mich
My baby is now almost 10 months. She was feeding so great from the bottle 6 months ago and then my mom took a month off work to stay with the baby. She got so used to breastfeeding that when she got back to work, she would not drink from the bottle. Now she is soooo tiny for her age!
Even though she should be drinking atleast 6 ounces every 4 hours or something she only drinks about 3.
When my mom is working we can only feed her with the bottle by sneaking it in her mouth while she's sleeping. My parents should have stopped her with breast feeding along time ago as someone suggested but they didnt. What do we do? She is so tiny! She wont drink milk from the bottle and she is not learning how to feed herself with the bottle as she should already be learning. Help!
Answer
I'm sorry sweetie, but no, she should not have stopped breastfeeding a long time ago. Breastfeeding is the healthiest and most natural way to feed a baby. Its the only way nature ever intended a baby to eat. The longer you breastfeed, the better it benefits your baby by lowering the risk of many cancers and illnesses later in life. I think you need to educate yourself a little more on breastfeeding basics www.promom.org/101 and I'm not trying to be mean when I say that, but you're wrong about that part. Now as far as her being tiny for her age..that does not necessarily have anything to do with your mom breastfeeding her still. That doesn't even make sense. If she is drinking 3 ounces every 4 hours, then she should still be getting enough nutrition. You can safely breastfeed exclusively for the 1st year of your baby's life without even offering any food at all because breast milk has ALL the nutrition needed for an infant. She is doing something that is very common amond breast fed babies. They hate bottles. Which is perfectly understandable, because bottles are second nature. She is fine and as long as she's eating and growing, she is fine. She may be tiny, but that doesn't mean she's being starved. My friend had a baby Feb. 8th of 2007 and she was only 5 pounds 6 oz. and has been tiny ever since and there is nothing wrong with her at all. She's just a little peanut. All babies develop and grow differently. If she really was not growing enough, the doctor would have expressed those concerns with your mom. Just keep offering the bottle during the day as much as you can and keep offering simple table foods like cheerios, graham crackers, cut up veggies, etc and she will eventually start to feed herself. Although most babies at 10 months do feed themselves a little, not all babies do. Some babies are slower to start feeding skills than others. =)
I'm sorry sweetie, but no, she should not have stopped breastfeeding a long time ago. Breastfeeding is the healthiest and most natural way to feed a baby. Its the only way nature ever intended a baby to eat. The longer you breastfeed, the better it benefits your baby by lowering the risk of many cancers and illnesses later in life. I think you need to educate yourself a little more on breastfeeding basics www.promom.org/101 and I'm not trying to be mean when I say that, but you're wrong about that part. Now as far as her being tiny for her age..that does not necessarily have anything to do with your mom breastfeeding her still. That doesn't even make sense. If she is drinking 3 ounces every 4 hours, then she should still be getting enough nutrition. You can safely breastfeed exclusively for the 1st year of your baby's life without even offering any food at all because breast milk has ALL the nutrition needed for an infant. She is doing something that is very common amond breast fed babies. They hate bottles. Which is perfectly understandable, because bottles are second nature. She is fine and as long as she's eating and growing, she is fine. She may be tiny, but that doesn't mean she's being starved. My friend had a baby Feb. 8th of 2007 and she was only 5 pounds 6 oz. and has been tiny ever since and there is nothing wrong with her at all. She's just a little peanut. All babies develop and grow differently. If she really was not growing enough, the doctor would have expressed those concerns with your mom. Just keep offering the bottle during the day as much as you can and keep offering simple table foods like cheerios, graham crackers, cut up veggies, etc and she will eventually start to feed herself. Although most babies at 10 months do feed themselves a little, not all babies do. Some babies are slower to start feeding skills than others. =)
baby cockatiels help wanted?
NICOLA
HI THERE AT PRESENT I HAVE TO BABY COCKATIELS 3 DAYS OLD. I HAVE BEEN TOLD AFTER 2 WEEKS I HAVE TO BRING THEM OUT OV THE NEST AND LOOK AFTER THEM MYSELF FEED THEM ETC. IS THAT RIGHT? AND HOW DO I GO ABOUT HAND TAMING THEM? COULD YOU HELP PLEASE.
Answer
sigh...it's a bit late to be asking these questions. Raising cockatiels or any bird for that matter is a delicate issue.
When you say you have been told that you have to bring them out of the nest for handfeeding was this by the original owners of the pair? As in the parents will not raise babies past 2 weeks? Most cockatiel pairs that have had their babies taken from the nest at 2 weeks every time will not raise their babies past 2 weeks...they'll pluck them, starve them, or kill them. If that is the case then you have to pull them to handfeed. If they have raised clutches until weaning then you can leave them.
If you pull:
You need to learn to handfeed.
Items needed:
10 cc/ml medicine syringe -----pet store, feed store, pharmacy
kaytee exact handfeeding formula----pet store
brooder----I make home made ones. I use a 10 gallon fish tank, heating pad that has a way to turn off the automatic off option. Sit aquarium on heating pad, fill with 2-3 inches pine shavings (no cedar...only pine, oats, or aspen...medium-large shavings), lay a paper towel over the shavings for easy cleaning, and a digital themostat. Keep temp at 89-94 f. If it is too hot move aquirium half way off of the heating pad. To keep heat in cover with a towel but leave a small opening for air. You can use the towel to regulate the heat as well.
digital themometer---walmart?? I get my of the dollar general for $3
You know there is alot you need to research and this should have been done way before you actually had babies. If I were you I would try to leave the babies with the parents to raise them until you have done your home work.
You need to learn to hand feed and honestly baby cockatiels are somewhat difficult to handfeed. Some basic rules:
always put syringe at the birds left side of beak...your right.
formula temp 101-105 (others will say only to 101 but I have found that 105 is safe and really reduces risk of sour crop)
formula should be consistancy of runny applesauce
Pull them at 12-14 days at this time they can go to 4 feedings per day
7am, 12 pm, 6pm, 12 pm 6-8 cc's
1.5 weeks later change to 3 feedings
7 am, 1pm, 7 pm and they will take about 8-10 cc's
1.5 weeks reduce to 2 feedings 7 am, 7 pm 15 cc's
1.5-2 weeks
1 feeding 15 cc's in the evening until they are weaned or refuse food.
During about the 5th week they will begin to fledge and will go on a small diet where they will refuse some feedings. Keep offering even when they refuse. Once they lose their crop weight they will begin to eat again.
Once they are fully feathered you can move them to a fledging cage. That means a cage with a grid at the bottom so that they can walk on it and a perch sat very low to the floor say maybe an inch off of it so that they can learn to perch. You'll need to allow them to fledge when they are ready. Cover all windows and mirrors, turn off all fans, close toilets, cover buckets, etc.
You've got alot of learning to do in just a short time. Very irresponsible if you ask me. Start researching immediately before you cost these fledgings their life. Also remove the box from your parents when you remove the babies so that don't lay again so soon. It is very unhealthy and can kill the hen if she lays too often.
Search cockatiels on google and research:
handfeeding
weaning
breeding
ADDED: You can visit a vet OR your local pet store (not petsmart) a privately owned store that deals in birds and ask them to teach you to handfeed. Handfeeding them and handling them tames them. If you just want them tame but don't want to handfeed then when they are about 2 weeks old you can go into the nestbox and take them out for a bit and handle them every day a few times per day and that will keep them tame. When picking up small chicks make sure that you do not press on their full crops as it will make them regurgitate and can also choke them.
MORE ADDED: Just read some of your past questions. Where you asked about baby cockatiels dying. You are going to have to pull these babies because the parents will not raise them past 2 weeks. They are used to having their babies pulled. If this is a brand new pair then just let nature take it's course and leave the babies. Cockatiel parents get better with each clutch. They are slow learners it takes them sometimes 2 or 3 clutches before they get the hang of it. But, if you got these breeders from someone else then they are just not used to raising babies past 2 weeks and will always kill them at about that time. You need to contact a pet shop and ask for help or see if they will take the babies for you. If you are an adult ...shame on you for being so irresponsible. If you are a child then shame on your parents. This really irks me.
sigh...it's a bit late to be asking these questions. Raising cockatiels or any bird for that matter is a delicate issue.
When you say you have been told that you have to bring them out of the nest for handfeeding was this by the original owners of the pair? As in the parents will not raise babies past 2 weeks? Most cockatiel pairs that have had their babies taken from the nest at 2 weeks every time will not raise their babies past 2 weeks...they'll pluck them, starve them, or kill them. If that is the case then you have to pull them to handfeed. If they have raised clutches until weaning then you can leave them.
If you pull:
You need to learn to handfeed.
Items needed:
10 cc/ml medicine syringe -----pet store, feed store, pharmacy
kaytee exact handfeeding formula----pet store
brooder----I make home made ones. I use a 10 gallon fish tank, heating pad that has a way to turn off the automatic off option. Sit aquarium on heating pad, fill with 2-3 inches pine shavings (no cedar...only pine, oats, or aspen...medium-large shavings), lay a paper towel over the shavings for easy cleaning, and a digital themostat. Keep temp at 89-94 f. If it is too hot move aquirium half way off of the heating pad. To keep heat in cover with a towel but leave a small opening for air. You can use the towel to regulate the heat as well.
digital themometer---walmart?? I get my of the dollar general for $3
You know there is alot you need to research and this should have been done way before you actually had babies. If I were you I would try to leave the babies with the parents to raise them until you have done your home work.
You need to learn to hand feed and honestly baby cockatiels are somewhat difficult to handfeed. Some basic rules:
always put syringe at the birds left side of beak...your right.
formula temp 101-105 (others will say only to 101 but I have found that 105 is safe and really reduces risk of sour crop)
formula should be consistancy of runny applesauce
Pull them at 12-14 days at this time they can go to 4 feedings per day
7am, 12 pm, 6pm, 12 pm 6-8 cc's
1.5 weeks later change to 3 feedings
7 am, 1pm, 7 pm and they will take about 8-10 cc's
1.5 weeks reduce to 2 feedings 7 am, 7 pm 15 cc's
1.5-2 weeks
1 feeding 15 cc's in the evening until they are weaned or refuse food.
During about the 5th week they will begin to fledge and will go on a small diet where they will refuse some feedings. Keep offering even when they refuse. Once they lose their crop weight they will begin to eat again.
Once they are fully feathered you can move them to a fledging cage. That means a cage with a grid at the bottom so that they can walk on it and a perch sat very low to the floor say maybe an inch off of it so that they can learn to perch. You'll need to allow them to fledge when they are ready. Cover all windows and mirrors, turn off all fans, close toilets, cover buckets, etc.
You've got alot of learning to do in just a short time. Very irresponsible if you ask me. Start researching immediately before you cost these fledgings their life. Also remove the box from your parents when you remove the babies so that don't lay again so soon. It is very unhealthy and can kill the hen if she lays too often.
Search cockatiels on google and research:
handfeeding
weaning
breeding
ADDED: You can visit a vet OR your local pet store (not petsmart) a privately owned store that deals in birds and ask them to teach you to handfeed. Handfeeding them and handling them tames them. If you just want them tame but don't want to handfeed then when they are about 2 weeks old you can go into the nestbox and take them out for a bit and handle them every day a few times per day and that will keep them tame. When picking up small chicks make sure that you do not press on their full crops as it will make them regurgitate and can also choke them.
MORE ADDED: Just read some of your past questions. Where you asked about baby cockatiels dying. You are going to have to pull these babies because the parents will not raise them past 2 weeks. They are used to having their babies pulled. If this is a brand new pair then just let nature take it's course and leave the babies. Cockatiel parents get better with each clutch. They are slow learners it takes them sometimes 2 or 3 clutches before they get the hang of it. But, if you got these breeders from someone else then they are just not used to raising babies past 2 weeks and will always kill them at about that time. You need to contact a pet shop and ask for help or see if they will take the babies for you. If you are an adult ...shame on you for being so irresponsible. If you are a child then shame on your parents. This really irks me.
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