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[Lee007]

Hi...I am new here but i need some help.....I inherited a baby Major Mitchell Cockatoo he is 8 weeks old..was the last of 3 out of the nest.

The mother wasn't feeding it...and it wasn't eating...i have been crop feeding it.but it is now just started to pick at seed mix.

It has had trouble with its legs...has grip in its feet but no strength in its legs.....

The vet started it on a course of Calcium injections in case it was calcium deficiency....it has limited use of the legs and has NOW started to chew its toes..actually chewed one of the toenails off.....

I have now placed a bird cone around its neck to prevent any more damage..

ANY suggestions or help will be GREATFULLY accepted...i don't want to have to have it euthanased....

[Cedardave]

Make sure his diet is well balanced.High seed diet isn't a great idea.Find the best pelleted diet available, lots of fruits and veggies as he is able.At 8 weeks old you may want to have him on a juvenile formula as well.Often young birds will chew on their toes and feet.You likely made a good call with the collar so he doesn't continue this as a habit.As for his legs...if he hasn't got lots of strength you may make some gains with a better(less seed) diet as well.I don't know what types of pellets are available in your area, but ask your avian vet for a recommended pellet.A good pellet brand will usually also have a juvenile version and both should contain many of the vitamins as well as calcium to help with early development.Until he gains strength in his legs try to make games with him.Get him to try and hold small toys and treats.He is still very young so I wouldn't panic.But he does need to learn how to use his legs.Like children, birds need to learn how to use all their parts.It sounds like he is just a little behind the learning and needs a little guidance.Good luck....that's a beautiful type of bird.This is a very young bird.Am I correct in assuming he has strength in his neck and wings.If mother wasn't feeding she may have sensed a problem or she may have just not been a great parent.I should think euthanasia shouldn't even be considered unless there are a host of other issues.

[plax]

Very good advice from Dave. I'm assuming his hand feedings are with a fortified formula that's approved by your avian vet? Proper nutrients are extremely important at his stage of life, and especially considering his weakened condition. And hopefully his protective cone is not opaque to the point that he's not able to see his feet. Ideally he's able to see the things he should be grasping.

I agree that euthanizing him should not be a consideration at this point!

Best of luck with him. And please keep us posted on his progress if you would!

[Lee007]

THANK YOU Cedardave & Plax

Cedardave...yes he has plenty of strength in neck and is even trying to fly.....I was at my wits end...not being a bird person persay..I had no idea what to do but i will look into the pellets and I have been offering him fruit which he picks at...should I continue with the crop feeding or just make sure he is eating seed mix and some fruit at this stage..?

He has plenty of toys and a branch which he cant use as yet as he doesnt have enough strength to hold himself up yet...

THANK YOU AGAIN for your advice

[plax]

Hi Lee...

The weaning point for any species of Cockatoo varies from bird to bird. It can begin in as little as 12 weeks, or it can take beyond 24 weeks in some cases. You should never impose weaning on a baby parrot! They will wean on their own schedule. Eight weeks is simply too young to consider eliminating the hand feedings for your guy.

You can certainly continue offering him solid food, but give him all of the formula food that he wants for as long as he wants. And again, make sure the formula food is fortified with the nutrients that your avian vet recommends. And as Dave mentioned, a seed diet is not ideal. That's especially true for a weak and developing bird. It would be best to get him interested in quality parrot pellets at this early stage of his life. You can begin by crushing them up and adding some of the crushed powder to his liquid feedings. You can then graduate to saturating the pellets with the formula and offering them to him in a bowl. Since by then he will have hopefully acquired a taste for the mixture, he should easily become interested in tasting the moist pellet pieces. You can gradually reduce the the amount of formula until he's consuming dry pellets. Continue to offer him vegetables and fruit as well.

[Lee007]

How Often should I be feeding him....at the moment he will only take 2 possibly 3 feeds of 25-30ml with picking at seeds in between

[plax]

Here's a guideline for you, Lee:


A. Age and Weight Guidelines for Formula Amounts


Body weight can be a basic guide for how much to feed the baby. Generally, you will feed most species approximately 12% of their weight at each feeding. Very young babies and those about to wean will receive about 8 - 10%. (Example: A 6-week-old African Grey weighing 400 grams will need approximately 48 cc per feeding.) From approximately three weeks old and until the weaning process begins, most babies will need to be fed three times each day. These feedings do not need to be exactly 8 hours apart. The key factor is an empty crop. Once the crop is empty from the last feeding, you can feed again. A bird in this age range, being fed the correct amount of food, should pass all of the food through the crop in about 5 to 6 hours. This will allow about 2-3 hours for the crop to be empty before the next feeding. Keep in mind that even if the crop is empty, the intestines will still have food passing through. If you begin to see stools without a fecal portion, I.E., only urine and urates, then you may not be feeding enough at each feeding or waiting too long between feedings. The only time you should see this happen is in the morning, which is usually the longest time between feedings.

Feeding frequency is slightly different for each baby and may vary from day to day, you will easily learn the needs of your baby. The breeder and the formula instructions should give you a basic idea of how often your baby has been eating and should be eating for its age.

A little recent history****Babies less than a week old will be fed a different consistency of formula based on age. The first few feedings should be a very thin formula with almost no solids, or an electrolyte solution like Pedialyte. This formula will be fed until the yolk, which was absorbed into the baby's abdomen just before hatching, is used up. When the stools begin to have no fecal portion present, you may begin feeding approximately 7% solid formula. This concentration will gradually increase over a two to three day period until the formula is about 28% solids.

The frequency of feedings on a newborn chick is about every one and a half hours for the first day. This frequency gradually decreases to about three or four hours by the end of the first week. (Example: A 15-gram chick will take approximately 1/2 cc of formula the first feeding. The volume will increase gradually to approximately 1cc by the end of the first day. If the baby develops properly, the size of the feedings will increase by about 1cc each day for the first few days. This is only a guideline and will vary according to your expertise and the species you are dealing with.)

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It would be a good idea for you to go to the page and read the entire article.

[Cedardave]

An additional thought would be since he is so young, offer a fruit or vegetable purée to start instead of solid pieces.Help him work his legs a little at a time to let him know they move and he can understand the sensation of them moving.It will help him build strength and hopefully he will start to use them.He will likely be needing your help for sometime to come yet.Consider he is only 8 weeks old...not a lot of time to learn a lot when you consider he spent his first few weeks just adapting to being outside of the shell.

[spiritbird]

Welcome to our forum and it sounds like you are receiving excellent advice. I love this bird species. One of the prettiest in the entire world and I hope he pulls through this. The only advice I can give you is some that has been stated. Work his legs as if you are a physical therapist. Try ladders when he can stand. Are you working with an avian vet you trust? Have you had much experience in your profession with birds?

[Lee007]

THANK YOU everyone for all the advice...

I was working his legs ..I think thats what started off the toe chewing.....:'(....

I will read the article and modify how i am feeding

I have one more question...its probably going to sound silly......as he is wearing his cone..he cant preen himself and now he is getting a little grubby underneath...can i give him a wash/sponge bath...what would you guys recommend...

[plax]

THANK YOU everyone for all the advice...

I was working his legs ..I think thats what started off the toe chewing.....:'(....

I will read the article and modify how i am feeding

I have one more question...its probably going to sound silly......as he is wearing his cone..he cant preen himself and now he is getting a little grubby underneath...can i give him a wash/sponge bath...what would you guys recommend...You're very welcome. And yes, you can give him what amounts to a sponge bath. A damp towel should work for that purpose. Moisten the soiled areas with the towel using a gentle wiping/blotting motion to break down the adhesion of the clinging materials. Then go rinse the towel and repeat the process if necessary.

Please keep us posted on his progress and development!

[Cedardave]

When you wash him also try to do so far enough before his nighttime sleep that he can dry and not get a chill.