I went to check on my babies and noticed blood feathers and very small crops. Me and my mom rushed to the store to get formula. I have never hand fed a bird, and I am really nervous. I relized they haven't been getting properly fed, but I figured the parents knew what they were doing. Then I turned my baby over and saw black insides! I am sooo scared the baby is going to die! Please help me! I don't want to lose one of my babies!

Okay, we need to act fast.

The parents are probably trying to get the baby to fledge so there can be more room for another clutch...that's what happened to my babies.

Dark intestines mean dehydrated, you need to feed him! Do you know how to make formula? If so, please make some and get it in a syringe. Make sure the formula is 104F. Once hot enough, take the babies out of the nest and feed it on the babies left side, (this is YOUR right side) slowly feed the baby and make sure he is finished eating the formula before feeding more.

I am typing fast so you will be able to see it while your online.

I will post some more info. Good luck. This is a risk that has to be taken. If you don't feed him, he won't make it.

There is a lot of information here! It will teach you how to feed and all the things related to hand feeding with a much less risk if aspiration http://www.cockatiel.org/articles/handfeeding.html

Sussane Russo's advise on assist feeding http://www.justcockatiels.net/assist-fe ... -nest.html

Thank you Baruch for responding so quickly! You may have just helped save a baby birds life!

Your welcome

Were you able to feed him yet? How are the intestines? Does the baby have red skin? That's another sign of dehydration...that's how the baby died in Marshmallows clutch.

yes, I have fed him.....his skin is red. it is especially red where the parents have been plucking. I'm having a hard time filling his crop because he is so weak that I have to pry his mouth open and wait for him to swallow. I got his crop barely full (after working hard for 15 minutes) and my mom said maybe I should wait 15-20 minutes and let him rest, then give him more. Being a stubborn teenager, I told myself that my mom knew nothing about birds, but I decided to try it. Was that good advice? Anyway, when I was ready to give him more, the crop was already empty. What should I do now?

oh yea,
the babies intestines are looking a little better...I guess.

Tap the beak with the syringe, it will make the babies open their mouths, Sussane suggested that and it works every time.

With my babies, when they aren't eating it means that the formula is too cold for him. Putting the filled syringe in the bowl can instantly warm it up

It's good that the crop was empty again, that means he digested the food you gave him. When the crop is empty you can feed him again, there's no need to wait for a specific period of time.

Make sure you feed him in the proper direction to minimize the risk of aspiration. When the baby is facing you, you hold the syringe in your right hand pointing toward your left (which is the baby's right). This is awkward for left-handed people, so if you're left-handed let us know and I'll find a technique for lefties.

How old is this baby? Do you know how much it weights (in grams)? If you can post pictures it will help us assess the situation.