Baby Aaron

By Tammy A. Parker, DVM

I sat across from a young lady whose furrowed brow and dark eyes expressed great fear and concern. Beside her sat an overflowing shopping bag full of bird paraphernalia. A round white cage, typically used for cockatiels and sold by large retailers as a "complete" set, sat upon the table empty. Its small occupant was huddled in his mom’s hands. The little, gray cockatiel baby had the look of a young bird in a new situation—somewhat apprehensive and fidgety. The feathers around his neck still had that slightly clumped look that is common in babies being hand-fed.

"I’m just so worried he’s not eating enough," his mom said. "He is eating the formula they recommended four to five times a day and I leave him seed and millet, but he always seems hungry. He is always trying to get my food if he is out, and I know he needs to eat his seed."

Aaron had been purchased two days prior from a large chain store, and his mom was assured he was "down" to one or two feedings a day and that he loved his millet. However, based on her previous pet experience....puppies, kittens, bunnies, and hamsters— she decided her new baby wasn’t getting enough food. She had been off work during the two days that she had owned him, but she needed to go back to work the next day. Her job was full time and unfortunately, it was too far from home for her to visit her pet on breaks or during lunch.

THE NEED TO CONTINUE WEANING FOODS

Aaron was fairly quiet while I examined him. His body was even smaller than I had expected for a weaning cockatiel of his age. Although his weight was seventy-five grams, he was thin and less active than normal. His black stools were scant with only the smallest amount of urates.

After finishing his exam, I launched into my baby bird weaning lecture. It is extremely important to make sure baby birds are actually eating the food they are offered. I stressed the importance of weighing Aaron every morning, as well as discussed the time commitment needed to wean a baby bird of any species. Then we discussed how, even if he had been eating a small amount of seed at the store, the stress of moving to a new flock and home may cause him (any baby bird) to revert and require more hand-feeding care.

We went through her shopping bag of bird paraphernalia and decided that about half of the contents could go back to the store. We made a new shopping list of "weaning type" foods. Armed with the list in hand, Aaron’s mom took him home. She promised to call the next afternoon.

Aaron’s story is all too common with new babies that are not properly weaned. These babies always concern me because, even if their owners are diligent and seem to understand, many things can still go wrong. I turn into a "big worry wart," until they are weaned. Aaron worried me even more. As the afternoon wore on, I decided to call a friend who worked for the retailer in a different store. He referred me to someone who helped to create a plan. I relayed it to my client two hours later: another store whose manager had lots of hand-feeding experience would be willing to take the baby and complete the weaning. This time, however, Aaron would be weaned onto pellets and fresh food. That manager would be responsible and the owner could visit at any time. The store would keep records on Aaron–especially his weight– and his mom could review them when she visited. Aaron’s mom would be responsible for the grocery shopping.

Although both of us were somewhat apprehensive, Aaron’s mom decided to pursue this route, since she had not come up with anyone to help her with feeding. Two weeks later, she brought Aaron in for a check-up looking much better. Three weeks later, Aaron returned to his home to stay. His mom now beamingly reports that he eats anything!

Although I have concerns about all the babies in Aaron’s situation, I feel we can definitely turn the tide, even if it takes one baby at a time, like Aaron.

©2000 Tammy A. Parker, DVM