A lone cockatiel may take longer to wean but be guided by your baby, not what you read anywhere. If it's grizzling at you it's hungry so feed it the hand rearing formula.
After a feed is a good time to have lots of food out as they will explore when they don't feel hungry. A hungry baby will just grizzle at you and won't be interested in anything else. Use your fingers to play with the seed as if they were your beak and your baby will start to copy.
Initially I use a cardboard box with shavings in the bottom so baby still feels like it's in the nest. You can put a spray of millet in there for it to nibble at/play with. No water is needed at this stage. When baby starts to try to fly is when you transition them to a cage and give them a water bowl. A shallow tray of food on the bottom of the cage is best too as they'll stay on the bottom until they've figured out how to climb up and perch (keep perches low to begin with). Once they really start eating they'll be climbing so you can keep the water bowl hanging up on the side of the cage but when they are out you can have a shallow dish of water for them to explore.
Make sure as those flight feathers grow you keep windows covered (and closed) and any holes where they could get stuck covered as they can easily get stuck somewhere or fly into a window and seriously injure themself (I've had to rescue one from down the back of our wall oven unit who took off on me unexpectedly!).
Good luck and have fun! They are very cute babies.
After a feed is a good time to have lots of food out as they will explore when they don't feel hungry. A hungry baby will just grizzle at you and won't be interested in anything else. Use your fingers to play with the seed as if they were your beak and your baby will start to copy.
Initially I use a cardboard box with shavings in the bottom so baby still feels like it's in the nest. You can put a spray of millet in there for it to nibble at/play with. No water is needed at this stage. When baby starts to try to fly is when you transition them to a cage and give them a water bowl. A shallow tray of food on the bottom of the cage is best too as they'll stay on the bottom until they've figured out how to climb up and perch (keep perches low to begin with). Once they really start eating they'll be climbing so you can keep the water bowl hanging up on the side of the cage but when they are out you can have a shallow dish of water for them to explore.
Make sure as those flight feathers grow you keep windows covered (and closed) and any holes where they could get stuck covered as they can easily get stuck somewhere or fly into a window and seriously injure themself (I've had to rescue one from down the back of our wall oven unit who took off on me unexpectedly!).
Good luck and have fun! They are very cute babies.
Especially during and after feedings, but all the time, talk to them! Cozy them up in a soft blanket or towel and keep them with you. You can set them on your lap and stroke their little heads. You can let them snuggle on your shoulder in a hoodie or in a pocket if you like. Bonding time is any time together. Pet lots, talk to them lots, and you will have a beloved baby! I personally let all my psittacine babies dictate weening speed, and even with my adults, they would still accept formula from a syringe as a special bonding treat. If you want them to be friendly to others, make sure others also participate in care, feeding and holding. Lots of birds pick a favorite human, but they can be socialized to be sweet with others too. Can't wait to see pics!
Coco likes to chew on things, especially fingers!
