Beginners always dream about hand feeding their cockatiel chicks and having their cheeky pets in their shoulder, respond to calls just like the regular house dog. And yes, that is possible since parrots and its subspecies like the cockatiels do have higher intelligence compared to most animals, dogs included.
Though the results are truly rewarding, the first two months of love and labor that you will have to invest on it maybe too much for you, or even your family. Consider the following major factors.
Time. If the chick is pulled out from day one the first two weeks would almost take all of your time, the first five days will require you to feed the chicks every two hours. the interval will widen until the second week which you will have to feed them only two to three times a day.
Money and Equipment. Formulated baby food is expensive but that is not all that you need, a brooding box, temperature control device, nesting material, feeding tubes, feeding spoons, syringes and a sterilizer.
Strict Sanitation. A hand fed bird is expected to be more susceptible to diseases because the immunity that it supposed to receive from its feeding parents is incomplete. that is why unless one has no available option, pulling out a chick no older than two(2) weeks old is never recommended.
An Extra Hand. Beginners might be surprised what hit them, make sure help is available. No one including this author is prepared at the task until there is no point of return. The constant care that the duty requires leave no room for emergency leaves. So make sure you have a plan B and C. C for cockatiel
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