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Loading ...8 Weeks old, parent raised bro & sis cockatiel re-moved from parents, is it too soon to seperate the siblings?
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acquired parents and 8wk old babies. Parents were still feeding, but babies were also eating on their own. All the birds were freaked out by the move and new owner, parents panic & cause babies to panic everytime I got near the cage. Fearing one would be injured by the frantic flapping about, I removed the babies to their own cage. They are eating but are very frightened. They frantically flap about when in same room with parents and hear their call. Should I seperate the siblings yet so I can work one on one with them or allow them the security of one another a little longer? I am concerned they will become dependant on one another for socializing instead of learning to be peopled. The parents are sitting on other eggs and are frightened I will take their eggs and freak out whenever i come near the cage and run back into the nestbox. Any suggestions on how to re-assure them I have no intentions of hurting any of them besides moving slowing, talking softly, as I already do?
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dunno.maybe.
Breeder of Budgerigar (Parakeets)
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No. My parakeet was exactly 8 weeks old when I bought it, and he was slightly uncomfortable in the cage in the beginning, but he began eating, drinking water etc since day 2. Talking to them really helps, they’ll get used to your presence faster.
Breeder of Budgerigar (Parakeets)
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At 8 weeks the babies are old enough to be on their own.
I would separate them, as they will bond to each other.
It sounds like you haven’t had the birds very long, it will take some weeks for them to trust you.
Don’t be surprised if the eggs fail to hatch because of the move, the parents might not settle enough.
At 8 weeks the babies are a little old for hand taming, and with the move they have already learnt to fear people.
This means you will have to take things very slowly and gently if you want them to bond to you.
Clipping both their wings will help, this will freak them out to start with, but as they won’t be able to fly far, they are dependant on you and therefore bond to you more quickly.
Try taking each baby out of its cage, on its own, with the other baby out of sight. Have a treat ( favourite food) in your hand and try to get it to sit on your finger and eat the food, don’t try to pet it or touch it, other than to let it sit on your finger. Be very still and quiet, if after 10 minutes it is still to frightened to eat put it back in its cage for a few hours and then try again.
Once it is happy to eat from your hand ( this could take weeks) try getting it to step up from one finger to another, and giving it a little scratch on the back of its neck.
Always move very slowly and quietly and be patient.
Have a look at this site, lots of advice, or E mail me, I’ve been breeding Cockatiels for years.
http://www.cockatielcottage.net
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If the parents are not mis-treating the babies but are still feeding them, leave them be unless you are willing to do the feeding yourself.
Have a look at this site, lots of advice, or E mail me, I’ve been breeding Cockatiels for years.
http://www.cockatielcottage.net
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