HELP!! NEWLY HATCHED COCKATIELS!!

[NynaRene]

I have 2 cockatiels which I was told were both female. I am bought a cage, setup that included a nesting box and left it in just for a hide away. Well I noticed both birds have been in it a lot and, was shocked to find eggs. I Googled and learned that without a male females can still lay eggs but they won't hatch. Well last night I heard chirping and decided to look inside. Omg the cutest ugly chicken looking baby cockatiel. I want to keep them but don't know what to do and don't have time to handfeed and don't want the parents to hurt them. When can I hold them if I don't want to hand feed?

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Parent birds (and other animals) have been raising their young long before humans were ever around. I would not mess with them . Hopefully someone knows a good age to start handling them.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Also, if you are planning on keeping it, just be aware that would lead to a possible second generation of inbreeding, if the two parents are siblings. It's not necessarily an issue, just something to keep in mind.

 

[gpop1]

Parent birds (and other animals) have been raising their young long before humans were ever around. I would not mess with them . Hopefully someone knows a good age to start handling them.

+1 the parents will take care of the chick. There no need to touch the chick for the first few weeks then its ok to clean out the box by removing the chick to a bowl with wood chips in the bottom while you clean the bedding of the nest box. Replace the chick and put the nest box back in the same place. Do not move the nest boxes location the parents will not except a box if you decide to move it. They don't seem to have a problem with a different nest box as long as its in the same location (just in case you have a cardboard nest box that can not be cleaned).

The chick needs to stay with its parents until its 80% feathered 20% feather shafts at which point you can opt for hand feeding or leave the parents to wean the chick. I strongly suggest that unless you have been shown how to hand feed and have a way to keep the chick warm and comfortable that you do not try it. You can have a nice hand tame simply by waiting for the chick to get fully feathered then handling it for a few minutes at a time before returning the chick to the parents care.

If you have more eggs in the nest try not to disturb the parents as can be up to week between the first chick and the last egg hatching