has attempted to fly but usually lands on the floor and can't seem to gain height.It climbs it's ladder and sits on it's lower perch,but shows no inclination to climb the bars of it's cage to sit on the higher perch or swing. It eats millet and has attempted a seed bar but still demands spoon feeding. I hope to sell it and know someone interested in giving it a home,but obviously want it to be in the best possible condition and able to fly and do things that other cockatiels can do
If anyone else hand rears cockatiels,I'd be grateful for some advice.
Also it's wing feathers seem to always fold under it's tail which often sticks up,so they get rather wet due to droppings. It has attempted to fly but usually lands on the floor and can't seem to gain height.It climbs it's ladder and sits on it's lower perch,but shows no inclination to climb the bars of it's cage to sit on the higher perch or swing. It eats millet and has attempted a seed bar but still demands spoon feeding. I hope to sell it and know someone interested in giving it a home,but obviously want it to be in the best possible condition and able to fly and do things that other cockatiels can do
If anyone else hand rears cockatiels,I'd be grateful for some advice.
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Baldness in lutino cockatiels is quite common, it is a bad gene and should not be bred with.
From what you've written, I guess it is just one of those runts. The drooping wings may come right when it builds up enough strength but I doubt it. It will take longer to mature to self sufficiency and while you are feeding it will continue to beg.
From what you've written, I guess it is just one of those runts. The drooping wings may come right when it builds up enough strength but I doubt it. It will take longer to mature to self sufficiency and while you are feeding it will continue to beg.
Thanks for your reply Wildwood.I think it's easier to wean 2 chicks. I am giving it egg food now which has seeds in it. When I have 2 chicks,I spoon feed one and the other gets jealous and begins eating out of the dish.They soon learn to feed by themselves. I always make sure they have seeds available to eat when they are ready to deal with them.
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