cant get my baby cockatiel to drink water

[coolhady13]

BTW, Cockatiels and Budgies don't drink much water. Maybe two gulps once a day. They come from arid climates. It is possible that it sneaks a drink in when you're not looking and that it's all it needs. Not saying this has to be the case, but a possibility.

yes that maybe right also maybe as jenny said that he is getting enough formula that he doesnt need to drink .

if i didnt feed him any formula tommorow . would he survive for a day eating only seeds with no water ? maybe that would make him drink ?

[Jenny]

is he only eating formula & seeds at this point? He hasn't started to eat any other solids? If that's the case, I wouldn't stop the formula just to see if you can get him to drink water. What do his droppings look like?

[coolhady13]

is he only eating formula & seeds at this point? He hasn't started to eat any other solids? If that's the case, I wouldn't stop the formula just to see if you can get him to drink water. What do his droppings look like?

his budgies if he only ate seeds are normal solid green and white same as budgie droppings . but if he ate formula only .his dropping are solid with liquid

[GlassOnion]

Wtf. Starve a baby bird so he drinks water? Formula itself is liquidy. Your Cockatiel simply isn't thirsty. Leave a shallow dish of water and leave him alone. Do NOT starve a baby bird.

Also, why are you weaning him on to seeds only? You should've been weaning him to pellets, seeds, a variety of vegetables and fruits as well as grains.

Seed-only diets cause liver failure guaranteed. Please start offering him UNcolored pellets, veggies, fruits and grains ASAP.

[coolhady13]

Wtf. Starve a baby bird so he drinks water? Formula itself is liquidy. Your Cockatiel simply isn't thirsty. Leave a shallow dish of water and leave him alone. Do NOT starve a baby bird.

Also, why are you weaning him on to seeds only? You should've been weaning him to pellets, seeds, a variety of vegetables and fruits as well as grains.

Seed-only diets cause liver failure guaranteed. Please start offering him UNcolored pellets, veggies, fruits and grains ASAP.

there is no pellets here in egypt .i will give him fruits and veggies

i have some dried apricots and figs i will feed them to him and any veggies i found .

would he eat corn flakes ? as a replacment for pellets

i will also get sun flower seeds

[liz]

http://www.drsfostersmith.com I use crumbles for the little birds.

I do my cockatiels free choice on dry foods. I don't use bowls. I use self feeders that hold about two cups of food. That works better for me since there are three pairs in the same cage. I have a feeder for crumbles, seed and another for any grain I have (oatmeal-barley-flake cereals and etc).

I use cups for the fresh stuff since it is changing as I eat.

[coolhady13]

i see . the only thing im worried about know is

Seed-only diets cause liver failure guaranteed

[coolhady13]

i gave him some dried apricots but he didnt eat it i gave him some boiled eggs also didnt eat it

i mixed them with his seeds now maybe he will try them

[liz]

I don't have a solution to the problem.

If he were mine I would just keep offering whatever I have and continue the hand feeding until he gets it right. He might just be a slow learner.

[coolhady13]

well im hand feeding him twice a day .

maybe when he get a little older he will start to eat other things

thanks all for help i made a mark in the water bowl and i will see if the water decreases by night or not